On December 16th the Denver Nuggets were up by 19 points in the fourth quarter with about one minute remaining against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Nuggets guard J.R. Smith got the ball on a one-on-one breakaway against Knicks reserve Mardy Collins. What transpired after that recalled images of the “Malice at the Palace” in Detroit two years ago, also known as the worst brawl in sports history. Collins wrapped his arms around the driving Smith and threw him to the ground, a blatant flagrant foul. Smith was understandably upset and got in Collins’ face. Knicks guard Nate Robinson (all 5’7” of him) came to his teammate’s aid and shoved Smith away. Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and a host of New York Knick players enter the fray. Smith and Robinson tackled each other into the first row of cameramen.
After things had seemingly cooled down, Anthony ran back up to Collins and connected with a punch to the face. Anthony was chased by Knicks forward Jared Jeffries as he backpedaled away. All 10 players on the court were ejected from the game. Each team was fined $500,000. Anthony was suspended for 15 games. Robinson and Smith both got 10 game suspensions. Collins was suspended for six games. Jefferies was hit with a four game suspension. All in all, seven players from both teams were suspended for a combined 47 games.
This story has been on every news and sports talk show for the past 48 hours and will continue to be for weeks. There are just so many sub plots, angles, blame games and power plays to analyze. The coaches, George Karl and Isiah Thomas, have been in a war of words over who is to blame. NBA Commissioner David Stern has had to flex his muscle in an attempt to eliminate violence from his game. And the whole “hip-hop” stigma the NBA has upon it, rears its head again.
George Karl “swears on his children’s lives” that he was not running up the score on the Knicks. He pointed to various games over the past two weeks in which teams had blown double digit leads late in games. He said he was trying to teach his young team how to win. I don’t buy it. Being up by 19 with 1:24 left is a lock. Denver could have taken six ten-second backcourt violations and allowed six Knick three-pointers and the Knicks would still be down 1 with less than 20 seconds remaining. Teaching your team to win? How about teaching your team sportsmanship? This is an early season game with little significance. Your team is up by nearly 20 with less than ninety seconds left to play. I am not saying roll over and let the Knicks make it close. But how about taking out the NBA’s leading scorer in Anthony? Or tell your team to run out the clock instead of run down the court for open lay-ups? George Karl deserves some blame for what happened Saturday.
Karl makes no secret of his relationship with former Knicks coach Larry Brown. Brown had one of the most miserable coaching stints in NBA history last season with the Knicks. Many think that Isiah ran him out of New York before he had time to get his type of players, a feel for the team and adjust to coaching in the pressure-cooker that is the Big Apple. Could it be that Karl was sticking it to the Knicks and Thomas to exact some sort of revenge on his best friend’s former boss? I don’t know Larry Brown, but I find it hard to believe that he was proud of what happened Saturday.
Isiah Thomas allegedly said to Carmelo something to the effect “you better not go into the paint” near the end of the lopsided contest. So did Thomas order Collins, a 10th or 12th option on the team, to hard foul Smith? We will probably never know the truth. What we do know is that Thomas was a member of one of the most intimidating teams ever, “The Bad Boys” of Detroit in the 80’s and 90’s. Thomas was a notorious “take no B.S.” kind of player and it isn’t hard to fathom him ordering retaliation as a head coach.
Call it old school mentality or machismo, but I feel that hard fouls are a part of the game and most sports in general. Not full scale, immature and unnecessary brawls. But if you feel like you are being made a fool of during a game, a degree of retaliation should not be condemned. Having a score run up on your home court qualifies as being made a fool. Did it go too far in New York? Without question. Emotions were running high, including egotism and pride. But I cannot find fault in hard fouling a player driving to the lane to take a lay up when his team is up by 19 with less than minute left. If I was head coach, I probably would have done the same thing.
There is just an unwritten code of sportsmanship when you are winning by a large margin. Don’t take unnecessary 3’s. Instead of passing, just run the ball and then kneel on it. Don’t steal bases when you are up by more than 5 after the 7th inning. Had J.R. Smith just dribbled the ball around for 20 seconds instead of driving in, this brawl may not have occurred.
Carmelo Anthony, one of the league’s rising young stars and all-around nice guy, got the stiffest penalty for throwing a punch during the melee. There is no way he should be alone in serving his 15-game suspension. Nate Robinson, who without question escalated this into a full-scale brawl, deserves the same amount of games Anthony received. Smith, who may have sparked this with his flashy dunk in the 4th quarter with four minutes remaining, also is as much to blame as Robinson. I believe all three of these players should have been suspended for 10 games each. The Nuggets (and to a lesser extent, the Knicks) don’t deserve to lose this season on a heated mistake.
Stern, try as he might, will never ever get rid of fighting in the NBA. It is not because of this so-called “hip hop” mentality or the rampant egotism and pride that NBA players exude. It is because it is human nature for these athletes to go for the throat. That is what makes them great athletes, killer instinct. That is what earns them millions of dollars and the adoration of millions of people the world over. I am not condoning athletes fighting and doing things they will regret. Far from it. But it is ridiculous to expect these kids to play with so much emotion and have it not spill over sometimes. Should they have been disciplined? Of course, what happened was clearly against the rules and unforgivable. But these kids are not robots who can turn their emotions on and off with the flick of a switch.
Being tough is a trait that all successful sports figures possess. Jordan, Bird, Clemens, Pedro, Favre and a laundry list of all major sports stars are all tough. That is what makes them great. As kids we grow up idolizing these guys. I am sure Carmelo idolized Jordan, every young basketball player did. Being soft is a label that all sports figures will try to avoid at all costs. It is a proven fact; you have to be tough to win. Suspending players will not change their views on manhood, toughness, brotherhood and pride. I would bet anything that if the same set of circumstances happened when Carmelo’s 15 game suspension is up, he would react in the exact same way. Same goes for Robinson, Smith, Jeffries and everyone else involved. But part of being an athlete is controlling yourself, which these young men failed to do. There is a difference between being tough and being stupid. Hopefully these young athletes will learn from their mistakes.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Sunday, December 17, 2006
The Picks: Week 15
Cincinnati Bengals (+3-1/2) at Indianapolis Colts
Two teams headed in different directions. The Colts cannot stop the run or the pass and their offense has been suffering for it.
