Decade In Review: The Top 15 Liverpool Matches of the Noughties
December 29th, 2009 by Barney No comments »When Winning Doesn’t Matter: How the Colts Defrauded The NFL.
December 29th, 2009 by Daniel Muth No comments »Somehow when Chad Ochocinco dons a sombrero after a touchdown he is "damaging the integrity of the game."
And yet when a team blatantly throws a game in a manner that leaves no doubt as to their intentions, this is deemed acceptable.
Let me say this again because it sounds so ridiculous.
Wearing a sombrero is more damaging to the game than intentionally losing.
Tweeting during halftime is more damaging to the game than intentionally losing.
Criticizing referees is more damaging to the game than intentionally losing.
In an era of NFL football that seems to be more and more concerned with the trivialities, apparently trying to win (the core value) is no longer important.
Apparently throwing a game to a team ensconced in a playoff race is deemed acceptable, exactly the type of behavior that got Pete Rose or Shoeless Joe Jackson banned from professional baseball.
And they were just suspected of maybe altering a game by gambling or accepting money.
In this respect maybe there needs to be a serious investigation as to which of the various Colts higher ups had their money on the Jets.
If the Colts were really that concerned that the iron man himself, Peyton Manning, was going to be injured after nearly 200 consecutive starts, then he shouldn't have even made the trip.
In fact, they could have saved themselves a lot of trouble simply by not showing up.
Why didn't they try that?
Well for a number of reasons.
First of all, that's against the rules.
In the NFL you can't just not show up, but you can show up and intentionally blow the game, though I'm not exactly sure what the difference is.
More importantly, the Colts wanted to gouge their fans for their hard earned money in the middle of a horrific economy, even though they had no intention of winning.
So while some columnists are "sickened" by the way Colts fans booed the team in the second half after shelling out two weeks salary to take their family to a game, I would have condoned them had they rushed the field with pitch forks and demanded their money back.
And if the Colts organization has any integrity left they should consider doing just that.
This was perhaps the worst display I've ever seen on a football field (perhaps in any sport), and it will catch up with the Colts.
I'd rather see Dominic Riola flipping off the Detroit Lions fans or Lagarrette Blount popping Byron Hout in the face, because these are uncalculated crimes of passion, the type our legal system has devised lesser penalties for.
What Indy did was calculated and vile and completely destructive to the integrity of the NFL.
First of all, the Indy players themselves were devastated that their chance at history was taken from them.
After all their hard work, trying to accomplish something that no team since the 1972 Dolphins had done, their efforts were scuttled from within the organization itself.
Though they all said the right things (more or less) after the game, not one of them said it was the right decision, and you could tell by the way they hung their heads on the sideline and moped into the locker room that in many ways they felt betrayed.
Peyton Manning doesn't give up, and the fact that he was forced to by his own coach is gnawing at him even now. What's more, it's gnawing at the whole team and if this season ends badly, I expect some of the players to break rank and point to this humiliation.
To make this episode worse, the Jets are in the midst of a playoff race and by handing them a game, the Colts have inexcusably created a laughingstock of the entire playoff system.
As a Lions fan, there have been many times that I really wanted a win, probably more than most.
But at no time would I have accepted a cheap win like this just to pad the stats or finally make the playoffs.
I'm a fan of the game first and foremost and I find this type of farce absurd.
Being given a win is not winning, and though I don't blame the Jets one bit for scrapping out a victory, they've got to have rather mixed feelings about it themselves.
And in defense of this decision, too many columnists have reiterated the nonsensical verse, "The Superbowl is the only thing that matters," as if there was any truth in that, or any proof that the Colts have somehow strengthened their Superbowl bid.
NFL history matters.
Sportsmanship matters.
Competition matters.
Integrity matters.
Winning matters.
Because if none of these things matter, then Sports don't matter at all, and I should be saving my money for something more utilitarian and less disappointing.
The Colts defrauded the entire NFL, it's fans, and even themselves in their loss to the Jets, and though I'm not a man of mysticism, I can't help but feel that it's going to catch up with them.
Too bad for the players and the fans because it's not their fault.
But there's a name for people who think that winning doesn't matter.
They're called losers.
And the Colts were losers in more ways than one during their disappointing give away to the Jets.
Will the Vancouver Canucks Overtake The Colorado Avalanche for the Division?
December 29th, 2009 by Eric LaForge No comments »If there's one thing that nobody should do, it's underestimate the lineup the Canucks have. If there's another thing that nobody should do, it's overestimate the lineup the Avs have.
Back in October, the Colorado Avalanche were the talk of the NHL. Their great start surprised everybody, even the experts.
