Opening Day - Are there two words in sports that carry with it so many memories?  Is there any more certain sign that warm weather and spring are just around the corner?  It is the annual spring rite that brings renewal to so many sports fans.  As proof that hope springs eternal, ask any Cubs fan this weekend whether this is "THE Year" and all but the most cynical will point out that even the blind squirrel finds the occasional acorn...but it has been a long time for that squirrel - it may be on permanent hibernation.    

It is hard for me to believe, but this Monday will mark the first Opening Day that I will attend in person.  Looking back on it, after the Senators left town in mid-70's, I had no place to go.  I was NOT going to Baltimore even if the O's were good back then and going to Chicago seemed like a lot to ask once we had kids...so finally, in my 55th year of Opening Days, I get to go - and I am excited!  There is nothing like being at a live sporting event...things that cannot be captured on a big screen high def TV....there is the sounds and the discussions in the stands after a play, the smell of popcorn, pretzels, half smokes and such...and the field is always so green and so perfect...well, it makes for quite a memorable day.

Events like Opening Day trigger memories like no other sporting event...oh, sure I remember where I was when the Redskins won their first Super Bowl...and then lost so unceremoniously the next year to the Raiders killing a perfectly fine SB party.  But Baseball triggers life memories.  I remember my sandlot...a church sits on it now, but come the first warm day, our group had gloves, bats and balls at the ready to bring the sandlot back to life.   And as the spring went on, we would switch between baseball and wiffle ball...games with 4 a side or just one - on - one wiffle ball.   We would play with baseballs, tennis balls, no bats ("hot box"), no field (bounce the ball off the curb), stick ball and then there was League Ball.  I remember a scene from The Natural when Roy Hobbs asks Max Mercy, "Have you ever played ball, Max?"  There is a special understanding to having been in the arena, no matter how small the stage.  And with that little stroll down memory lane as my intro, let's take a look into my crystal ball for the 2013 MLB season....

When you get right down to it, you need three key ingredients to have a winning season:  strong pitching, a solid lineup and perhaps most importantly, good health.  The fourth ingredient no one can control - Lady Luck - is rarely the deciding factor but can turn a teams season from just another run of mediocrity into something special - just as the 2012 Orioles who won an unprecendented number of 1 run games.  Good luck repeating that run, boys.  So here we go:

Division Champions:

AL East:  I think Tampa Bay has the right mix of pitching, which is strong, and in the field talent to hold off the Blue Jays.  It has been a long time since both the Red Sox and the Yankees were not in the mix for the title.  Not only are they not in the mix for the AL East, they should be also-rans for the Wild Card spot as well.   Times are changing in baseball...it is not enough to throw money at stars and expect championships.  It is for that reason, that I pick Tampa over the Blue Jays.  I like the Jays, but I think it may take a little bit for that team to gel.  

AL Central:  The easy pick here, and maybe in all the divisions, is the Tigers.  They have Verlander backed by a loaded lineup.  Verlander is an old school pitcher with all the tools to have pitched in any era.  I also like what the Royals have shown so far in Spring Ball.  Could they finally have what it takes not be a doormat team?  I think they are at long last on the rise.  The Indians and White Sox are the answer to Hodgepoge for $1000....the Answer is, "These Teams do not know what the hell they are doing."  "Who are the Indians & White Sox?", Alex.  As for the Twins, small town ball has finally caught up with them.  Where did all their pitching go?

AL West:  The only sure thing in the AL West is that the Astros will finish last.  When the most notable thing about your team is that the entire payroll is less than A-Rod's annual salary, you know you have problems.  I guess MLB must have given them a sweet package to leave the National League...did that include a rebate for the fans?  Was this team really in the World Series in 2005?!   In the three way fight between the A's, Angels and Rangers, one has to believe that all the talent that has been assembled in Anaheim translates into victories...in a way a lot like the Yankees of year's past.  It's a team that will steamroll most of the league during the regular season and then be challenged in the post season.