Houston Texans (+12-1/2) at New England Patriots
Pats are not playing well as of late. The Texans aren't good, but won't get blown out.
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers (-8-1/2)
The Chargers are some good, on offense and defense. KC is playing for it's life, but have looked inept on offense last week.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (+3-1/2)
Vince is the new golden boy of the NFL. Let's hope he doesn't flame out like a certain Vick.
Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints (-10)
That onside kick when NO was up against Dallas was great. The surprise onside should be done on a more regular basis. Brees is having an MVP type season and the Skins are terrible.
Last Week: 3-2
Season: 28-33-4
Two teams headed in different directions. The Colts cannot stop the run or the pass and their offense has been suffering for it.
Houston Texans (+12-1/2) at New England Patriots
Pats are not playing well as of late. The Texans aren't good, but won't get blown out.
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers (-8-1/2)
The Chargers are some good, on offense and defense. KC is playing for it's life, but have looked inept on offense last week.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (+3-1/2)
Vince is the new golden boy of the NFL. Let's hope he doesn't flame out like a certain Vick.
Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints (-10)
That onside kick when NO was up against Dallas was great. The surprise onside should be done on a more regular basis. Brees is having an MVP type season and the Skins are terrible.
Last Week: 3-2
Season: 28-33-4
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Red Sox Christmas comes early
That cool breeze you just felt? That was Red Sox nation breathing a collective sigh of relief. A deal has been reached with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, a six-year 52-million dollar deal, to be exact. Add that total to the 51 million the Red Sox paid his former team, the Seibu Lions, just to talk to him, and the deal nears 104 million dollars. The deal was completed earlier this evening, roughly 24 hours before the scheduled deadline.
Just a few days ago it seemed as though Matusaka’s agent, super agent Scott Boras, would be content taking his client back to Japan if he didn’t get what he thought was a fair deal. But in a move of true courage, the Red Sox brass held their ground and ended up paying what they were comfortable with. Boras has shown in the past he isn’t afraid to hold out his clients (see young JD Drew) and the Red Sox came out winners by not paying the 100 million dollar mega-deal Boras alluded to.
Matsuzaka will be under immense pressure this season. The Boston media will eat this guy alive (and the front office for over paying him) if he does not perform impossibly well this season. Former National League ace Josh Beckett looked like a lost child pitching against power American League lineups last season. Dice-K (I detest the nickname “D-Mat”. I think I stole Dice-K from Bill Simmons) will probably have similar woes against deep AL lineups. From his numbers and performance at the World Baseball Classic, Dice-K is almost a sure thing to be a very good major league pitcher but it will take some time. I plead the Boston media not to rip this guy for going 12-12 with a 3.75 ERA in his rookie season.
The Red Sox have been the most active team during the winter free agent meetings. JD Drew cashed in to the tune of five years and 70 million dollars. And if there is joy surrounding the Dice-K deal, there is an equal amount of “Oh God” surrounding the Drew signing. Drew is the poster boy for Spoiled Sports Star magazine (they had to break up all the T.O. covers). Coming out of college he was drafted by the Phillies number one, but when they wouldn’t pay him enough, Boras decided it would be best to hold out and re-enter the draft next year. Ever since then he has been one of the most over paid players in baseball.
Drew has earned 10 million dollars a year or more ever since his rookie season. He has only hit 25 home runs twice (2004 and 2001), only hit over .300 twice (’01 and ’04), only had 90+ RBI’s twice (’04 and ’06) and has averaged just over 103 games played per season. Now his on-base percentage numbers are good, always around .375-.400 and he plays solid defense. But Drew is injury prone, reclusive and doesn’t seem totally devoted to the game. Hitting behind Ortiz and Manny means he will have plenty of chances to knock in runs. There are no more excuses. Also having those guys ahead of you means you will see a lot of pitches to hit. In Boston you have to produce, but it you don’t, you have to hustle. Trot Nixon always played hard. He may not have become the player we all wanted him to, but he never quit and consequently the fans loved him. Drew will get booed if he does not give his full effort. The problem is I don’t think Drew has ever given his full effort.
Julio Lugo is the other high-profile free agent the Red Sox have signed thus far. About a week ago Lugo signed a four-year, 36 million dollar contract to fill the shortstop gap in Fenway. Compared to the other deals the Red Sox have made this off-season, Lugo seems like a steal. Lugo is a solid top of the line-up guy who can steal, run, get on base, and has some pop in his bat. He is a little error prone (19 last season) and will be a defensive downgrade from Alex Gonzalez. But the Red Sox are all about offense and Lugo has that. He has also played in the AL East with the Devil Rays so he knows the park and what it is like to be in a high profile division.
The biggest boon to this signing may be Lugo’s Dominican heritage and personal relationship with David Ortiz. Lugo has said that he and Ortiz are good friends and have often talked about Lugo coming to Boston. This creates a solid comfort level that will help Lugo adjust to playing in the pressure cooker that is Boston. Lugo seems like a friendly and outgoing guy, which is a characteristic that is a must in being successful in Boston. Look at Edgar Renteria; he was somewhat of a recluse, rarely speaking with the media. He never seemed comfortable in Fenway. That is why the Red Sox are paying him to play for Atlanta. Lugo seems like a good fit for the Red Sox.
I give the Red Sox a B+ for their off-season moves so far. The Dice-K deal could go either way; he could be a historic steal or a historic bust. But for not bending to Boras, that is commendable. Julio Lugo will hopefully stop the revolving door that Nomar has left at shortstop since his departure. Lugo and Crisp will be fun to watch on the field and the base paths, bringing much needed speed to the roster. I really don’t like the Drew deal but here is to hoping he figures out how talented he is and finally starts playing like it.
