Week 9 NFL Picks

Last Week was another great one a 6-8 sub-par performance. Week 9 is here and without further delay. Minnesota to just barely cover in a tight game
Jacksonville because Cincinnati doesn't want to win this year
KC played decent last week, and may keep it close
Cleveland just because they are at home
Buffalo in a bounce back game and Lynch should be strong
Arizona has Bolden back so the offence should be able to handle St. Louis
Detroit plays hard, just arn't good 13.5 is just too much to give
Tennessee looks strong and should keep rolling
Denver in a very tight game, Miami just won't go away
Atlanta with White, Ryan and Turner to score enough
Giants, as Dallas is just too banged up and Johnson starting again
Philly for Donovan to put up some numbers
New England to win outright
Washington at home with there cheerleaders being the 12 man

Oh Captain, My Captain

Well looks like Daniel Alfredsson is going to be a life long Senator. Alfredsson has been signed to a 4 year $21.6 million contract extension. I thinks it is a great thing to ensure that the captain remains with the only NHL team that he has every played for. The number 11 will be in the rafters of Scotiabank Place not long after the 4 year deal is over. He will become the first player of the modern era in Ottawa to have that honour.

The only concern is that giving him a 4 year deal, you are giving a 36 year old a lot of money and a lot of term. I have less issue to the money but guarenteed on the books for 4 and a no movement clause is always a dangerous thing.The saving grace, of all people who would give you 100% for as long as he physically can, Alfie would be that guy.

I hope that there is still enough money out there, or i guess under the cap to get a true #1 goaltender somewhere within that 4 year span .

World Series Game 5 1/2

Tonight might just be the conclusion to game 5 of the World Series...or maybe not. The Phillies might be World Series Champs...or not.
The series may be on its way back to Tampa...you guessed it, or not.

There are many factors one must be accounted for:
• With Barack Obama’s 30-minute TV spot with CBS, NBC and Fox may push the game just a little bit later, at this point I guess sure why not, just pile it on.
• It will be 30 degrees F at game time, that isn’t good for anyone
• Do they play the National Anthem? If so is it Patti LaBelle again and does her butchered version last longer then the game itself?
• Do they announce the players?
• Is there already guys warming up in the bullpen at the beginning of the game? Are any starters available to throw tonight?
• At what point do they stop serving beer? If it is in the mid 6th inning already most stadiums stop in the 7th
• How many people show up, sit down, and then get up to leave immediately to beat the traffic?
• Does Bud Selig make up some new rules midway through the game but not tell anyone, not the players, umpires, managers or announcers.

The question for the last few days has been who does this suspended game benefit more the Phillies or the Rays? We know that it hasn’t been the fans or the audience and probably many gamblers.
The answer is easy... The team that WINS.

NFL Picks Week 8

3-11 Last week. Things hopefully can only go up from here.




Oakland coming off a win to keep it close
San Diego because they need a win and it is neutral this week
Jets Because it is KC but the points are a lot
Buffalo is a strong team and Edwards looks decent
Tampa...Dallas may be in a free fall without Romo
Philly because of their D vs a rookie QB
Rams just to keep it close after 2 good games
Carolina as Delhomme is playing well
Washington because they are playing the Lions
Jacksonville just because of the run
Houston because Cincy is still missing Palmer
Giants as defending champs with a good Defence
San Fran because Seattle is just bad
Tennessee to keep rolling and Indy not clicking right now

Saturday Sens at Scotiabank

While attending the Senators vs Bruins game at Scotiabank Place on Saturday there were a few things I noticed and a few things that I learned. Some were about the game and is sports related the other is from the social viewpoint.

As for the game itself it was entertaining. More to the point it is entertaining to be in the building watching it live, if I was watching the same game on TV there would have been a good chance that the majority of the time would have been spent on the Red Sox vs Tampa Rays baseball game instead. There was not a lot of speed and not a lot of emotion from either the players or the crowd and neither got the other going. I was a typical defensive Bruins game with not a lot of great chances. It ended 4-2 for Boston.

Now for the social comment:
I purchased a 5 game pack for 3 Senators games and 2 World Junior games (Just so I could see 1 Team Canada game live). Since I was unable to get anyone to go along and get tickets I ended up just getting the 1 bunch. Attending the game alone was an experience, as it is the first time I have gone alone to a game. Sure it is like a movie and watching it with someone really shouldn’t make it any more enjoyable as you are there to see the action but it is still a little different. You do get the feeling of being out of place. At the beginning my row was full and all was well. After the first the 3 to my left had moved. They were the cheering type and probably hunted down some better seats. Now I had some room so that was ok. By the 6 minute mark of the 3rd the 2 beside me left early to get a jump on traffic (this is one of my pet peeves, go to a game stay for the game, until the end. Even if it is a blowout you stay...but I digress). At this point you get that awkward feeling as there are 7 seats around you that are empty and you are just sitting there by yourself. Sure nobody probably noticed and if they did, didn’t care but it is still a awkward feeling for sure.