On the complete opposite end of the discussion, you have the Vancouver Canucks, who weren't being talked about at all. It seems like the only headlines they made were from the injuries that they were suffering.
However, we're beginning to see the positions switching between the Avs and Canucks. Slowly, the Avs have lost their hot start, and the Canucks have begun there's.
If you can remember Avs goalie Craig Anderson at the beginning of the season, you would remember that he was on fire. It seemed like nothing could get by him.
He was a top five goalie in save percentage and goals against average for much of October. All of this while Roberto Luongo started the season in a slump.
Once again, everything has been righted with time. The rookie goalie is now in 15th in save percentage and 24th in goals against average. The Colorado defense is not stepping up like they were at the beginning of the season.
The Canucks have started a climb to the top. Luongo has been playing better, just like all parts of Vancouver's game.
A lot of people I talked to have criticized the Vancouver defense. However, that defense is tied for sixth in the NHL with the Calgary Flames. Both allow an average of 2.46 goals per game. They are also both ahead of San Jose, who is widely thought of as a Stanley Cup contender.
Offensively, the numbers are even better. Vancouver is tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for fourth place, scoring an average of 3.1 goals per game.
Compare these numbers to the numbers of the Avalanche. The Avs are in seventh in offense, scoring 2.9 goals per game, and are 15th in defense, allowing 2.75 goals per game.
However, the most important statistic that I look at is wins. This is another place that the Canucks beat the Avs. Vancouver has 23 wins, while Colorado has 22, most of those coming at the beginning of the season. This is despite the Avs playing in one more game.
The other team that the Canucks are going to have to worry about is the Calgary Flames. The Flames have held the division lead this year, but have struggle recently, winning only three of their last ten games.
Defensively, the two team are tied. Offensively, it's no contest. The Canucks have the fourth best offense and the Flames have the 15th. We've started to see that lack of production of the last few games.
My point? If you look at the statistics, there's no reason that the Colorado Avalanche should win the division. They are a young team that is developing into a future threat.
However, their great start at the beginning of the season has caused people to overrate them.
The only concern that I have is the road trip that the Canucks will have to take pretty soon. I'm a little interested to see how they play on the road with a solid lineup. That's something they didn't have back in October and early November.
If the Canucks can get through this road trip, then there shouldn't be anything to stop them from winning the division.
See more of my opinions at Tips for Hockey
Meyer’s Gator Stunner Is Riddles, Leaves Us Guessing
December 29th, 2009 by Jonathan Mathis No comments »It’s kind of hard to tell where he’s coming from, hard to tell his next decision. When the stunning development unmasked, he broke down into tears, helpless and saddened of his sudden departure.
He alarmed us all with his announcement of periodic chest pains. He shocked us all by informing the world of frequent health problems. Lastly, the announcement was a stunning development when he told the Florida football program that he’d resign.
This meant Mr. Meyer would never return to a program he installed, standing as a symbol of greatness. In the meantime, Gators’ faithful aren’t scowling or scorning Urban Meyer of a bizarre story. It leaves us scratching our heads, searching for reasonable answers to why suddenly Mr. Meyer misled us the last three days.
Wasn’t he resigning to spend valuable time with his family and care for health? Wasn’t he ailing and couldn’t measure up to the stress level of coaching? At least a resignation was understandable and his intent, until he arrived to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the Gators’ Sugar Bowl practice in Gainesville. The population at the Swamp emotionally had tears draining down their faces, along with immediate speculations on the next in line to coach an endearing program.
But there’s a clear understanding that Meyer hasn’t made up his mind. He pondered before an official resignation was declared. Maybe it’s difficult to aloof from the game he has mustered a tremendous passion for. Or maybe adjusting to a peculiar seen is tough. He’s accustomed to and relish mentoring players willing to mature into prospering men. He’s used to building a contiguous relationship with each of his players. Leaving all behind is burdensome to adapt to.
So suddenly, an emotionally departure of his coaching job was lightened into a leave of absence. Guess there won’t be any reason to search for a coach, or theorize if offensive coordinator, Steve Adazzio, steps into command. That means we don’t have to hear rumors and names of Bob Stoops or Dan Mullen. Of course, it would’ve been a good coaching campaign, but if there’s a sublime coach unsure of his status, looking for another coach is the least priority.
Isn’t Meyer coaxing the program enough, by informing us he plans on staying in Gainesville? Doesn’t his obligations to stay in contact and within the program tells you Meyer is aspiring for partial decision-making? From ailing and withstanding chest pains and an arachnoid cyst on his brain forced him to take a hiatus. At a point spending quality time with his family seemed more valuable, he stressed the importance of family values and faith.