Just a few days ago it seemed as though Matusaka’s agent, super agent Scott Boras, would be content taking his client back to Japan if he didn’t get what he thought was a fair deal. But in a move of true courage, the Red Sox brass held their ground and ended up paying what they were comfortable with. Boras has shown in the past he isn’t afraid to hold out his clients (see young JD Drew) and the Red Sox came out winners by not paying the 100 million dollar mega-deal Boras alluded to.
Matsuzaka will be under immense pressure this season. The Boston media will eat this guy alive (and the front office for over paying him) if he does not perform impossibly well this season. Former National League ace Josh Beckett looked like a lost child pitching against power American League lineups last season. Dice-K (I detest the nickname “D-Mat”. I think I stole Dice-K from Bill Simmons) will probably have similar woes against deep AL lineups. From his numbers and performance at the World Baseball Classic, Dice-K is almost a sure thing to be a very good major league pitcher but it will take some time. I plead the Boston media not to rip this guy for going 12-12 with a 3.75 ERA in his rookie season.
The Red Sox have been the most active team during the winter free agent meetings. JD Drew cashed in to the tune of five years and 70 million dollars. And if there is joy surrounding the Dice-K deal, there is an equal amount of “Oh God” surrounding the Drew signing. Drew is the poster boy for Spoiled Sports Star magazine (they had to break up all the T.O. covers). Coming out of college he was drafted by the Phillies number one, but when they wouldn’t pay him enough, Boras decided it would be best to hold out and re-enter the draft next year. Ever since then he has been one of the most over paid players in baseball.
Drew has earned 10 million dollars a year or more ever since his rookie season. He has only hit 25 home runs twice (2004 and 2001), only hit over .300 twice (’01 and ’04), only had 90+ RBI’s twice (’04 and ’06) and has averaged just over 103 games played per season. Now his on-base percentage numbers are good, always around .375-.400 and he plays solid defense. But Drew is injury prone, reclusive and doesn’t seem totally devoted to the game. Hitting behind Ortiz and Manny means he will have plenty of chances to knock in runs. There are no more excuses. Also having those guys ahead of you means you will see a lot of pitches to hit. In Boston you have to produce, but it you don’t, you have to hustle. Trot Nixon always played hard. He may not have become the player we all wanted him to, but he never quit and consequently the fans loved him. Drew will get booed if he does not give his full effort. The problem is I don’t think Drew has ever given his full effort.
Julio Lugo is the other high-profile free agent the Red Sox have signed thus far. About a week ago Lugo signed a four-year, 36 million dollar contract to fill the shortstop gap in Fenway. Compared to the other deals the Red Sox have made this off-season, Lugo seems like a steal. Lugo is a solid top of the line-up guy who can steal, run, get on base, and has some pop in his bat. He is a little error prone (19 last season) and will be a defensive downgrade from Alex Gonzalez. But the Red Sox are all about offense and Lugo has that. He has also played in the AL East with the Devil Rays so he knows the park and what it is like to be in a high profile division.
The biggest boon to this signing may be Lugo’s Dominican heritage and personal relationship with David Ortiz. Lugo has said that he and Ortiz are good friends and have often talked about Lugo coming to Boston. This creates a solid comfort level that will help Lugo adjust to playing in the pressure cooker that is Boston. Lugo seems like a friendly and outgoing guy, which is a characteristic that is a must in being successful in Boston. Look at Edgar Renteria; he was somewhat of a recluse, rarely speaking with the media. He never seemed comfortable in Fenway. That is why the Red Sox are paying him to play for Atlanta. Lugo seems like a good fit for the Red Sox.
I give the Red Sox a B+ for their off-season moves so far. The Dice-K deal could go either way; he could be a historic steal or a historic bust. But for not bending to Boras, that is commendable. Julio Lugo will hopefully stop the revolving door that Nomar has left at shortstop since his departure. Lugo and Crisp will be fun to watch on the field and the base paths, bringing much needed speed to the roster. I really don’t like the Drew deal but here is to hoping he figures out how talented he is and finally starts playing like it.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Why video games are not art
Video games are the fastest growing medium of entertainment in the past 20 years. Going from a simple child’s toy to a multi-billion dollar industry in such a short time is fairly remarkable. But are video games art? This is one of the hot questions surrounding the video game industry as it gains more and more mainstream acceptance.
Encyclopedia Britannica Online defines art as “the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” By this defeintion video games are absolutely art. Video games take immense skill, imagination and time to create, can be shared with others, and are free to critique and praise. But are video games really on par with film, painting, architecture, literature, and music? They are not, not yet, at least. Video games are a spry 20-30 years old, infantile compared to other artforms. Something so young and fresh can be considered art. In the video game market crash of 1984 video games almost ceased to exist, who is to say they will be around in 5, 10, or 20 years? Nothing can stop music, film, or literature. Those will be around forever, as long as humans exist. But video games could easily die if the money well dries up and people lose interest. This is one of the biggest problems with video games breaking the art barrier, expendibility. Right now, the market seems stable and healthy for video games. But as graphics get better and more realistic as the years go on, is there a ceiling on video games? Could there be another crash like in 1984, with companies constantly trying to outdo each other and drive prices higher and higher? There are a lot of question marks looking into the long term future of video games.
The average film today runs just under two hours (correction welcome). The average video game runs about eight hours (again, anyone with hard numbers on that feel free), with some running north of 50 hours. This fact alone is enough to hold video games firmly in the toy category. Between jobs, family, spouses and friends the everyday person just doesn’t have those 8-10 hours of free time to spend on a game. If a person has a free weeknight, they can go to the movies for a scant two hour time commitment and some social interaction. To finish a video game it would take that same busy person at least a week of playing, and that is if they don’t get stuck or frustrated. Books can be read on subways or trains, music can be listened to almost anywhere with iPods, and films are digested quickly. Video games, on the other hand, require a time commitement that most people just can’t give.
