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Hello and welcome to another Wednesday of deep thoughts. Last week, I mentioned the heavy rain we received and the hassle of our flooded home. The upside of the rains is the benefit to the wildflowers this month. If you have never been to the Texas hill country, April is a great time to visit. The weather is pleasantly warm (usually) and the bluebonnets are on display. As the month goes along, the vibrant blues are joined by the bright red of the paint brushes and the yellows and pinks of other flowers. But for my money…the bluebonnets are worth viewing.
A sea of blue...
Here is the mixture that begins later in April...
Much was written before the 2013 season about the anticipated ineptitude of the Houston Astros. I was more than a little surprised that the Astros won on opening day against the big bats of the Texas Rangers. Of course, until last night…that was the only game that the Stros won. Houston is on pace to set an all time record for strikeouts. But of course, Chris Davis is on pace to hit 120 HRs as well. Basically, one week does not make a season. When Bo Porter was hired to be Houston’s manager, he was an unknown to me. I did not know him as a player or have any idea of what kind of manager he would be. I think we got a pretty good glimpse of what sort of manager he will be Monday night. Each manager expects their hitters to have a plan in each at bat. For each hitter there is a different plan. The Yankees and Red Sox have made a living of plate discipline. If you don’t throw strikes, they don’t swing. This must be what Porter is trying to impart to his young team as he removed JD Martinez from the game on Monday night for swinging at the first pitch. Monday night, Porter and Martinez sat down and had a long discussion. Martinez admits that Porter is the most direct manager that he has ever played for. By removing Martinez, I think Porter got his team’s attention. While there will continue to be struggles this year, if Porter can get his team pulling on the same end of the rope…it is a huge event for this young team. Tuesday night saw the Astros explode on Seattle. The 16 to 9 thumping of Seattle was their 2nd win and was exactly what this group needed. Of course, I suspect that the pitching rich Mariners will provide more resistance the rest of the series, the victory is significant. The high strikeouts don’t bother me as much if you mix in the long ball. The Astros had to know what they were getting when they added Chris Carter and Carlos Pena. Hopefully for Astros fans, Tuesday night was a sign of things to come and not an anomaly. And hey...they have as many wins as Toronto, with much less pay roll.
Don’t look now but Justin Upton is comfortable in Atlanta. I have listened to several ex players discuss Upton the past few years. It seemed like the DBacks were just not happy with Upton. Despite his early success, there always seemed to be trade rumors. The guys on the MLB channel felt that once Upton was removed from the situation in Arizona that he would be able to realize his full potential. I remain somewhat skeptical, but since I have the Braves as my fantasy pitching staff this year, I am very hopeful that I have finally picked a great staff. I suspect that the Braves and Nationals battle for supremacy of the NL East all season. I know the Reds and Giants will have something to say, but I really think one of these NL East teams will be in the WS this year. Maybe those predictions of Upton for MVP are not so outrageous?
Did you happen to see that Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) returned from a torn meniscus after 12 days? Wow…that really is crazy. Of course, when discussing someone named Metta, crazy is a good word. When reporters asked Artest about his quick return, his answer was…”I am just too sexy for my cat”. Wow…this is one very strange guy...but of course we knew this!.
I think any real football fan recognizes the name of Johnny Unitas. He was truly the beginning of great QB's known for clutch play. I read this week that there is an argument brewing within the Unitas family over which QB should play John Unitas in the upcoming movie, "Unitias We Stand". Joe Unitas has chosen Joe Flacco and John Jr. and others think that Peyton Manning is the logical choice to play Unitas. John Jr. went as far to say that Flacco is goofy. I have nothing against Joe Flacco and have to give him props for winning the super bowl last year...but, Peyton Manning would definitely be my choice. After watching Manning in his Colts helmet all those years, I don't see how anyone else would be better. Who would be your choice to play Johnny U?
I saw today that the Lions are putting Jason Hanson into their ring of honor. I have nothing against kickers, but wonder if any kicker is worthy of a spot in a team's ring of honor? Maybe it is just me, but special teams are called such for a reason. It helps to have a good kicker, but to put them in the ring of honor? I figure that our Gab's Lions fans will definitely weigh in on this...
I am going to "borrow" something from SI today. Do you remember the spot that they use called signs the Apocalypse is upon us...
Did you grow up riding a bike? I know that I did. It was a great form of transportation and also provided great exercise. Hyndai engineers have developed something called E4U. This "egg" goes up to 20 mph. I think someone at Hyndai needs to be slapped. Actually, I have a better idea. We should send fired basketball coach Mike Rice to Hyndai to be the research and development "coach". Maybe he can motivate them to research in a different area...
