Taking time out from my usual NFL Picks, to put a spin on a much discussed subject at this time of the year. College football and how to really determine a champion.
There are some that will never like a playoff system in college. I am one that has advocated it since I began actively blogging on sports some 5 years ago. My system had a 16 team playoff that encompassed all 11 conference winners and 5 wild cards. But I recently talked to an old friend that gave me a different perspective. I value his perspective because he played college football and understands the rigors of going to classes and preparing for a game. My friend Jeff Hill, played D-1 ball at Purdue from 1990-93, so he knows about playing at the highest level. I am one that says give me a convincing argument and facts to support the argument and I will champion it. With a college playoff, don’t hand me the “You’re ruining the regular season” or you just have to be hot in December” (Yes noplayoffs, I’m talking to you) He laid it out for me and I think he presented not only a better system but the logistics for making it work. I for my part added a bit into and tweaked some things but overall this is what he laid out and I am in favor of:
• 8 teams, as placed by the BCS (As much as I loathe the system as a whole, the ranking system takes in lots of factors, polls and numbers that make it at least palatable to base selections on)
• These 8 teams are the 6 BCS conference winners, plus the 2 highest ranked teams that are either non-BCS schools or runners up. A team that is ranked outside of the top 8 but won its conference would take the place of a top 8 team that did not (ie Georgia Tech would get a spot this year over Florida. TCU & Boise State would be in as they are both in the top 8 of the BCS.) This would also serve as a safety net for a top team that loses either an epic title game or due to tiebreakers don’t make their conference’s title game (like what happened to Texas in 2008.) but still give incentive to the non-BCS schools to shoot for a spot.
• Follow a 1-8, 2-7 etc format for playoff matchups with the provision that teams from the same conferences cannot play each other in the opening round, thus avoiding a next week rematch scenario.
• Since there are 8 teams play these games at the 4 major bowl sites for the 5 games that would be played in the Quarterfinals (3 games) and semifinals (2 games). (Rose, Fiesta, Orange, Sugar) and rotate that 5th among lesser but top shelf locales (Cotton, Outback, Gator, Peach…etc) The finals would also rotate among these locales but only be one of the three that hosted a quarterfinal game.
• The quarterfinals are the week after the conference championships. To prevent a long layoff for the teams that end their season early, lay in a provision that teams must end their regular season within a week of or the same week as the three BCS conferences championship games. The games would be played every other week, to facilitate travel logistics for teams, media and fans. To wit if we laid this proposal over the current calendar it would be as follows
Dec. 12 Quarterfinals
Dec. 26 Semifinals
Jan 7 Championship (the date of the current BCS title game)
• Also, teams play an 11 or 12 game schedule, 11 if the teams play a conference championship game like the ACC, SEC, or Big 12. 12 games if the teams are in a non championship game conference. Thus you have plently of room for your Out of conference games. This still focuses teams on playing to win their conference or well enough to stay high on the BCS ranking
• The other bowls can stay and play on their regular schedules as a consolation for other teams that did not make the tourney, so other schools can get an extra payday and be able to finish on a “bowl champion” high note.
• You keep the BCS which doesn’t take away the school presidents power, you get a playoff that would only encompass at most 2 extra weekends and still have the championship game with no extra time lost.
Ive heard the arguments that a team only has to make this tournament and be a roll in December to be a national champ, one that would be more a paper champion than a real one. This system makes teams earn their way in to begin with. A team qualifying would be on the type of roll that won them their respective conference; they would have to keep winning against the best teams in the country to call themselves national champions and would settle matters on the field. The rivalry games and high drama would cover the whole season and put even more emphasis on the high stakes drama of conference play. You get no cupcakes or excuses teams, because every team is ranked high enough as Jeff told me and I agree, there is less argument over who #8 is than who is #2. I went back over the last 5 years and found few if any flaws in the system, you get your non-BCS school in the mix from year to year but the BCS schools get their champs in and can settle the issue where its supposed to be...on the field.
It's hard to believe that we are deep into December of 2009 and screaming towards another new year.
Harry's been waxing a little melancholy lately so I'm using you folks here at the Gab to bounce my frame of mind off of.
The Pats won 20-10 over an ugly and pathetic Carolina Panthers team in an ugly and pathetic 3 hours of ugly and pathetic football. This had to be the most boring game since......the Browns beat Buffalo 6-3. nuff o that!
Christmas is right around the corner and I'd like to say, Merry Christmas to all here at YouGab.
I'm not a blanket "happy holidays guy"
I take my holidays one at a time.