The number one obstacle standing in the way of video games becoming art is skill. A video game takes skill to enjoy and truly appreciate. Some of the best ones, a lot of skill. Almost anyone can look at a painting and get something out of it. Same with music and film. What true art does best is appeal to casual fans at first glance, but allows for deeper dissection by those dedicated to it. “I like that song” or “that was a good book” are opinions anyone can have. But getting into why the song is good or the structure of the novel are things that make those artforms great. Video games are a much different animal. Instead of appealing to anybody on base levels, video games have fairly steep learning curves. Some games may take a few hours to get down. A movie is over by then and you are already talking about it. This fact may also be why video games are so popular. People who play them can do something that the everyday person cannot. It is, in some ways, elitism. This form of elitism is going to prevent video games from becoming art.
Video games do have a lot of artistic elements working for them. For one they are very “reviewable.” There are a copious amount of game review websites, magazines and television shows that help guide consumers to what is “good” and what is “bad.” Art has to have this element of criticism, and video games have it. Video games also have an element of interaction that most other artforms do not. When someone plays a video game they are looking at the screen, using their hands, listening to music and thinking all at the same time. Offering this wide range of stimulus is a plus for the industry. Most importantly, video games have a huge and dedicated fanbase that will not let their favorite hobby die. As the “video game generation” begins to slowly creep into the workforce (in a lot of cases the video game industry) video games will only continue to grow and evolve.
When asked if video games were art Hideo Kojima (mastermind behind one of gaming’s most artistic franchises, Metal Gear) responded by saying he didn’t think they were. This coming from the man whose games have politcally driven storylines that truly make the people who play them think about their world. Mr. Kojima is right, video games are not art. They have come a long way since Pong and the fact that there is even a debate about video games being art is something to be proud of. Game franchises like Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid and The Legend of Zelda are doing wonders to blur the lines between art and video games. Games like these feature sweeping storylines, dramatic characters and plot twists that you would find in a lot of big budget films. I would even say that some of the best games are better pieces of art than some mediocre films. But video games aren’t there yet. Video games may never be art, but that may not be such a bad thing.
Encyclopedia Britannica Online defines art as “the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” By this defeintion video games are absolutely art. Video games take immense skill, imagination and time to create, can be shared with others, and are free to critique and praise. But are video games really on par with film, painting, architecture, literature, and music? They are not, not yet, at least. Video games are a spry 20-30 years old, infantile compared to other artforms. Something so young and fresh can be considered art. In the video game market crash of 1984 video games almost ceased to exist, who is to say they will be around in 5, 10, or 20 years? Nothing can stop music, film, or literature. Those will be around forever, as long as humans exist. But video games could easily die if the money well dries up and people lose interest. This is one of the biggest problems with video games breaking the art barrier, expendibility. Right now, the market seems stable and healthy for video games. But as graphics get better and more realistic as the years go on, is there a ceiling on video games? Could there be another crash like in 1984, with companies constantly trying to outdo each other and drive prices higher and higher? There are a lot of question marks looking into the long term future of video games.
The average film today runs just under two hours (correction welcome). The average video game runs about eight hours (again, anyone with hard numbers on that feel free), with some running north of 50 hours. This fact alone is enough to hold video games firmly in the toy category. Between jobs, family, spouses and friends the everyday person just doesn’t have those 8-10 hours of free time to spend on a game. If a person has a free weeknight, they can go to the movies for a scant two hour time commitment and some social interaction. To finish a video game it would take that same busy person at least a week of playing, and that is if they don’t get stuck or frustrated. Books can be read on subways or trains, music can be listened to almost anywhere with iPods, and films are digested quickly. Video games, on the other hand, require a time commitement that most people just can’t give.
The number one obstacle standing in the way of video games becoming art is skill. A video game takes skill to enjoy and truly appreciate. Some of the best ones, a lot of skill. Almost anyone can look at a painting and get something out of it. Same with music and film. What true art does best is appeal to casual fans at first glance, but allows for deeper dissection by those dedicated to it. “I like that song” or “that was a good book” are opinions anyone can have. But getting into why the song is good or the structure of the novel are things that make those artforms great. Video games are a much different animal. Instead of appealing to anybody on base levels, video games have fairly steep learning curves. Some games may take a few hours to get down. A movie is over by then and you are already talking about it. This fact may also be why video games are so popular. People who play them can do something that the everyday person cannot. It is, in some ways, elitism. This form of elitism is going to prevent video games from becoming art.
Video games do have a lot of artistic elements working for them. For one they are very “reviewable.” There are a copious amount of game review websites, magazines and television shows that help guide consumers to what is “good” and what is “bad.” Art has to have this element of criticism, and video games have it. Video games also have an element of interaction that most other artforms do not. When someone plays a video game they are looking at the screen, using their hands, listening to music and thinking all at the same time. Offering this wide range of stimulus is a plus for the industry. Most importantly, video games have a huge and dedicated fanbase that will not let their favorite hobby die. As the “video game generation” begins to slowly creep into the workforce (in a lot of cases the video game industry) video games will only continue to grow and evolve.
When asked if video games were art Hideo Kojima (mastermind behind one of gaming’s most artistic franchises, Metal Gear) responded by saying he didn’t think they were. This coming from the man whose games have politcally driven storylines that truly make the people who play them think about their world. Mr. Kojima is right, video games are not art. They have come a long way since Pong and the fact that there is even a debate about video games being art is something to be proud of. Game franchises like Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid and The Legend of Zelda are doing wonders to blur the lines between art and video games. Games like these feature sweeping storylines, dramatic characters and plot twists that you would find in a lot of big budget films. I would even say that some of the best games are better pieces of art than some mediocre films. But video games aren’t there yet. Video games may never be art, but that may not be such a bad thing.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The Picks: Week 14
We are closing in on the finale of another NFL regular season. There are a ton of teams still in it and looks like no one (in the AFC, the real conference) is going to clinch homefield until about week 16.
New England Patriots (-3-1/2) at Miami Dolphins
Pats are coming off a scary win and remain mostly Maroney-less again this week. The Dolphins always play New England tough. For some reason only seem to play hard in the second half of the season, when they are already in a huge hole. All that said the Fish still have Joey at quarterback and the Pats still have Tom Brady.
Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (-7-1/2)
If the Broncos miss the playoffs (possible, maybe even likely with KC and Jacksonville looming for the wildcard) Jake Plummer can laugh until his head falls off as he is traded to another team. The team is in the hunt with him at QB (granted he wasn't great, or even very good) but they were still 7-4. Cutler comes in and does exactly what Jake does in most games (2 TD's and 2 picks) and the team loses. It is my humble opinion that if you're winning do not change the quarterback. For one how many back ups can do 1/8 as well as the starters in this league? Another point is if you're winning and you take your QB out, good luck getting him back in next year or whenever, his confidence will be shot. The Broncos have done it and the Bears are probably going to do it. Why are coaches so quick to pull the trigger, QB's struggle sometimes, it comes with the territory. Denver will either miss the playoffs or lose in the first round because the Cutler era had to start now. Chargers by 17.
Philadelphia Eagles (-1-1/2) at Washington Redskins
Picking Jeff Garcia on the road? Must be the Skins. In my opinion the Redskins are the worst team in football. No running game (last week was an abberation), a rookie QB, a significant weapon at WR who has fell off the face of the earth (Moss), and a ton of wasted money on free agents who have gone M.I.A. Oh and the defense can't stop anyone. Right now I would take the Raiders, Texans, and Lions over the Redskins. The Eagles keep their .500 playoff dream alive. Here's to hoping we see a 7-9 team in the playoffs.
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (+1-1/2)
What a week can do. Losing on a 60 yard field goal is bad enough, but losing on a 60 yard field goal against the Titans? That hurts. Everyone and their mother knows the Colts glaring weakness: run. the. football. Straight up the gut, nothing fancy. That is how the Titans came back from 14 down. They didn't panic and throw the ball with Vince. If they did, they would have lost for sure. Instead they bludgeoned the Colts for 200+ yards on the ground, scratching their way to victory. The Colts looked like a 13-14 win team, even with no run defense. Now? 12 wins is probably a more realistic number. Jax always plays Indy tough. And this Jags team seems hungry and motivated to beat Peyton and the Colts.
Seattle Seahawks (-3-1/2) at Arizona Cardinals
When I first saw this line I thought "this must be a typo, 3-1/2? Someone must be hurt." Check the injury report...Mack Strong is questionable. And that's it. Alexander and Hasselbeck are playing. How is this only three and a half? Seattle looks like a deep playoff team finally and the Cards, well they are terrible. The Cards should be getting at least 6. Seattle by 14.
Last Week: 5-5
Season: 25-31-4
New England Patriots (-3-1/2) at Miami Dolphins
Pats are coming off a scary win and remain mostly Maroney-less again this week. The Dolphins always play New England tough. For some reason only seem to play hard in the second half of the season, when they are already in a huge hole. All that said the Fish still have Joey at quarterback and the Pats still have Tom Brady.
Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (-7-1/2)
If the Broncos miss the playoffs (possible, maybe even likely with KC and Jacksonville looming for the wildcard) Jake Plummer can laugh until his head falls off as he is traded to another team. The team is in the hunt with him at QB (granted he wasn't great, or even very good) but they were still 7-4. Cutler comes in and does exactly what Jake does in most games (2 TD's and 2 picks) and the team loses. It is my humble opinion that if you're winning do not change the quarterback. For one how many back ups can do 1/8 as well as the starters in this league? Another point is if you're winning and you take your QB out, good luck getting him back in next year or whenever, his confidence will be shot. The Broncos have done it and the Bears are probably going to do it. Why are coaches so quick to pull the trigger, QB's struggle sometimes, it comes with the territory. Denver will either miss the playoffs or lose in the first round because the Cutler era had to start now. Chargers by 17.
Philadelphia Eagles (-1-1/2) at Washington Redskins
Picking Jeff Garcia on the road? Must be the Skins. In my opinion the Redskins are the worst team in football. No running game (last week was an abberation), a rookie QB, a significant weapon at WR who has fell off the face of the earth (Moss), and a ton of wasted money on free agents who have gone M.I.A. Oh and the defense can't stop anyone. Right now I would take the Raiders, Texans, and Lions over the Redskins. The Eagles keep their .500 playoff dream alive. Here's to hoping we see a 7-9 team in the playoffs.
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (+1-1/2)
What a week can do. Losing on a 60 yard field goal is bad enough, but losing on a 60 yard field goal against the Titans? That hurts. Everyone and their mother knows the Colts glaring weakness: run. the. football. Straight up the gut, nothing fancy. That is how the Titans came back from 14 down. They didn't panic and throw the ball with Vince. If they did, they would have lost for sure. Instead they bludgeoned the Colts for 200+ yards on the ground, scratching their way to victory. The Colts looked like a 13-14 win team, even with no run defense. Now? 12 wins is probably a more realistic number. Jax always plays Indy tough. And this Jags team seems hungry and motivated to beat Peyton and the Colts.
Seattle Seahawks (-3-1/2) at Arizona Cardinals
When I first saw this line I thought "this must be a typo, 3-1/2? Someone must be hurt." Check the injury report...Mack Strong is questionable. And that's it. Alexander and Hasselbeck are playing. How is this only three and a half? Seattle looks like a deep playoff team finally and the Cards, well they are terrible. The Cards should be getting at least 6. Seattle by 14.
Last Week: 5-5
Season: 25-31-4
Saturday, December 02, 2006
The Picks: Week 13
Astute readers of my blog (all 3 of you) will notice I didn't do any football picks last week. This was for a few reasons: Wii, laziness, and Thanksgiving. So this week I am going to do a double dip of 10 games to try and get my pitiful numbers up. This season has been very strange for football. Almost no game is predictable anymore. The Giants blew a 21 point, 3rd quarter lead to the lowly Titans. The Bears kicked a field goal, down by 7 late in the 4th against the Pats to ruin the "Bears +5" spread, covering and infuriating gamblers everywhere. The Chargers have been down by 17+ late into the 3rd quarter in back to back weeks and have come back to win. Once on the road in Denver. Hell even the Oakland Raiders are playing people tough. Things are crazy. So I have to adapt and pick a little crazy. Watch all favorites win and cover this week...