The music sucks too...
I am sorry that my post got up late today. I fell asleep writing m blog and had to finish this morning...
That is all I have today, but I will leave you with a bit of Jack Handey...
It's probably not a good idea to be chewing on a toothpick if you're talking to the president, because what if he tells a funny joke and you laugh so hard you spit the toothpick out and it hits him in the face or something.
A funny thing is if you're out hiking and your friend gets bit by a poisonous snake, tell him you're going for help, then go about ten feet and pretend YOU got bit by a snake. Then start an argument about who's going to get help. A lot of guys will start crying. That's why it makes you feel good when you tell them it was just a joke.
Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a few deep thoughts of your own...
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The past season was memorable for NFL fans and participants alike. The kiddie quarterback trend expanded. So did the run-option trend. The officials' strike made headlines but had little other significant bearing in the end --- the regulars proved just as bad, if more suave. Love him or hate him, Ray Lewis retired a winner. And, for the first time, brothers faced off in the Super Bowl as head coaches.
Those brothers both headmanned strong contenders. John Harbaugh's Ravens began the season looking like a sure bye. Jim Harbaugh's Niners looked to be a shoo-in for the NFCW. But the most stunning similarity between the two, other than their conference-champion status and their well-matched genes, was that both made stunningly risky moves on teams that seemed playoff bound already. But most failed to see the method in the madness --- the moves were both aligned with taking advantage of the fluctuating rule book and its striped disciples.
The Niners were doing fine when suddenly Alex Smith lost his job due to a brief injury. His coach made the extremely controversial decision to switch quarterbacks in November. That switch was aimed straight at the rule book. The rise of the untouchable quarterback has opened the door for scramblers. They don't have to be great field generals (though it helps), but if they can run and maintain the common sense to either stick to the sidelines or slide, there's really no way to stop them. Whether that state of affairs remains will, of course, be dictated by money. If the RG3 disasters proliferate, something will happen unless the NFL decides that the era of disposable quarterbacks is at hand. But, however that all works out, credit Harbaugh with exploiting the current trend in timely fashion.
Back in Baltimore the Ravens, still leading the AFCN, had hit a slump. John Harbaugh shockingly fired respected OC Cam Cameron (in December!) and promoted Jim Caldwell, whose resume seemed to read "cheerleader for Peyton Manning". Again, the results were spectacular as Joe Flacco proceeded to showcase offensive brilliance not seen before from him and to revive his team just in time for a playoff hot streak that culminated in a ring. There was a rules-based method to this madness too. Pass interference was becoming too much of a factor with such as Peyton Manning able to draw flags almost at will, and it was calling the credibility of too many games into question. In apparent response, the NFL moved away from it on both offense and defense. The result was a bonanza for large and powerful receivers who could muscle their way open without fear of drawing a flag. Caldwell's new offense was predicated on taking advantage of the situation, and the Ravens had guys who could execute the plan. It worked.
Each brother made a bold (and cold) midseason move that brought tepid support at best from many experts, and each pulled it off. Each case turned out to be a business decision made with foresight. Mark that as another item in the list of memorable happenings for 2012, perhaps in retrospect the most significant and unique one. How often are teams that change coaching staffs in December or quarterbacks in November rewarded with a Super Bowl berth? How about both?
Probably about as often as a jump-ball offense wins a title. The confluence of rare events occurred because in each case it meant exploiting rule changes better than anyone else. In reality, Harbaughs don't rule. Cold hatchet-man tactics don't rule. The rules rule. Nothing new there.
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No one knows if and when MD pays the 50 mil or less for early exiting the ACC. Sports change is difficult for me, and I won't rehash the opinions I've typed ad nauseum about missing Wacky Tobacky road.
As the disco dj's used to say 'the record keeps spinning...round and round".
So while I've noticed that Miami Fla , who joined the ACC less than a decade ago, is running up the men's hoop charts, I've focused more attention than usual to the Big10, and I've been impressed with the excitement of the Mich/Ohio St and Indiana /Illinois games and , of course, one can not ignore the Wisky bottles until katy bars the door.