AL Wild Card Teams:  Blue Jays & A's...there is more than enough pitching and team talent for these two teams to get in the playoffs.  I think the Jays win the one game playoff.  

AL Champion:  The Blue Jays will be the first wild card team in the new format to reach the World Series.  Nobody can hit Dickey's knuckleball and he can pitch on short rest...he will be the key for Toronto.  Toronto needs something to cheer for, Lord knows the Leafs can't be counted on.

NL East:   It is hard for me to pick against the Nationals.  They have such a great rotation and so much young, emerging talent, it seems as tough the biggest obstacle is the expectations that they have set for themselves.  What if they get off to a slow start?  Will Davey Johnson be able to keep them focused?  Bryce Harper hit almost .500 in Grapefruit League ball - can he continue his torrid pace after April 1?  In my mind, the answer is "Yes" - they can hold off the Braves and Phillies, both quality contenders, and establish themselves as a force in the National League for the next few years.

NL Central:   It is equally hard to pick against the Reds in the NL Central.  They have fewer rivals than the Nats with only the Cardinals as serious challengers.  What is the deal with the Pirates?  A team that bad for so long should be loaded with young talent (like the Nationals).  Their refusal to sign top young stars keeps them from developing...a shame considering their ballpark is one of the nicest I have ever seen.   And will somebody please buy the Cubs a goat?

NL West:  The Giants have won 2 of the last 3 World Series - they deserve respect and get it here in the form of my pick for the NL West.  The Dodgers doing their best Steinbrenner imitation have assembled a lot of high priced talent - does it translate into a division title?  I think it is 50 -50.  The rest of the division is mediocre at best, so these two long time rivals can look forward to a very entertaining season.

NL Wildcards:  Braves & Dodgers...they should garner enough wins to get to the playoffs, with the Braves winning the 1 game playoff.  Unlike the Jays, I think the one game hurts the Braves rotation enough to cost them a serious run at the title.

NL & World Series Champion:  I am going with the Nationals and there big time arms to carry the day in October.  And...with a little luck, Washington will have its first Championship banner flying for the first time since 1924. 

Hello and welcome to another Wednesday of deep thoughts. I hope that everyone had a great end to 2012. I generally lay very low on the last day of the year and this year was no different. It is always tough for me to immediately look back to determine if the legacy of the year will be good or bad. The bad always seems to stick with us, but I will have many fond memories of 2012.

For those of you that enjoy fantasy sports, I have set up a playoff league for the Gab and others…if you send me a message with your email address; I will send you a message. There is no draft, you chose 20 players that you think will score the most points in the playoffs.

 BOB mentioned in his blog yesterday about his desire to focus on the sport and not the drama surrounding the sport. I think that this is a very interesting comment as the drama is what the media believes that fans want. Over the Christmas holidays, I watched a replay of the famous Ice Bowl of 1967, between Green Bay and Dallas. When I originally watched the game, I was just a kid. Much has changed since that cold day in Wisconsin. On that day, how many of those watching had an interest in the drama surrounding the game? My guess is very few. When you attend a sports event in below zero temperatures, you have to love the game. I suspect that we will look back at the game of the 60’s and 70s and realize that those were the “golden years” of professional football. We all realize what has caused the change…money. The very thing that allows us to watch our favorite game, has given impetus to the increase in hype. Today’s vocabulary is proof of hype…swag, and street cred are words that motivate today’s athletes. The media feeds on this and we end up with reality TV and people like Honey Boo Boo. This is not the kids fault, it is what they know. It strikes me that it is up to those of us that remember a different way to keep the memory alive. This may sound somewhat idealistic. In reality, I know the NFL will never be what it was, but should we not forget that there was a different way…just the same.