If you're Jewish, happy Chaunakah
If Festivus is your bag than happy Festivus from the rest of us.
If you're a Boxing Day fan than Take a shot on the chin from the folks here at Gab.
If Kwanza was your day then...sorry...it's not in December anymore.
(unless my calender is wrong) kwanza seems to have been replaced by a new one, First Day of Winter!...stupid name, it will never last!
The end of the year "look backs" show us that we've aged a little, tightend the belt a little, a few more greys or a little more grecian formula....
a couple extra lines around the eyes, maybe the spare tire has a little less tread and a little more air than last year.
The bank account may be smaller and the intrest earned by stuffing cash in your mattress is now equal to the latest CD rates...but you don't have to drive to the bank.
The colesterol level is a little higher, the blood pressure too the desire for that week in Florida is slightly increased as the temp on the thermometer decreases.
The act of climbing, or more accuratly, rolling out of bed
is listed when the Doctor says, "what are you doing for exercise?" other things listed include: standing to pee, making coffee, brushing my teeth, walking all the way around the truck while scraping the frost off the windows and chasing the neighbors dog out of my yard before he takes a crap.....now that's some calorie burning.
That one glass of red wine after dinner is now one 1.5 liters of a slightly cheaper red wine but the bottle will clearly last till bedtime.
The prime rib and filet mignon has been replaced by prime rigatoni and filet o hamburg. Fill ups on the credit card at the full service pump have been replaced by the $10 @ 2.53 per gal gives me almost four gallons which should be good for 74 miles in the astrovan if I coast on the downhills.
Hosting Family Christmas Eve this year will mean a large croud which means a lot of 98.6 which means I can turn the heat down a little and hand out sweatshirts if some of the more frail family members feel cold.
When the folks call to see what they should bring, I'll be answering the phone instead of mrsharry. She's a dear and always says" just bring yourself, that's a blessing for us, we don't need anything"
When I intercept the calls
I'll say "sure, you can bring a case of Cabernet or Merlot and maybe some Sam Adams and Remy Martin VSOP.....and of course bring anything You may want to drink as well.....and dessert"....
The music mix will be a trip....I'll start off with some Bing and Ray Charles and it will fly from there....My five adult children have a mixed bag of music tastes, everything from Country to Jazz to Classic Rock and my inlaws and Mom will want more Bing and that unforgetable Elvis' Christmas. Wayne Newton is sure to raise his ugly head followed by the Boss' Christmas album. Mrsharry will have out done herself in the kitchen with Lamb, Ham, Turkey and Venison along with a thick cheesy brocoli some yams, asparagas and my Father in Law will drive to Plymouth to Woods Seafood on the dock in Plymouth Harbor and get fresh, right off the boat shrimp and lobster......ahhh, I'm putting on weight just thinking about it.
It hasn't been the best year business wise for the oldharrys,
I've been on job interviews and taken some pick up jobs, I filed for unemployment benifits, been grilled by several state employees just because I'd like to have some of the money I've been paying in for the last 30 years back in miniscule increments, been told I don't qualify, been told I would qualify, been told I do qualify but.........but.......I have an option one one job but it would take me out of town a lot........this sucks.....but
I am still a rich man!
not because of what I have that I could lose....but,
because of what I have that I can't lose.
I will celebrate the Birth of my Savior and the Christmas Holiday with the great gifts of friends and family.
can't touch that......did MC have a Christmas album?
Once upon a time, there was a little shack in the woods that came to be known as Mo's Tavern. Like another little shack in the woods, where the author sought to create his own little place, there soon sprung up a little state highway and state recreation reservation, a small annual awards ceremony, and it was all downhill from there. You know, the neighborhood got over developed, Section 8 housing sprouted up, and well the place got a little unruly. So, instead of going all Unabomber in that shack in the woods, Mo's Tavern went Thoreau - we simplified and went back to the roots of what was good about that little shack. Mo's Tavern was reopened in a new location here in a nice little secluded spot called YouGabSports.
And so it is with that rededication, that another tradition of the former shack comes back to life - that of the Annual Festivus awards. Festivus is that time of year where we celebrate the Feats of Strength and the Airing of Grievances, to be marked with one of two awards - the recently renamed Gab Cup or the Sleestak, the Slee being my favorite of my childhood baddies; feared, yet without any apparent reason to be feared, due to an apparent lack of intelligence.
We have come to that time of year when the finalists for the Festivus awards are to be named. And so, let us start.
We have three nominees from each category on which to vote, first the Sleestak Awards.
