I hope that everyone is “in the mood” to usher out the old year and to welcome in the new one.  That is because we really have no choice in the matter.  2012 will arrive here tonight at midnight local time wherever you live.   In case you have never thought about it, our watery little planet travels about 347 million miles every year just to get us back to where we start the new year off again each January 1^st.  That averages just under a million miles each and every day (and you thought marathon runners were amazing running 40 kilometers).  For those of us who are metric illiterate (our hoser buddies in the Great White North are certainly not), here is the conversion of 40 kilometers to miles:

There was once a time when January 1^st was the end to the college football season.  The four major bowls (back then they were the Rose, Sugar, Orange, and Cotton) all were contested on this day.  Then something weird happened about a decade ago, and now we just wish the season ended on New Years Day, with meaningless bowl games like the TicketCity, Outback, Capital One, TaxSlayer, Compass, and GoDaddy Bowls extending all the way to January 8.

Not that the non- BCS Bowls have to all be snoozers, I hope you all had a chance to watch the Alamo Bowl  last evening where Baylor and Washington lit up the field like The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” (old school) pinball machine 67-56.  You are correct, that was the score in regulation (no overtime)!   There was also the Champ’s Sports Bowl game yesterday, where Florida State handed Notre Dame a 18-14 loss, its 10^th bowl game loss in the last 12 bowl games.  (Note to Mike Kelly: Your team is close to being relevant again, you just need a great rookie quarterback next year and you will win at least 10 games…really).

I would love to wish all the owners, writers, and readers of YouGabSports a happy and prosperous New Year.  I would also like to extend a heartfelt good luck next season to all your favorite teams!

In like a lamb...

Out like a lion...

That was 2011...

TCU beats Swiss-consin in the Rose Bowl ...

Happy...

Auburn beats Oregon in the BCS Championship...

Sad...

The Chargers not in the playoffs...

Sad...

Norv Turner is still the head coach...

Really sad...

A Packer-Steeler Super Bowl...

Wife, stepdaughter, and in-laws really sad...

Stepdaughter's boyfriend really, really happy...

NBA All-Star Weekend...

Man happily and easily jumps over car...

Believe it!!!

Baseball training camp in AZ...

A really nice first anniversary with Miss Kim...

Happy...

Lots of drinkin' and drunks at the exhibition games...

Sad...

I can enjoy life without the use of alcohol...

I'm naturally drunk...

And happy...

Naturally...

SDSU Aztec Basketball...

Sweet Sixteen...

Sweetly happy...

(Even though we shoulda beaten UConn...)

THE tattoo scandal...

At THE Ohio State University...

We had an ink-ling...

Not happy...

Not sad...

Laffin' my fool head off...

The start of baseball season...

Happiness stricken by shock...

Bryan Stowe...

NBA playoffs...

Clippers missed them again...

Sad again...

Can't wait 'til nex year...

Maybe the Clippers will get another superstar...

Wishful thinking...

Again...

Mr. Frank has to sell the Dodgers...

Happy, happy, happy...

Nincompoop...

NHL playoffs...

Not another Beantown champion...

Happy for all my Beantown friends...

NBA Finals...

Happy for Mark Cuban and the Mavs...

Even more happy the Heat got beat...

Tee hee...

The biggest wedding of the year...

Prince Harry and what's her face...

They look so happy...

All of England looks happy...

Wishing them "eternal" bliss...

My saddest day of the year...

The loss of Macho Man Randy Savage...

"Ohhhhhh yeahhhhh..."

Beanball in Motown...

Weaver lets one fly at the Tigers...

After they act stupid hitting home runs...

Verlander didn't get the no-no...

Happy...

Bunts rule...

NFL lockout...

It's not about the money...

Yeah, right...

A settlement just in time...

Kinda happy...

Except for you-know-who coaching the Chargers...

The second big wedding of the year...

Kim and Kris...

A match made in heaven...

And by some television producers...

Wishing them "eternal" bliss...

They look so happy...

Back to school...

College football season...

USC ineligible...

Not happy at all...

Exuberant!!!

SDSU season football tix...

If you haven't seen RB Ronnie Hillman...

You are missin' somethin'...

He makes defenses very sad...

By the way...

Who's this RG3 guy???

Baylor looks happy for a change...

Chargers happily off to a fabulous start...

And their first ever Super Bowl title...

Even Norv Turner can’t mess this one up...

Angels sadly fade as October approaches...

Two years straight with no playoffs...

Angel fans look to heaven for a miracle...

​NBA lockout...

No more NBA ever again...

For the rest of our lives...

Sox and  Braves collapse...

