I was watching the end of the Sunday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.  I was trying to figure out what to take from the game about the two teams, then John Madden said it perfectly.

He was referring specifically to the Patriots and their situation at the end of the game when he said there comes a time when you have to stop taking what they give you and start taking what you want.  The funny thing is, his comment fit the Colts to perfection as well as the Patriots.

The Colts/ Patriots match up has been such a good one over recent years that we have all become accustomed to seeing close, hard faught games with each team and each coaching staff stressed and stretched to their wits end, trying to squeak out a victory. 

Continue reading "Madden Sums Up Colts Versus Patriots Perfectly"

The Denver Nuggets did the right thing in getting rid of Allen Iverson.  They never should have traded for Iverson to begin with.  Iverson is one of the most overrated basketball players in the history of the NBA.  The Pistons are sure to suffer and lose all hope of any run to a title.

Iverson is fast, quick and entertaining to the fans, but he doesn't play fundamentally sound basketball.  His quickness gets him steals on defense and gives him a chance to drive by his defender when he has the ball. 

Instead of using his speed and quickness to full effect, all Iverson ever does is dribble all over in circles until either he feels like hoisting what is usually a horrible shot, or he has no chance to fling it toward the hoop and passes off to somebody else so they can take a horrible shot with the shot clock at one.

Continue reading "Allen Iverson Trade is Stupid Move on Pistons Part"

The Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Washington Redskins brings to mind all kinds of historic players that I cannot remember.  Ok, so I can remember names like John Riggins or Franco Harris.  Maybe Deacon Jones or Jack Lambert ring a bell.  These names are not as prominent, however, as the kind of football they represented.

The Steelers and Redskins are two old NFL Franchises that have established traditions as hard-nosed, punishing football teams.  These aren't teams that finesse their way to victory with soft, floating passes all over the field.  These are two teams that gave us famous nicknames like the Steel Curtain or the Hogs.  The Steelers and Redskins represent what football is really all about: knocking the opposition into next week and letting them know who is boss.

Continue reading "Looking For a Smash Mouth Football Game On Monday Night"

I’m looking over Sunday’s games for week 11 of the NFL and I am slightly bored. Seriously, I am struggling to find a compelling storyline to follow.

I love the NFL and have for years, yet I hardly care about one single game that will be played tomorrow.

The biggest game that jumps out at me would have to be the undefeated Tennessee Titans going into Jacksonville to play the Jaguars in what should be a tough division match up. The Titans may be undefeated, but what good is that if nobody is buying it.

Jacksonville is only 4-5 and 1-3 at home this season, yet they are mere three point underdogs in this game. On top of that the money is all moving on the Jags. To take the Jags and the three points, one would have to lay down $130 to win $100. This indicates that the general public believes the Jags will win this game.

Continue reading "Planning A Long Nap On Sunday"

I find myself truly excited to watch the Detroit Pistons play the Boston Celtics tonight.

I am not excited because the game might be a close one or because I think the Celtics are going to win.  I am excited because this game could go a long way toward indicating what to expect the rest of the season.

If the Celtics can’t get fired up for this game; if they play uninspired basketball tonight like they have at times in this early season, it could indicate that they don’t have what it takes to repeat.

The Pistons have just beaten the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the past week and they are getting a lot of attention for it. 

If the Pistons were to beat the Celtics tonight, the media would be sure to start talking about crowning the Pistons as champs.  The Celtics, if they are motivated competitors, really playing spirited basketball, will not want that to happen.

Continue reading "Can't Wait To See It!"

When you consider that he wasn't drafted by any team in the NFL, it is safe to say you probably won't be drafting him or picking him up for your fantasy football team, either. 

He had just 10 carries in the game against Atlanta on Sunday, but they always seem to be important ones, the kind of carries that remind us what it means to play football.

Peyton Hillis scored two touchdowns for the Denver Broncos on Sunday.  Jay Cutler may get a lot of credit for his final touchdown pass to take the lead for good, but Hillis was the MVP of the game in my eyes.

He caught three passes for just 26 yards, but one of those catches came on key third down late in the game.  He caught the ball short of the sticks, somehow stopped himself an inch from going out of bounds and then danced sideways, on his toes until he had reached the first down marker.

Continue reading "Undrafted and Unstoppable"

Kendrick Perkins with his league leading 7th technical right before the half?  I am surprised the Celtics lead the league in technical fouls this season and more shocked that Perkins leads the team.  Are the Celtics getting a little too boistrous after their championship? 

Winning a title might earn the right to talk a little, but they better be careful not to take it too far.  As for this game against the Pistons, they have earned the right to talk a little.  The Pistons are having a hard time getting shots in the paint.  They are shooting a bunch of jumpers and the Celtics keep grabbing the rebounds.  One and done is not a recipe for success.

I would expect this game to continue just the way it is going.  The Pistons might have Allen Iverson, but they sure don't have an answer for the Celtics defense.  Iverson is doing exactly what he always does: he dribbles around looking for holes.  That strategy might work against bad teams, but not against a good team defense like the Celtics have.

Continue reading "Second Half Should See More of Same"

Celtics fans have nothing to worry about.  They showed everyone tonight that they are still the same dominant team that won the title last season. 

They beat the Pistons for the second time this season, in a game that was never even close.  They played physical in every phase of the game.  They out-hustled the Pistons, out-rebounded the Pistons and out-defended the Pistons.

The Pistons all had dazed looks on their faces from the second quarter on to the finish.  They looked like a lost team without any answer for what the Celtics were doing to them.

The Celtics made it look really easy.  From the big three right down the last bench player, the Celtics played basketball the way it is supposed to be played.

Continue reading "Celtics Sound Off Crystal Clear Message"

People seem to like the New York Jets to beat the Denver Broncos with ease.  I suppose this is a bit of an obvious bet, which is usually a good reason not to bet it. 

The Broncos defense is so bad it cannot be counted on to force a single punt all day.  They just got done losing to the Oakland Raiders in Denver, so that certainly does its part in creating a bad image for the Broncos.

The problem with taking the Jets at -8.5 is, as I mentioned, it is too obvious.  The Jets are getting a lot of media praise this week.  They are deserving of this praise, having won five straight games, the last of which came against the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans.

They didn’t just squeak past the Titans either.  They walloped Tennessee by the score of 34-13.  While the Jets were boosting their public image, the Broncos were destroying theirs with a 31-10 loss to the Raiders.

Continue reading "NFL Week 13 Musings"