Last Sunday, the Cowboys faced an elimination game with the Redskins. Although I hoped that they might figure out a way to win, I suspected otherwise. This has been a very difficult year for the Cowboys defense, as they just have not been able to stay healthy. Tony Romo had a very good year. He won games when they were almost hopeless. Romo got the blame when receivers ran poor routes. Romo kept plays alive while running for his life. When Dallas lost, he got the blame…even when it was not his fault. It is easy to place the Redskins loss on Romo. It is impossible to ignore those three interceptions without acknowledging his poor play. But, what many fail to see is the terrific game plan of Jim Haslett and the Skin defensive staff. Washington blitzed early and often, with Dallas only sporadically able to slow the pass rush. The last interception was a misread by Romo. Blitzing linebacker Rob Jackson fooled Romo. His first two steps signaled a blitz, when in reality he was only feigning a rush. Romo thought the outlet pass to Murray was uncovered…he was wrong. Throughout his career, Romo continues to be just a bit off. From his botched handling of a winning field goal to his well publicized vacation with Jessica Simpson. There is a local sports talk guy that describes Romo as a successful child living in a very dysfunctional family. Romo’s family of course is his Cowboy team. The dysfunctional structure begins with Jerry Jones and trickles down. Would Tom Brady have three super bowls if he played for Dallas? Would New England have won those Super Bowls with Tony Romo at the helm? That is a very good question as well...

I was reading a bit of the Sports Pickle this afternoon. I don’t read it much, but usually find something sports related that is pretty damn funny. As most of you know, I am not a big hockey guy. Even so, I still have watched the hockey lockout with some interest. Radatz wrote a great blog last week about the hockey lockout and what the long term prognosis of the NHL might be. I found this brief report to be very amusing:

News from December 28^th

"The NHL made a new offer to the NHL Players' Association on Friday in hopes of saving a season on the brink of cancellation.

The league's proposal increases limit on player contracts to six years from the previous offer of five years and increases the year-to-year salary variance, among other things. The main sticking point, however, remains when the owners and players will cripple the sport again with another lockout.

"The NHL insists, and will not budge on this, that the next lockout be in 2017-2018," said deputy commissioner Bill Daly. "However, the players want it no earlier than 2021-2022, which is not something we are comfortable with. More than eight years of labor peace? Not on our watch."

Commissioner Gary Bettman insists that any more than seven consecutive full seasons will cause the NHL's revenues, ratings and popularity to grow too large, leaving the league with "difficult decisions on how to share the wealth."

Bettman, and the owners, believe it is better to "essentially shut hockey down every few years to reset our fiscal books and keep everything nice and small."

I read this and think that Bettman and the owners are complete idiots if they think that fans will continue to follow the game with built in lockouts. Then I read this next report and now think that it is a put on?

News from December 27^th…

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald snagged a pass on a slant pattern in practice today, avoided a defensive back and turned into open field towards the end zone. He then picked up speed at about the 20 yard-line and sprinted right through the end zone and out of the team's practice facility and off down the road.

He was last spotted on I-10 heading west, still carrying the football and running full speed, a few miles from the California border.

"I wish he hadn't decided to run away forever, but I actually expected it to happen a long time ago," said head coach Ken Whisenhunt. "The fact he stayed here this long shows what a great guy he is. I wish him nothing but the best. And it can really only get better for him away from here."

Reminds me of Forrest Gump…run Larry run!

So…what do you think that Aaron Rodgers got for Christmas? It would be something really cool, right?

Here is news from December 26^th…

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers came to practice the day after Christmas showing off a brand new football he had received as a gift.

"Check it out, guys," said Rodgers, as his teammates gathered around. "My mom got it for me. It's an official NFL ball. The same size and everything used in the NFL. But it's my very own."

Green Bay backup quarterback Graham Harrell said the football was "awesome" and that it made the junior Nerf football he had received from his parents "look lame."

Rodgers said he didn't even ask for the football or put it on his Christmas list, but it turned out to be his favorite gift.