For Worst deal (signing, trade, or, the opposite, NON signing or trade) in any sport in 2009 our finalists are:
Terrell Owens, jettisoned by the Cowboys and scooped up by the perennial power Buffalo Bills
Allen Iverson to the Pistons for Chauncy Billups
Phil Kessel trade from the Bruins to the Maple Leafs
For Worst player/manager/coach on field performance of 2009
Detroit Tigers losing 8.5 game lead with a week and a half to go
Lawrence Frank leading the Nets to 0-16
Serena Williams tirade on line judge
For Most notorious quotation from the sporting world of 2009
Floyd Merriweather Jr's "if I were white, I'd be the most popular athlete in the world"
“I will not be playing in 2009-10” – Brett Favre
“I swear to God, I’m effin’ takin’ this ball and shovin’ it down your effin’ throat… I swear to God.” Serena Williams
For Dumbest off field transgression
Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg
Delonte West carrying loaded handguns and a shotgun in a guitar case on his motorcycle
Shawn Merriman hitting Tia Tequilla
and for the mightiest Sleestak award, the Slee of the Year
Brett Favre, for his waffling
Tom Cable, for his wife beating
Michael Barrett, Erin Andrews "videographer"
And now, for the finalists for the Gab Gups...for the better things in the life of sport
Best sporting moment of 2009 This is a singular moment in time –
Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes to win the Super Bowl
Melvin Bullitt stops Kevin Faulk on 4th and 2, giving the Colts the opportunity to preserve their undefeated season
Fluery save with 2 seconds left in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals
Most outstanding sporting achievement of 2009 which could be a collection of achievements: the difference between a game winning field goal and winning the world series
Jimmie Johnson winning 4th consecutive Sprint Cup
Zack Greinke winning Cy Young Award
Pittsburgh Penguins winning Stanley Cup/Steelers winning Super Bowl
Most outstanding athlete/team of 2009
Pittsburgh Penguins - Stanley Cup Champions
Adrian Peterson - Vikings running back
Wesley Johnson - from obscurity to NBA prospect
And now, the most coveted of the Gab Cups,
The most outstanding Blogger of 2009
The Beezer
Old Harry
B-Dub
and last, but not least, the most outstanding blog entry of the year
IHM Turkey Bowl
Old Harry's Comeback Post
Fan82's Sports Bucket List
First, congratulations to the finalists! VOTING PROCEDURES:
Next, submit your ballots to me via Gab mail, before Sunday December 20. I will then tally the results for the FESTIVUS AWARDS presentation right here at the Gab on Festivus evening - December 23. Remember, bring your best tuxedo t-shirt and lots of dollar bills. It's going to be a grand old time here at the Tavern!
The very root of life is persistence; nothing more, nothing less. Baseball is a shining example of this.
As I’m sitting here thinking about how to start this post off, I realize that the thought posted above is perhaps the best way to go. You see, I just got done reading Peter Gammons’ farewell to ESPN and quite frankly, it’s the first thing that popped into my mind. If you haven’t done so already, I highly suggest you take a moment to read it, and you’ll see why.
Gammons is a guy that I have made every effort in the world to read at any given time, and quite frankly, is one of the reasons I got into sports blogging in the first place. Sure, I guess it could be skewed that my respect for Gammons and his work could have something to do with his obvious affinity with the Red Sox, but that would be missing the big picture. My respect for Gammons is more due to his almost childish love for the game of baseball and the need to gather as much information about the game to fuel it
So it’s not without surprise that after reading the aforementioned address, it becomes easier for me to clear away the clouded vision and see the game again. We forget the joy of the game when we get side-tracked by the propaganda that the media gets lost in these days. Sometimes we just need a small reminder of how special the game is in order to forget about the cuts on the ball.
And Gammons got that. He doesn’t go on at length about the scandals that ripped at the game and threatened to destroy it. He doesn't rant on about how money and greed are destroying the game. He doesn't care about the slew of records that have fallen because steroid usage ran rampant for the better part of a decade. Rather, he talks about the memories of World Series heroes, of the games great moments, and of the players that simply went out there to play the game. Gammons talks of these things not as a reporter, but as a fan sitting in the stands with a beer and a hot dog, and he has no regrets about it. He gets it.
And maybe that’s the lesson we need to take from it, as bloggers, as writers, and most of all, as fans. Despite the scars the game has taken or inflicted upon itself over the years in the name of business, greed, or vanity, it is still a game and will always be a game. It has persevered through wars, through depressions, through tragedies, and through controversies. It has risen time and again like the phoenix from the ashes, renewed and reinvigorated. It has not been broken because forever behind it has been the strength and intrigue of wide-eyed youth to keep it going.