Snickering...

Chicken, beer, and video games in the clubhouse...

Tito was happy Dave and Buster's didn't  sue...

Two times one strike away...

Nolan Ryan looked so hopeful...

Sad for him...

Texas goes into a deep Frees in Game Six...

Haaaaappppeee for the Cards...

November and a new President is elected...

Ooooopps...

Gotta wait another year...

No lockout in baseball...

At least one league has some sense around here...

Happy, happy...

Chargers fade into Bolivia...

“Heeeeeee” is still the coach...

Saaaaaaaad...

Penn State and Syracuse...

Definitely not happy...

Sad doesn’t cut it...

Disgusting...

Is there anything we can do to end on a happy note???

Albert to the Halos...

CP3 to the Clippers...

HAPPY!!!

New Year

dvt

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Hrnv0nLDcA/Tg0Lzcf_jKI/AAAAAAAACJU/lCnJ00TwKxA/s400/happy-sad%252Bface.jpg

We all survived the Christmas rush as we head toward amateur night and 2012. It was a busy week around the lanz household. I caught a nasty cold on Wednesday. Felt lousy all day Thursday took the day off. I rarely call in sick but slept must of the day. I ended up Refereeing a Basketball Game on Thursday Night, (I probably shouldn’t have been, but in some strange way I think it helped). As matter fact my brother official looked at me and said you probably shouldn’t be here. It was solid effort in an OT game and yeah ! I could have been better.

Friday Night brought first wave of company, we had few close friends over had a nice meal and good conversation just what the holiday is about. On Saturday the Mrs and I started the day off getting some last minute odds and ends before me and one of the lanz Twins headed to the Pats Game. We called him into our bedroom before leaving for the game and gave him early Christmas present; a New Tom Brady Shirt. The kid was just jacked and pumped as Pete Carol would say.

I’m sitting in my seats at Gillette and the usual guys sat in front of me.  The folks next me weren’t the same the guy tells me he got the tickets from his cousin and that he and his wife live in Hawaii. I  started talking to him and the guy was from my hometown and has been in the USAF for 22 years we started talking about guys from home. It ends up we knew a lot of the same people despite a 10 year age difference. It was awesome great conversation during the game.Thank You for your service Airman Crowley.  The game itself was a tale of two halves. I do have to say I was very impressed with Reggie Bush. He leaped over a Patriot and Then a few minutes later they show the Bengal Guy go over the Cardinal on the scoreboard.

I made record time out of Foxboro I was back to my house by 5:15 . It usually a 45 minute ride and add at least an hour escaping from the parking lot and getting to I-95. .

More friends Christmas Eve with the 7 fishes for that Italian type Christmas. In my house it’s more like 3 fishes and some steaks and Ribs and big salad. No pasta. Some of the lanz’s are allergic to shell fish and our guests didn’t eat things from the ocean. So it was lobster, shrimp Calamari. Good thing all this stuff .

The Little Lanz's aren't the most dedicated patriot fans in the world, one rather the Ravens, one the Falcons and of course one the patriots. Naturally the Brady jersey was joined by a Matt Ryan Jersey and a Joe Flaaco jersey (Ok the kid has an Ed Reed and I simply refuse to buy a Ray Lewis Jersey). They were thrilled to the fact they didn’t take those Jerseys off for 4 days.

The Mrs took the boys to the dentist and he said I looked at all the Quarterbacks and Ryan no cavities, Flaaco looks good as does Brady. You have to love a dentist with a sense of humor.

On Sunday I had no intention of watching the NBA . But I  tuned into the Celtics and Knicks game ended up being entertained and I watched the end of the lakers and Bulls and was entertained. The other night The Celtics played the heat a I switched to Pitt and Notre Dame and last Night I went back and forth between the Texas Football Game and Louisville and Georgetown. I still like college hoops better than the NBA and fell asleep before Texas Game and the Louisville game ended.

To all of you at the Gab have a Safe and Healthy New Year

So, like most here I imagine, I've had a bit of a tough time focusing solely on sports. It being the holiday season, I've just gotten into the running about phase, which will be capped off by a trip down to Ohio to see my relatives down that way. Still, I've been enjoying seeing family and friends. 

I was also excited to find that here in Detroit we have a public tv channel called the Cool TV that shows honest to god music videos all the time. They had a nice selection of Christmas videos that made nice background during the various present sessions. I never realized that Mariah Carey had so many damn Christmas songs. Plus, Bieber showed up more than I or my dad needed him to. Still, I got my share of Christmas tunes, but never enough family time.