"My mom knows how much I like football," said Rodgers. "I've played on a team for a lot of years now. I guess she just assumed I'd like a real, official ball. And she was right. I love it!"

I got the same gift…when I was 11. Hilarious!

That’s all I have today, but I will leave you with a bit of Jack Handey…

In my opinion anyone interested in improving himself should not rule out becoming pure energy.

"Why is it that we will laugh at a man in a clown outfit, but we won't laugh at a man just walking down the street carrying a clown outfit in one of those plastic dry-cleaner bags?"

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a few deep thoughts of your own…

  That's right Tebow...ESPN has a new golden boy, and his name is Tony Romo...After Monday night's game, suddenly Tony Romo can do no wrong...Every Mike, Mike, Scott, Chris, Linda, and everyone else at ESPN is swinging on Romo's nuts...

Yes, Romo played with his cracked-up ribs, and banged up lung...He we all up in everyones' shit on the sidelines, looking like Johnny Leader...Dez Bryant even said he only played because Romo was going out there banged up...Suddenly Romo is the ultimate man!

Really, last I checked he still had his pinkie, and Ronnie Lott has his lopped off and went back in the game! Okay, I'm not trying to shit on Romo...Guy played well, while in plenty of pain...Yeah, it's nice to see a quarterback act like the rest of the guys in the league...But it is the amount of ball licking done by ESPN and other talking heads that makes me sick...

But enough about me...How the hell do you think Tim Tebow feels...Not only is he not a starting quarterback, but now this week no one is talking about him not being a starting quarterback...Tim you better get hurt at practice and then show up Sunday ready to hold that clip board all day...Shit, this is Tebow we're talking about...He better die, and rise from the dead...Then maybe ESPN will be back on his ball-bag and forget about Romo.

Later, The Beeze.

Don't You Forget About Me

Tim Hightower rebounded from a mediocre first week as a Redskin to explode against the Arizona Cardinals, his former team, last week. He ran for 96 yards on 20 carries, most of which happened in the first half of the Redskins 22-21 victory.

His backup, rookie Roy Helu, piled up an additional 74 yards on just 10 attempts. Yet both did not get many touches in the second half as offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan seemed to call for a pass every down. Though Washington eked out a win, Shanahan's disregard for the effective running game hearkened back to 2010.

If was the first year he and his dad held jobs in the organization. There were quite a few games the team lost, like the their match up with the Indianapolis Colts, where he got obsessed with calling pass plays and it cost his team in the end.

The Dallas Cowboys have been stout at stopping the run for several years, so most teams have been attacking their dinged up secondary. Yet their offense relies on the pass so much, it could mean their defense spends much more time on the gridiron.

If this happens, then an effective run game will be needed even more. Especially in the fourth quarter, where most overworked defenses begin to tire. Hightower and Helu will need carries all game, not just a portion of it. The old adage that a good ground game gives the offense more options will certainly come into play if Shanahan decides to opt for a better offensive balance.
.




No Mercy

Not only are two of the Cowboys best cornerbacks dealing with injury issues already, a third will not play at all because of an ankle problem. This could benefit Washington when quarterback Rex Grossman looks to pass.

Orlando Scandrick is out and his replacement, veteran Terence Newman, is playing in his first game this year because of a nagging groin injury. Grossman will probably test that groin a lot, as well as nickle back Alan Ball. The Redskins currently have the ninth best passing attack in the NFL, and four different wide receivers have receptions.

Santana Moss may be the best receiver Washington has, but Mike Jenkins may shadow him. Jenkins, who has a sore shoulder, is the best cornerback Dallas has right now. This means Anthony Armstrong and Jabar Gaffney will need to beat Newman and Ball.

Tight end Fred Davis has been amazing since coming into training camp in better shape. He is averaging a healthy 17.4 yards on 11 receptions, so Washington was afforded to let Chris Cooley fully recuperate from a knee injury. Cooley is now back, so he gives the Redskins another weapon.