Sometimes we just need to remember how to get in touch with the kid inside again.
Well, the Christmas season has officially started for the Beeze family...You see, it was my daughter's birthday last week...I've always made a point to hold off all Christmas crap, until after her birthday...And yes, I said Christmas season...NOT Holiday season...I don't say "Happy Holidays!" I say Merry Christmas...We all know I'm not a fan of the PC stuff...That let's be nice to everyone sh!t makes me want to puke in my soup...
Listen, if you accept Christmas cards...If you give and receive Christmas presents...If you have a Christmas tree...If you go to a Christmas party, or have Christmas dinner somewhere...You're celebrating Christmas...Enough with this nonsense...Hell, even the Jewish friends I have celebrate Christmas...So knock it off...MERRY Fucking CHRISTMAS!
So now the craziness has begun...I have many issues, and one of them has to do with the Christmas tree...I'm totally anal-retentive about how it's decorated, which can be bad when dealing with two young kids...So every night after everyone else is asleep, there I am...Fixing the ornaments on the tree...Getting them properly placed...Making sure there aren't any dead spots...It's really kinda screwed up...I stopped doing it in front of the wife last year...It drove her crazy...Look at me, letting you people behind the wall...
Sunday I took my daughter to see Santa...Always a CHRISTMAS time highlight...This year it was an even bigger deal...Some little sh!t in her class told all the girls last week, that there was no Santa...Then his Family moved away this weekend...What a d!ck...Yes I just called a 7 or 8 year old a d!ck...I didn't mind as much as my wife did, but I understand why she was pissed about it...Who cares if we're feeding our kids a big fat lie, right!
So we go and see the fat man...The boy didn't come...He's afraid of Santa...I told him Santa knows when he's bad, so he wanted no piece of that...So there's my little girl sitting next to Santa...This dude is smart, he doesn't have them on his lap...And she asks for a puppy...FUCK ME! Jolly Ole Saint Nick looks at me ands says, "She's asking for a puppy Dad." Now I have to figure out how far we want to take this thing on the spot...But, I can be quick on my feet...So I say, "Well little Beeze and I are both allergic to dog fur...So only if Santa can find one that won't stir up our allergies." This prick plays it up real good and says, "I'm sure I can find something!"
I'm standing there thinking, 'I can't be the only guy who's wanted to punch this fat ass out today?'
I'll keep you posted on where the hell this goes...
In the sports world, not much has changed...Notre Dame hired Brian Kelly...This shouldn't be a shocker...They were looking at him since last year...I think he's a good hire, and I think he's going to do good things in South Bend...That said, I do feel really bad for the players at Cincinnati...Having your coach bolt like that is fucked up...Now, I'm gonna be rooting for them even more...
The BIG story in Cleveland this week...The Browns beat the Steelers Thursday night! WHAT? Yeah, I know...It's crazy! There I was, not really wanting to watch this...But suddenly I was drawn in...The Browns defense was playing tough...8 Sacks..."Are You Kidddin' Me!?!" Josh Cribbs, was being Josh Cribbs, and doing it on national TV during prime time...Brady Quinn managed the game, and didn't turn it over...And some dude named Evan Moore, who they picked up off the scrap heap, has become the best receiver...Hey, don't get me wrong...The Browns still stink...But seeing a win was nice...Seeing the Browns beat the Steelers for the first time in 6 years, was really nice!
In other silly sports news, Tiger Woods is going to take time off from golf...Honestly, I don't care...I just want hear more about all the skanks he's been banging over the years! (Insert drum fill) I think there's more out there...Have we hit 20 yet? I want at least 25...I gotta say this too...Clearly he is the greatest golfer ever...He was banging his hot wife...Plus all these other chicks...And he still managed to hand people their asses on the golf course...Dude may be an asshole...But he's a c0ckstrong asshole!
This coming week, Opie & Anthony are going to be having their annual "Homeless Shopping Spree." They round up some homeless people, put them on a bus, give them gift cards, and let them loose in some uppity shopping mall, and the air it live...Two great things happen...1. A bunch of fans show up and buy more stuff for the homeless...2. As you're hearing these good deeds, you also hear the snobs being offended by "these homeless people" being in "their mall." Nothing says Merry Christmas like seeing the true ugliness in the beautiful people...And seeing the good in the people thought of as ugly...
That said, here's a homeless guy O & A had on last week named Daniel Mustard...
Hell, I think I had a little rant about PC crap like this last year...