And as a coach he had already accomplished a lifelong adventure, owning the highest coaching percentage in college football. He could leave the game and lift his head proudly, for leading Utah to an unbeaten season in which he built an eye-catching future in college football. Therefore, he grasped our attention and became a much-beloved coach in parts of Florida.
But we can’t ensure he’s leaving the game for good. You should be confused, of course, trying to put together pieces of this missing puzzle. For those in Gainesville, life is a riddle. Yes, Mr. Meyer has baffled us all. And ever since he returned the next day to inform us all that he expects to coach next season, believing Meyer is like believing Pinocchio. What’s difficult to grasp is why draw a huge distraction, by telling us about a resignation when Florida’s huge bowl game against Cincinnati is looming?
If it was the case, it could have waited until a day after the bowl game. Now, the Gators are likely to play with heavy hearts, worried of Meyer’s health status. The last thing a program wants to happen amid a substantial bowl game is questions to circulate, strictly on the health status of Meyer’s. When he spoke of his vital chest pains following the lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship game, he looked worn down, fatigued as if he was ready to call it a career. If so, then was the exact moment to depart. Either way, he would’ve left the game atop coaching at the collegiate level. But when winning is taking into consideration, the Gators are caught in a continuous riddle.
At 45, Meyer feared the mischief of mortality, valuing his life before reconsidering he’d rather salvage the coaching job. And Florida athletic director, Jeremy Foley, discerns the significance of health, but doesn’t feel he has to find a replacement if Meyer is in good condition to recruit a potent class and mentor kids, teaching the fundamentals of winning, so they can leave as a better individual.
That is, of course, before he told his wife, Shelley, and three children he was quitting for health problems and family. Not too sure if he stayed true to his word, when his wife believed he’d spent every second with his lovable family. His wife text a message to the Orlando Sentinel that said: “No chance… This is the best decision for him and us right now.”
Foley has a careless demeanor, insisting on Saturday for Meyer to take a leave of absence. It’s obvious he knows what Meyer brings to the program, diligence and charisma. But also its apparent he’s ignoring the health of a man, facing a tremendous amount of uncertainty.
Times next fall may seem a bit stressful without the likes of Tim Tebow, who’s a top name in April’s NFL Draft. Florida’s challenging schedule within a superb conference is when Meyer should absorb pressure, in which we’ll actually find out if he still does well in controlling the program.
But until then, his status remains a crazy riddle.
Chicago Cubs’ Hendry Cool on the Hot Seat
December 29th, 2009 by Jack Stentwiller No comments »I will give General Manager Jim Hendry and the rest of the Chicago Cubs front office this.
They are not overreacting.
This offseason, after a largely disappointing 2009 campaign, the Cubs have made no significant additions to their 83 win team. They also are only rumored to be looking at tweaking, bringing maybe a bottom of the rotation starter or center fielder in.
In an era where those in player personnel often overreact to disappointing seasons, I wish it was more refreshing to see a GM who stays patient and plays for the long term.
The Cubs are in need of some roster change, and considering Hendry's job could be at stake following 2010 under new ownership, it is very surprising to see him concentrate mostly on dumping players (i.e. Milton Bradley and Kevin Gregg) rather than adding players.
The free agent market is thin, and the Cubs are close to maxed out on payroll. Hendry, however, has proven in the past to be pretty creative (pulling one-sided deals for Clement, Alfonseca, DLee, and ARam).
It is interesting that he has chosen to stay with this nucleus, especially since they have not won a postseason game in two trips.
This is the very reason why some additions/changes are needed. Even if you feel the 2009 club underperformed compared to talent (I would argue they are closer to an 83 win team than a 95 win team), this team was still not a World Series contender, which is the club's stated goal.
Yet, Hendry has stuck with Piniella, and the core group of guys like Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Zambrano, Lilly, and Dempster.
I like many of those players, but even at their best, this team was first round playoff, central division champ team. They did not even sniff the League Championship Series.
For many teams and cities, competing for divisions and three straight winning seasons would be great. Heck, the Cubs would have killed for the past three seasons 10, 20, and 30 years ago.
The second highest payroll in the league, however, raises expectations. I think it is fair to expect this team to contend for the NL Pennant.
The current roster, however, does not seem capable of winning a pennant, and so far this offseason, the Cubs have tried for addition by subtraction.
Even if that works, it will only get them back to the level of play that got them swept in the first round of the playoffs.
Hendry is not gambling on anyone this offseason. Which is a surprise, since he could be gambling with his job.