Seattle Seahawks (+4) at Denver Broncos
Usually Denver does not lose at home. But the Hawks look great with Alexander and Hasselbeck back. And nothing is scared anymore so I am going with the Hawks and the points.
Dallas Cowboys (-3-1/2) at New York Giants
This is a game where I cannot go against what should happen. What should happen is the Boys lead by Romo and that defense should stifle the injury depleted and Eli Manning lead NY Giants. What will probably happen is the Giants will toss a shutout. Thank God I don't have money on these things.
San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills (+6-1/2)
The Bolts are darn good, mainly because of LT. Alleged roid head Shawne Merriman will be back to lead the defense and Rivers is playing like a veteren. So why the Bills? Weather. Even if it doesn't snow, those Cali sissy boys will be feeling the freeze in Buffalo. Add in the fact that the Bills aren't playing half bad and we have a potential upset on our hands.
Detroit Lions at New England Patriots (-14)
The Pats are coming off a huge yet ugly win against the Bears and are eyeing a first round bye in the playoffs. The Lions are a dreadful defensive team and an inconsistent offensive one. Dangerous game? Absolutely. Should it be close? No.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (+8)
A week ago, the Titans would be getting 14+ points. But that comeback against the Giants was phenomenal, even if Eli gave it to them. Vince Young looks like the real deal, Vick with a much better arm. If it weren't for that Colston in New Orleans (who is injured and has Brees to throw him the ball) VY would be vying for rookie of the year. He has no one to help him on that team and is still playing well. The Colts are 100000-0 in regular season games but the Titans always play them tough. Vince has that something about him, he will rise to this game and at least keep it close.
Arizona Cardinals (+7) at St. Louis Rams
The Rams were my team in the first half of the season. Now they have almost no chance in the woeful NFC West where the freakin 49ers have a chance. Arizona was the trendy playoff pick that no one will own up to anymore. Worst team in the NFL much? Having no O-line is a bad thing. Just look at poor Edgerrin James. So this is the Toilet Bowl, and in the Toilet Bowl, take the points.
Minnesota Vikings (+9-1/2) at Chicago Bears
I would like to gload that I predicted when the Pats played the then 4-2 Vikings that they weren't as good as everyone thought they were. I remember hearing things like "they will challenge the Bears" and "they don't make mistakes, they run the ball and stop the run". But the thing is when you can't score at all and you can't rely on your QB to win some games on his own, it's tough to win. But the Bears really showed that they don't have a QB either. Grossman is the ultimate Jekyll/Hyde quarterback. Even more than Mike Vick. One game he will throw 4 TD's, the next 5 INT's. First half MVP to second half goat. Mark this: 2006 Bears, first round playoff loser.
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns (+6)
Cleveland was one dropped hail mary from beating the rival Steelers last week. I watched the end of that game and really found myself rooting for the Browns. They seem like a team headed in the right direction even with shaky character guys like Edwards and Winslow. The Chiefs will be a tough out especially with Trent Green back and LJ running like he always does. Interesting side note: Has anyone noticed the almost Brady-like way in which LJ stole Priest Holmes job? I know he is injured and will probably retire but it's a freaky comparison. Proven, Hall of Fame guy goes down (Bledsoe & Holmes) and unproven rookie (Brady and Johnson) takes over and becomes one of the best at their position. And that folks is why sports are great.
Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders (-3)
Oakland favored in a game?! Granted it is the Texans but still. If these teams combined their rosters they would be pretty darn good. Houston has the offense thing down with Carr and Andre Johnson (top 5 reciever this year) while Oakland is playing great defense especially against the pass. Problem is Carr has to throw the ball 40+ times because they have no running game and Walter/Brooks are completely inept quarterbacks. Oakland's D beats Houston's passing game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers (-7-1/2)
I am really sick and tired of all these people refusing to put a fork in the Steelers already. "At 4-7 they still have a chance." Give me a break. I know they are the defending champs and we love teams defending their titles but honestly. If they win out against Baltimore, Cleveland, at Cincinnatti and at Carolina three teams that are better than they are one that plays them tough they'd be 9-7. Baltimore and the Bengals would have to be less than 9-7 (Baltimore is 9-3) for them to win the division. There is no way they are getting the wildcard with KC, Cincy, and the Jets hanging around. So just say it: the Steelers are done. All that said the Bucs are really really bad.
Last Week: N/A
Season: 20-26-4
Seattle Seahawks (+4) at Denver Broncos
Usually Denver does not lose at home. But the Hawks look great with Alexander and Hasselbeck back. And nothing is scared anymore so I am going with the Hawks and the points.
Dallas Cowboys (-3-1/2) at New York Giants
This is a game where I cannot go against what should happen. What should happen is the Boys lead by Romo and that defense should stifle the injury depleted and Eli Manning lead NY Giants. What will probably happen is the Giants will toss a shutout. Thank God I don't have money on these things.
San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills (+6-1/2)
The Bolts are darn good, mainly because of LT. Alleged roid head Shawne Merriman will be back to lead the defense and Rivers is playing like a veteren. So why the Bills? Weather. Even if it doesn't snow, those Cali sissy boys will be feeling the freeze in Buffalo. Add in the fact that the Bills aren't playing half bad and we have a potential upset on our hands.
Detroit Lions at New England Patriots (-14)
The Pats are coming off a huge yet ugly win against the Bears and are eyeing a first round bye in the playoffs. The Lions are a dreadful defensive team and an inconsistent offensive one. Dangerous game? Absolutely. Should it be close? No.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (+8)
A week ago, the Titans would be getting 14+ points. But that comeback against the Giants was phenomenal, even if Eli gave it to them. Vince Young looks like the real deal, Vick with a much better arm. If it weren't for that Colston in New Orleans (who is injured and has Brees to throw him the ball) VY would be vying for rookie of the year. He has no one to help him on that team and is still playing well. The Colts are 100000-0 in regular season games but the Titans always play them tough. Vince has that something about him, he will rise to this game and at least keep it close.