Still, I've caught few of the bowl games. Of course, I saw none of the NBA games. I probably wouldn't have anyways, but I'm still bummed by that league. I'll admit I can forgive the NFL easily, but it takes me longer for other sports. Besides, I find the new super teams terribly unfortunate for the league.

So far as sports go, 2011 was a crazy year. BOB had a point, I won't be sorry to see it go. Scandals upon scandals coupled with two strikes. We lost greats from Harmon Killabrew to Macho Man Randy Savage. We had few days without something to talk about here, but damned if most of it wasn't pretty negative. Let's hope next year goes off with more common sense and more sanity so far as sports is concerned. Being an election year, I know better than to ask for anything resembling sanity anywhere else.

Well, as if it matters, the NFL released the pro bowl teams. I like that they put the game back in Hawaii, but this playing before the Super Bowl thing still sucks. Granted I wasn't going to watch anyway, but you're eliminating a few possible players by having it before the Super Bowl. For that matter, most of the folks selected are probably going to opt out anyway. They should just scrap the damn thing and go back to the QB Challenge like I remember. Now that was something to watch.

Looking over the roster, Dwight Freeny catches my eye. This guy doesn't have much excuse to miss the game since it doesn't seem like his teams played much aside from the last few weeks. I don't see how anyone from that team should be near a pro bowl team the way they've played. 

Tebow was named an alternate, so he'll probably get the start since Brady will most likely decline, Big Ben is hurt, and Rivers will probably opt out too. Besides, Rivers strikes me as an odd choice, though he's been picking it up lately.

The Patriots and 49ers both have 8 players on the team. 

Finally, it looks like ESPN may have a bit of competition as NBC is going to start its own 24 hour sports network. I hope they can give us some sports without the same old crap we get from ESPN. Still, might be interesting to see if they include it on basic cable.

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and got all they wanted. We got everything except snow here. Here's to a great 2012 here at the GAB. Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Years and are smart with the sauce. 

holiday eve, noun

Though Im not one for putting eye candy on my column...this one is ok by me....

Greetings from the Hoodwood, where the locals have cleaned up the ornaments and wrapping but the joy of the season is still here...

NFL: Lions in, Cowboys out, Is Tebow fading?

I absolutely loved the Saturday slate of games this week, except for the fact that the local blackout of the Bengals affected Hoodwood and I didn’t get a Fox doubleheader.  The feel good story has to be coming out of Motown, where the Detroit Lions shook off a midseason swoon and talk of a Buffalo like collapse to rout the Chargers (as I predicted) and um, roar into the playoffs their first berth since 1999. With the exception of the Bills and the neophyte Texans, every NFL team has made the postseason at least twice in that span. Yeah, that even includes the Bengals and Cardinals. The Bills are now on the longest drought list with the Browns next up with a 10 season and counting drought. The Lions also have a chance to break the 2^nd longest playoff win drought as they last had a playoff win in 1991. Only the Bengals who’s last playoff win was against the then Houston Oilers  in 1990 are sitting on a longer playoff win drought. This coming weekend both networks get doubleheader and the intrigue into them is fascinating.  Most of the focus will be on the suddenly sputtering Cowboys who are looking at a Gotham showdown with the G-Men to win the NFC East. The Giants thrashed the Jets and shut their grinning jeering coach up. Meanwhile the Cowboys looking like a team with nothing to play for since the Giants won came out terribly flat and lost to Philly. With the status of Tony Romo in question, the Pokes are now looking at being locked out of a postseason spot that was theirs for the taking.

Then there is the curious case of the Broncos, who two weeks ago looked to be writing things after another incomparable dramatic win, this time over the Chicago Bears. The Broncos got thrashed by the Pats, which was no real big shock but then facing a Bills team that hadn’t won in almost 2 months; got took back of the woodshed. Tebow and company jumped to another early lead then wilted badly. Tebow threw 4 interceptions, two taken back to the house on pick sixes…on consecutive throws in the 4^th. The Broncos are still in the drivers seat, needing a home win over the Chiefs to secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2005. I still want Tebow to fall flat on his face once again, I have nothing against the Broncos personally but the Tebow hype must stop and him failing with the money on the line would quiet them in a hurry.

NFL: Bengals plead for their peeps.