Who doesn't know the Big10 football lore of the Bo & Big House, Woody Hayes, Bubba Smith, Leroy Keyes (Purdue), etc. More recently : Charles Woodson (Mich), one of a few defensive players to win the Heisman, Urban's growing legend in Columbus, Madison, WI maniacs.
in the past few seasons the Big 10 has improved it's lacrosse status and they'll need to get prepared for the Terps, one of the best LAX programs in the nation. During the year I spent at College Park, MD (1977-78) , I heard more "bad boy" bar stories about the lacrosse players than football players.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite childhood 45's. CCR's Fortunate Son http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbNnvPBokNs
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Alright fuckers… you want it? You got it. So sit the fuck down, shut the fuck up, because MY team won, your team lost, I get to brag, here’s a fucking tissue, go change your pad, fingers in my ears LALALALALALA I can’t hear you crying about a non-call, gimme that goddamned trophy.
How many games have we watched where the following week/month/season was all chatter about how the ref’s jacked up the game for so-and-so. Or, how the ref’s gave the game to ‘those guys’? Are you sad because of a no-call hold in the end zone and the guys you were rooting against won? Too fucking bad. There were 2 refs standing at the corners of the end zone for that play. Two sets of eyes on the play, two sets of eyes that didn’t make the call, two sets of eyes that saw the ball sail high and un-catchable. As discussed in prior posts here and elsewhere, the ref’s let the teams play. There were 7 penalties called for the entire game. Ravens 2-20, 9ers 5-33. The Ravens would’ve won that game regardless of whether they called the hold or not. Don’t think so? Here’s how it would’ve played out because it’s my post, not yours. Any issues? See above. Sit down and shut up.
The ‘call’ would’ve occurred with 1:55 to play in the game. 49ers with 1 timeout left, the Ravens have 2. Ball is placed on the 1 yard line (argue amongst yourselves on the spot, not that if fucking matters anymore), 1st and goal to go. Let’s say it takes the 49er’s 2 chances to get the score. A run play to the right with Gore, eat up 45 seconds on the clock before the next snap. So that puts it at 1:10 on the clock. A 5 second play to get the pass to V.Davis in the back of the end zone. 49ers up 35-34 at that point. Now, do they go for 2 and force the Ravens to either get a touchdown for the win or kick the extra point and let Justin Tucker (not Billy go drive off a fucking bridge you piece of shit Cundiff) kick the winning Field Goal as time expires? I think in that situation you HAVE to go for 2. Now, let’s say they make the 2 point conversion, 8 more seconds off the clock. 37-34 49ers lead. Given the 49ers defense couldn’t stop the Ravens receivers, it’s safe to say they would’ve driven the length of the field and gotten the score to win. Don’t agree? Too bad, see above. Sit down and shut up.
Elite, not Elite… Tomato… Tomaatoe... Go ahead and regurgitate how his stats don’t show he was tops in the league this season. I say this. TOTAL OFFESIVE PACKAGE. Why plan an offense of Pass, Pass, Run, Punt that the ‘Elite’ QB’s teams HAVE to do because they don’t have a Pro-Bowl running back such as Ray Rice? They can play the Run first game-plan and be as successful as they were. Take a look at this years’ League Rushing Stats. With the exception of Ridley (NE) and Turner (ATL), all of the players in that position DIDN’T have an ‘ELITE’ QB under center as you guys would classify them. Those teams were set up to pass first, run when it’s convenient… Rings this, MVP’s that. Only Brady has a ‘Ring’ on that list recently. Silly me. What was I thinking. I must have forgotten to follow the herd and drink the Kool-Aid of the talking-heads on EsPn and SI.
Oh, yeah… And if your comment is going to be about Ray Lewis, multiple wives, payoffs, Higher-Power… go comment somewhere else. You obviously forgot about OJ, Shawn Kemp, Wilt Chamberlin, and every other player out there that points to the sky or says “First, I want to thank Jesus for giving me the ability to play the game.” I’m pretty sure that Jesus or God isn’t a fan of player X, Y, or Z that day when they score and take a knee, cross themselves, and point to the sky. Am I biased towards my team? Yes! Am I going to act like it never happened? No. Just not here.
What’s your argument going to be when they repeat next year??? They have all the tools needed. A running game that starts with Ray Rice and moves on to Vonte Leach and Bernard Pierce. A receiving corps that just keeps making plays. Hopefully the front office can get Flacco’s contract in line and save some cash for Boldin and Smith. One cannot be a Super Bowl winning Quarterback without great receivers.
Now if you’ll excuse me, the NFLNetwork is replaying Sunday’s game… Hey look, Culliver just got Pwnd by the Ravens receivers…AGAIN… Touchdown!!!
S.
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Did Joe Flacco deserve to be the "Super Bowl" MVP?
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