Arizona Cardinals (+7) at St. Louis Rams
The Rams were my team in the first half of the season. Now they have almost no chance in the woeful NFC West where the freakin 49ers have a chance. Arizona was the trendy playoff pick that no one will own up to anymore. Worst team in the NFL much? Having no O-line is a bad thing. Just look at poor Edgerrin James. So this is the Toilet Bowl, and in the Toilet Bowl, take the points.
Minnesota Vikings (+9-1/2) at Chicago Bears
I would like to gload that I predicted when the Pats played the then 4-2 Vikings that they weren't as good as everyone thought they were. I remember hearing things like "they will challenge the Bears" and "they don't make mistakes, they run the ball and stop the run". But the thing is when you can't score at all and you can't rely on your QB to win some games on his own, it's tough to win. But the Bears really showed that they don't have a QB either. Grossman is the ultimate Jekyll/Hyde quarterback. Even more than Mike Vick. One game he will throw 4 TD's, the next 5 INT's. First half MVP to second half goat. Mark this: 2006 Bears, first round playoff loser.
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns (+6)
Cleveland was one dropped hail mary from beating the rival Steelers last week. I watched the end of that game and really found myself rooting for the Browns. They seem like a team headed in the right direction even with shaky character guys like Edwards and Winslow. The Chiefs will be a tough out especially with Trent Green back and LJ running like he always does. Interesting side note: Has anyone noticed the almost Brady-like way in which LJ stole Priest Holmes job? I know he is injured and will probably retire but it's a freaky comparison. Proven, Hall of Fame guy goes down (Bledsoe & Holmes) and unproven rookie (Brady and Johnson) takes over and becomes one of the best at their position. And that folks is why sports are great.
Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders (-3)
Oakland favored in a game?! Granted it is the Texans but still. If these teams combined their rosters they would be pretty darn good. Houston has the offense thing down with Carr and Andre Johnson (top 5 reciever this year) while Oakland is playing great defense especially against the pass. Problem is Carr has to throw the ball 40+ times because they have no running game and Walter/Brooks are completely inept quarterbacks. Oakland's D beats Houston's passing game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers (-7-1/2)
I am really sick and tired of all these people refusing to put a fork in the Steelers already. "At 4-7 they still have a chance." Give me a break. I know they are the defending champs and we love teams defending their titles but honestly. If they win out against Baltimore, Cleveland, at Cincinnatti and at Carolina three teams that are better than they are one that plays them tough they'd be 9-7. Baltimore and the Bengals would have to be less than 9-7 (Baltimore is 9-3) for them to win the division. There is no way they are getting the wildcard with KC, Cincy, and the Jets hanging around. So just say it: the Steelers are done. All that said the Bucs are really really bad.
Last Week: N/A
Season: 20-26-4
Tis the Season: For Video Games
Let’s just say finals are really hard to focus on this time of year. There are a ton of great video games being released for the holiday push. Not only on the “older” consoles (PS2, Xbox, and GameCube) but the new systems (Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360) as well. What follows are mini-reviews of the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Final Fantasy XII. If you want to avoid those (I understand) just read the following two paragraphs for general thoughts about the Wii.
I will start this off bluntly: The Wii is amazing. Not just "really fun" amazing (which it is) but possibly "world changing" awesome. This really may be the machine that finally brings video games to the masses. The motion sensing capabilities on Nintendo's machine surpassed all expectations. It is easy, responsive, rewarding, and downright enjoyable to use. Whether you are swinging the Wiimote as a baseball bat or golf club, slicing with a sword or surgeons knife, or shooting a Nazi, the controller does a lot to immerse you in the game. Plus it does a whole lot to quell the stereotype of the zombie-like gamer by forcing you to get up and be active while gaming.
A lot of people have argued that video games have gotten too serious for their own good and forgot about being fun. I am not saying Halo 2, World of Warcraft, Resident Evil 4, and the other "hardcore" games aren't fun, because they are. But the bottom line is they aren't for everyone. Fifteen button controls, blood and gore, and hours of time devotion are daunting to a lot of people. The Wii changes all that. Anyone and I mean anyone, can pick up and play this thing in a matter of minutes. My dad, who hasn't played a video game since the golden days of NES, not only learned Wii bowling, but beat me. He was the one who wanted to play "one more round." We stayed up until about 12:30 the night I came home for Thanksgiving playing Wii Sports. It was truly something I never thought would ever happen, even when I heard about the Wii. Nintendo wasn't lying, from kids to grandparents to girlfriends; the Wii really is for everyone.
Along with the Wii I also purchased The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Or as I like to call it The Legend of Zelda: Why I Failed all my Finals. I can't seem to stop playing it. The Wii's killer app, TP may be the best Zelda to date. Originally slated for the GameCube, TP was delayed a few times. Most recently (and probably intelligently) to coincide with the release of the Wii. The wait was worth it. TP is everything Zelda fans love: puzzle solving, swordplay, horseback riding, quirky mini-games, and epic boss battles. The graphics are very nice, although not that much improved from the GameCube era. But really, it's Zelda; graphics have never been of the utmost importance. Game play has always been number one, and TP does not disappoint.
*Minor spoiler warning*
All the familiar items are present: the lamp, bombs, bow and arrow, and the iron boots. They all have new twists on them (to steal from G4: iron boots + magnetic rock = awesome) and are fun to use in figuring out puzzles and finding enemy weaknesses. Much like the previous Zelda installments Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, there is a twist in Twilight Princess. At certain points in the game you turn into a wolf form to solve certain puzzles and dungeons. The wolf parts of the game are interesting if not as good as the Link parts. You use your canine abilities to sniff out clues, dig under buildings, and talk to other animals.
I cannot recommend Twilight Princess enough, and I am not even done with it yet. There is just so much to do in this game and all of it is enjoyable. The fishing mini-game could be a game by itself it is so in depth. Long-time fan of the series or not, Twilight Princess is the must have Wii game and one of the best games of not only 2006, but may be the best Zelda game ever.