Washington has had some early successes in the pass same this season, so this is a game to keep the momentum going. If Newman is still hobbled, it will draw safety help and give Davis or Cooley more chances to gouge Dallas for big chucks of yards after the catch.





No Miles To Run

Miles Davis is the best Cowboys receiver. He leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns this year. He has been vital to an offense with an inept ground game. Dallas averaged barely over two yards per attempt this season, and starting halfback Felix Jones is dealing with a shoulder issue.

The other starting wide receiver, Dez Bryant, has a thigh injury that has limited him to one game so far. This has made Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo rely heavily on Miles and Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten. Witten's 13 catches is one less than Davis.

If Bryant is still too hurt to be his usual dynamic self, this helps the Redskins because they have a few injuries in their defensive secondary. Josh Wilson and DeAngelo Hall are not at full health, but are expected to play. Strong safety LaRon Landry has yet to play this season, because of a hurt hamstring, and his is listed as questionable.

His replacement, Reed Doughty, is good against the run but mediocre versus the pass. Romo, now having to lean on Witten, will go after Doughty in a number of attempts that will exceed double digits. Even if Doughty is assigned to reserve tight ends Martellus Bennett and John Phillips, Romo will look to pick on him much like Eli Manning did two weeks ago.

If Dallas has wide receivers like Kevin Ogletree and Jesse Holly as their weapons, perhaps free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe can focus on Witten and give Romo a harder time. Since Romo is already dealing with broken ribs, the secondary shutting down the Cowboys passing attack will leave the quarterback more available to being hit by Washington's pass rushers.





Kicks Count

Dallas has two placekickers on their 2011 roster. One, rookie Dan Bailey, handles all of the short kicks. The other, David Buehler, is injured in the groin of his kicking leg and will try to play. Washington's diminutive return specialist Brandon Banks may get a shot a returning kickoffs if Buehler's injury shortens his kickoffs.

Considering Dallas may have the best punter in the NFL in Mat McBriar, it was unlikely Banks would get many opportunities whenever the Washington defense forced McBriar on the field. It will also be an uneasy situation for Dallas if Baily has to attempt anything longer than 50 yards, though Bailey did hit a critical 48-yard attempt last week.

Redskins kicker Graham Gano has yet to make a kick over 34 yards. He has missed twice already on attempts between 30 and 39 yards. If Washington struggles to get in the red zone against Dallas, they will have to rely on a player who has eight of his 13 career misses come from distances of 30 yards or more.




Remembering A Rivalry

Rivalries in the NFL today are harder to maintain because of free agency. Teams are no longer able to maintain the bulk of their roster like in the past, where they would develop their players and a stronger bond of unity would be an outcome.

Redskins Hall of Fame head coach George Allen taught his team to dislike the Cowboys, and the teams passionate fans followed suit. This came from the fact both Washington and Dallas dominated their conference when Allen joined the franchise in 1971.

The Redskins made the playoffs in five of Allen's first six seasons, which included a Super Bowl appearance. Dallas had made the postseason every season but two times between 1966 and 1985. They were the class of the NFC usually, once earning the nickname "America's Team."

Allen knew his team had to beat Dallas to achieve success, no small task with Hall of Famer Tom Landry as the head coach of the Cowboys. The 60 wins the Cowboys have in their meeting, out of 100 contests, is the most over any other NFL franchise. Washington, however, has beat them in both playoff games they met in.

Landry beat Allen eight times in the 15 games he faced Allen, but the Redskins great beat him in their only playoff game. That victory, a 26-3 drubbing, propelled Washington into their first ever Super Bowl and first NFL title game in 28 years.

Dallas took command in this series since the second game of the 1997 season. Washington has won just seven times in the last 27 meetings. The 2005 season has been the only time the Redskins won both games over that time.