I used to be a Bengals fan when I was younger, I had a Bengals starter jacket that I wore everywhere. I mean all the time. I grew disenchanted with the Bengals after they fired Sam Wyche and dumped my then favorite player, running back James Brooks. The Bengals have long been known for their penurious owner and their losing ways. They have had just 3 winning seasons in the past 21 years.  All have come under the watch of Marvin Lewis, who is the longest tenured, winningest coach in Bengals history. After a disastourous 2010 season which saw the Bengals at one point lose ten games in a row, suffer the indiganty of their frnachise quarterback openly demand a trade or else he would retire and face the humiliation of having a showcase Sunday night game late in the season flexed away from them the Bengals looked like a team that was falling back into its bad old ways and days. Many people openly questioned if the Bengals would win a single game as they were handing the reins to a rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton since Palmer stated that he would retire if he was not released or traded.  Instead the Bengals got off an winging with a rousing defeat of instate rival Cleveland, the opening win seemed to take a lot of pressure off the Bengals who after losing their next two then ripped off a 5 game win streak, including a defeat of the then unbeaten Buffalo Bills. A rocky stretch in which they lost a pair of tight games to the Steelers and Ravens and edged the Browns then got hammered by the Steelers and lost a heartbreaker to the Texans was then offset by wins over the Rams and Cards. At 9-6 the Bengals have only to win against the Ravens a team that they fought to the end of a tight loss in November. The Bengals will host the game and the NFL has flexed them to the higher profile 4:15 start for maximum national coverage, but the Bengals are still looking at a blackout as they are short of a sellout. The city has had the mentality of not going to the games to spite the owner, Mike Brown who they feel has hampered the team. Brown and his family recently bought the last 30 percent of the team from the Austin Knowlton estate which gives him total control of the team and many of the fans in the area feel going to the game is putting money directly into his pocket. In fact, the Bengals have sold out (and subsequently been on TV locally) just once the whole season against the Steelers who bring their noisy fans in droves and buy up tickets.  The Bengals players have taken to the airwaves, begging and pleading for Bengals fans to come to the game, and give them a home field advantage.  Only 41,273 turned out for the game last Saturday against the Cardinals. Game day was a bit chilly but sunny and 38 degrees, my alma mater has used Paul Brown Stadium twice for games and drew more than that in one game and nearly as much for the other.

NBA: Back…were you paying attention?

The NBA made its long overdue 2011 debut on Sunday. The Knicks rallied hard to beat the Celtics, the Heat thrashed the Mavs at home, the Bulls stole one late from the Lake Show and the Thunder and Clips won the night games. The Knicks winning was no real surprise as I think the Celtics are getting a bit long in the tooth. If ever there was a game changer for two different teams it is Tyson Chandler. With Chandlers presence the Knicks look like a formidable foe and the Celtics were worn down by it. The Mavs on the other hand missed his roaming presence down low and the Heat repeatedly abused them, if the Mavs are hoping to repeat they better hope Mr. Kardashian…errr Lamar Odom develops more toughness and Vince Carter (is he still in this league?) can do more than just jack up stupid shots.  My favorite for the West is the Thunder (I wish they had been named the Bandits) who’s dominant force is the irrepressible Kevin Durant. It was fun watching him repeatedly abuse Dwight Howard to the tune of 30 points. Get used to that, he will be abusing many a player this year. The Lakers? Ummm, they wont win much of anything if they continue to give away games like they did Sunday. Mike Brown (the Lakers coach not the Bengals owner) looked more lost than anything and we all know hes not the real coach of that team, just a caddy for Kobe. Im waiting to see Kobe tell Mike Brown to shut up in a huddle and give directions on what the Lakers need to do. With a chance to win the game Sunday, Kobe had his shot blocked (yes that was a clean block) but the onus falls on Pau Gasol who had a chance to ice the  game with free throws and failed. He also gave up a foul and three point play late to Derrick Rose who would hit the game winner . The Lakers are not going to be anymore than a token player in the west and might not even be the most exciting team in their own building.

PHAT DAP/HEAD SLAP

Phat Dap

To Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson who stuck the landing on the flip in the Bengals win over the Cards Saturday…I know the play has been shown ad infinitum but still…

He got a 9.7 from the Russian judge cause he put his hand down, but I loved the daring move to score what would be a crucial score for the Bengals win over the Cards.

Head Slap

To Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba who was handed a 66 game suspension by the Venezuelan League for striking an umpire on Friday.  Torrealba swung and missed at a third strike, got into the face of the ump then after a heated argument, slapped his face mask with an open hand. Being someone who has argued with an ump before I can understand that the dialogue can get heated but under no circumstances should anyone ever touch an ump, much less hit with an open hand. Torrealba’s suspension will not carry to the MLB level but the Rangers should levy some sort of punishment. A head slap to Torrealba who should have known better.

Well this is the last post of 2011 for me, my picks will post early on the first day of the new year. I hope 2012 brings good fortune, good health and good times to you and your loved ones. Until next post fellow sports fans!