Before Twilight Princess stole my soul I was playing a little indie game called Final Fantasy XII. Some of you may have heard of it (end stupid sarcasm). Most who know me know I love the Final Fantasy series. I fell in love with FFVIII (best game ever, in my opinion) and thanks to re-releases own every game from FF3-FFXII. Final Fantasy XII has been in the making for quite some time and is a revolution of sorts in the series.
Without getting any more hyper-dorky than I already have, traditionally Final Fantasy games have been turned based. You input commands, and then the AI does. But in FFXII it is quasi-real time, a lot like your MMORPG’s. Like most people I was doubtful at first, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. But the Gambit system (you program your party members’ actions and set them in priority) is deep, rewarding, and user-friendly.
But what sets the FF franchise aside from other games is high production value and sweeping storyline. The game is almost a vehicle to advance the story, not the other way around. I won’t give away any details but the story is very political in nature involving: murder, suicide, betrayal, and war. The story unfolds in gorgeous cutscenes that really are the last hurrah for the PS2. Characters are interesting, well voiced, and believable. Graphically the game is a wonder and probably the best on the PS2.
Any fan of RPG’s owes it to themselves to play FFXII; it is the best RPG available on the PS2 and is in the top 5 best Final Fantasy games ever. Which is quite the statement.
Between FFXII and Zelda it is going to be tough to focus on unimportant things like “school work”, “grades”, “sleeping”, “eating”, and “bathing properly”.
Images courtesy of:
http://www.zelda-aventures.info/images/twilight.jpg
http://image.jeuxvideo.com/images/p2/f/f/ff12p200b.jpg
I will start this off bluntly: The Wii is amazing. Not just "really fun" amazing (which it is) but possibly "world changing" awesome. This really may be the machine that finally brings video games to the masses. The motion sensing capabilities on Nintendo's machine surpassed all expectations. It is easy, responsive, rewarding, and downright enjoyable to use. Whether you are swinging the Wiimote as a baseball bat or golf club, slicing with a sword or surgeons knife, or shooting a Nazi, the controller does a lot to immerse you in the game. Plus it does a whole lot to quell the stereotype of the zombie-like gamer by forcing you to get up and be active while gaming.
A lot of people have argued that video games have gotten too serious for their own good and forgot about being fun. I am not saying Halo 2, World of Warcraft, Resident Evil 4, and the other "hardcore" games aren't fun, because they are. But the bottom line is they aren't for everyone. Fifteen button controls, blood and gore, and hours of time devotion are daunting to a lot of people. The Wii changes all that. Anyone and I mean anyone, can pick up and play this thing in a matter of minutes. My dad, who hasn't played a video game since the golden days of NES, not only learned Wii bowling, but beat me. He was the one who wanted to play "one more round." We stayed up until about 12:30 the night I came home for Thanksgiving playing Wii Sports. It was truly something I never thought would ever happen, even when I heard about the Wii. Nintendo wasn't lying, from kids to grandparents to girlfriends; the Wii really is for everyone.
Along with the Wii I also purchased The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Or as I like to call it The Legend of Zelda: Why I Failed all my Finals. I can't seem to stop playing it. The Wii's killer app, TP may be the best Zelda to date. Originally slated for the GameCube, TP was delayed a few times. Most recently (and probably intelligently) to coincide with the release of the Wii. The wait was worth it. TP is everything Zelda fans love: puzzle solving, swordplay, horseback riding, quirky mini-games, and epic boss battles. The graphics are very nice, although not that much improved from the GameCube era. But really, it's Zelda; graphics have never been of the utmost importance. Game play has always been number one, and TP does not disappoint.
*Minor spoiler warning*
All the familiar items are present: the lamp, bombs, bow and arrow, and the iron boots. They all have new twists on them (to steal from G4: iron boots + magnetic rock = awesome) and are fun to use in figuring out puzzles and finding enemy weaknesses. Much like the previous Zelda installments Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, there is a twist in Twilight Princess. At certain points in the game you turn into a wolf form to solve certain puzzles and dungeons. The wolf parts of the game are interesting if not as good as the Link parts. You use your canine abilities to sniff out clues, dig under buildings, and talk to other animals.
I cannot recommend Twilight Princess enough, and I am not even done with it yet. There is just so much to do in this game and all of it is enjoyable. The fishing mini-game could be a game by itself it is so in depth. Long-time fan of the series or not, Twilight Princess is the must have Wii game and one of the best games of not only 2006, but may be the best Zelda game ever.
Before Twilight Princess stole my soul I was playing a little indie game called Final Fantasy XII. Some of you may have heard of it (end stupid sarcasm). Most who know me know I love the Final Fantasy series. I fell in love with FFVIII (best game ever, in my opinion) and thanks to re-releases own every game from FF3-FFXII. Final Fantasy XII has been in the making for quite some time and is a revolution of sorts in the series.Without getting any more hyper-dorky than I already have, traditionally Final Fantasy games have been turned based. You input commands, and then the AI does. But in FFXII it is quasi-real time, a lot like your MMORPG’s. Like most people I was doubtful at first, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. But the Gambit system (you program your party members’ actions and set them in priority) is deep, rewarding, and user-friendly.
But what sets the FF franchise aside from other games is high production value and sweeping storyline. The game is almost a vehicle to advance the story, not the other way around. I won’t give away any details but the story is very political in nature involving: murder, suicide, betrayal, and war. The story unfolds in gorgeous cutscenes that really are the last hurrah for the PS2. Characters are interesting, well voiced, and believable. Graphically the game is a wonder and probably the best on the PS2.
Any fan of RPG’s owes it to themselves to play FFXII; it is the best RPG available on the PS2 and is in the top 5 best Final Fantasy games ever. Which is quite the statement.
Between FFXII and Zelda it is going to be tough to focus on unimportant things like “school work”, “grades”, “sleeping”, “eating”, and “bathing properly”.
Images courtesy of:
http://www.zelda-aventures.info/images/twilight.jpg
http://image.jeuxvideo.com/images/p2/f/f/ff12p200b.jpg
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