Yet fans of both teams will admit the unpredictable often happens when these franchises battle. Good examples are the 1989 season, where the Cowboys lone victory that year came at the expense of the Redskins, and the 1991 season.

Washington had stormed out of the gates at an 11-0 record when Dallas came to town that year. After losing by three points, Washington's run at perfection ended. They rested their main players in the final game, giving them their only other defeat. Had they has beat Dallas, they stood a better chance of matching the 1972 Miami Dolphins for a truly perfect season.

Maybe the history of these franchises escapes most of those involved with both teams today, but the Redskins have legacy to remind. General manager Bruce Allen is the son of the Hall of Fame Redskins coach, so he certainly knows how important it is to beat Dallas. The Cowboys head coach is Jason Garrett, who was a backup quarterback with Dallas for eight years. He also understands this rivalry.

The Redskins are currently undefeated and alone on top of the NFC East. A loss here drops them into a tie with Dallas and the New York Giants. Washington already beat New York, so a victory over Dallas would give them two big wins within their own division, which is important at times when the playoffs approach. These two wins could give them enough in the percentage points department if there is a tie-breaker.

There may not be as much venom between these squads compared to the past, but there will be no love lost. With Hall adding fuel to the fire by being recorded by cameras saying he will try to tackle the injured Romo and Jones hard, players will come in fired up as the ghosts of legends egg them on to greatness.  

Thoughts from an Island Girl

Cord: Is that the secret? The monkey tried to circle you, you kept turning?
Blind Man: The way of the monkey is to play the fool. While you laugh at his antics, he bites you from behind. Unmask his ego and you expose a coward disguised as a monkey.

I saw this movie awhile back..  Called,  "Circle of Iron".  The logic of the foolish and really blind is like that of a young lion or a man in this case.    To me it is similar to the young lion that plays all day,  while the older lionesses are hunting.   At the end of the day,  the older lions and their cubs are sated,  while the foolish young lion goes hungry.     In the NFL we have much the same thing going on.  

Only in the case  of Tony Romo,  he is becoming mature as a man but not as a football player.   He has talent but so have many quarterbacks who came through the NFL.   You could say that whatever he accomplishes is more than most had expected or did some sage evaluator of talent see this part of Tony, when he went undrafted?  

The monkeys are numerous in the NFL and sports in general.    It could be drugs or dog-fighting or plain immaturity.   Some players progress while others do not.  At this point,  it seems as if Cam Newton is farther along than many had anticipated, including me.  Maybe he has the knack for the game or perhaps it was his first week's opponents.   It is still too early to tell.   But 422 yards is hard to discredit.

Circle of Iron ending: The book he [Cord] sought had page after page of mirrors. "The seekers fight their way here year after year. Willing, eager to pay the terrible price to see what is in that book. And when they fling it open in blazing expectation of finding all the answers to all of life’s questions. And what do they find? Themselves! There is no book, no enlightenment outside yourself. The seekers who arrived before are mostly at the temple. But some have gone back into the world. And in all manner of disguises. They provide the trials such as you have experienced. Some become teachers."

I love this blogging site because of the freedom to express yourself individually without many constraints.   Just  as athletes learn or don't learn,  their fate is in their own hands.  So it is with this site.    We evolve or we stagnate.   The whole is idea is LIFE.  It is not living vicariously through three wishes granted by some genie or from the lives of the characters on 'Jersey Shore'.

 Or I really love the commercial by the young girl making fun of her parents only having a few friends on facebook,   while she has nearly 700!   She calls that living.  I don't share that notion.   I would prefer a person to go beyond their comfort zone and not be afraid to opine.  or to live away from this blogging venue.

B.O.B.  has some good stuff.   No punches held,  just straight from the heart.  We are here as friends on a blogging site and it is interesting.   Not someone dissing someone on a social site but interacting professionally and with respect.

I hope everyone has a great week and that hump day may be one day closer to college football,  hanging out with friends and yes,  at times blogging.