In any event I still look forward to the next game on the schedule and enjoy the product on the ice as best I can.

ALCS GAME 7, What...Game 7??

Almost time for game 7 in the Tampa v Boston ALCS. Who will be the hero (or the goat)??

In one of the more unlikely events, there is in fact a game 7. After Being down 3-1 in the series and 7-0 in the 7th in game 5 the Sox managed to claw back in a historic comeback in that game and then followed that up with a game 6 victory on the road in Tampa.

I see it as being a close game with Lester and Garza on the mound. Both are young, strong and have little fear, so basically a push...Boston has the experience and have been in the comeback position before (just ask the Yankees) Tampa may have more pressure being young as a team and young in terms of experience.

Short story shorter...I choose to make no prediction and just look forward to watching the game as a baseball fan and let the best team win! Loving the October Baseball.

Week 7 NFL Picks

(Picks are in Red)
Tennessee because KC is just bad and Kerry Collins likes to throw
San Diego because LT have something to prove
Pittsburgh facing and ailing Carson Palmer
Miami because I have fallen under the spell of the “wild hog” or “Single Wing”
Dallas even with a banged up Romo or a healthy Brad Johnson should prevail over the Rams
Chicago, just because
New Orleans because of Drew Breeze, no other reason
SF just to keep it close
Houston because Detroit is Tera-Awful... a combo of terrible and awful plus no Williams or Kitna
Jets because I picked up Cotchery and Coles to fill holes due to bye weeks in my pool
Cleveland, looked half decent in the last game...finally
Indianapolis because they need to keep winning
Tampa because everyone in Seattle is hurt
Denver because the Pats looked exposed last week

Memo to these teams: Please do well I need a good week, this is starting to get embarrassing

Red Sox Deja Vu??

Down 7-0 going into the seventh inning in Fenway the Red Sox looked like the next time they would be in Tampa would be for spring training or maybe spring break. A Pennant celebration on the Fenway field for the Rays was imminent by a team of destiny from the sunshine state. Cue David Ortiz and J.D. Drew. Ortiz and Drew each hit huge home runs to make the game close and then Drew capped the biggest postseason comeback since 1929 with a two-out ground rule double in the ninth.
Lets not go crazy, The Rays are still up 3-2 with a young stud pitcher in Shields going at home where they have been good all year but even a banged up Beckett may still have some life in that ailing arm. He has proven in the past that he can handle the pressure and wants the ball.
By all rights the Rays are better, would make for a better World Series and be a better rags to riches storey but like the Verizon Network, Red Sox Nation is back behind the club....Except for all the stupid Boston fans that left in the 5th and 6th innings. How spoiled or apathetic are these people to a) leave Fenway early ever or b) leave a playoff game early. If it is 18-2 in the 9th with 2 outs you stay in your seat, it is rule 1 for being a fan. I guess that is the difference between a fan and a corporate guy rich prep CEO who goes because it looks good and got free tickets. TERRIBLE.

I don’t care at this point who wins at this point. The Red Sox are good but the Rays are better, The Sox have history and experience and the Rays have youth, speed and depth. I still like either the American League teams to win it all over the Phillies, but that is on paper and is why you play the game. In any event more playoff baseball is never a bad thing.

I love playoff baseball

Watching the Red Sox v Rays game there have been a few things that I have noticed.
1) Tampa is a great TEAM with great speed, power, and pitching
b) Red Sox injuries have piled up and have all but sealed their fate and will likely be done for the season very soon.
3) BJ Upton and Carl Crawford are 2 guys that should be challenging Usain Bolt
4) Probably most importantly: Kevin Youkilis may have the thickest beard ever and though I think Dustin Pedroia should be the AL MVP Youk has won me over as being one of the smartest position players in the game. Off the top I can think of 3 great defensive plays that he has done to pick off runners and also sports a great bat. I never much cared for him before but i have come to appreciate what he does on the field. I liken him to the thinking mans player A.J. Prerzynski except less disliked...by a little bit.

Week 6 NFL results

5-8 this week. Looks like it was another banner week. I hate the NFL. With 5 last second field goals to decide games...whats the deal, i mean really. Oh well next week is another week. Gotta stay confident i suppose.

Young prospect dies during game

Yet another young hockey player has died. This time it was actually during a game. According to initial reports, Alexei Cherepanov collapsed on the bench after suffering a heart attack and was unable to be resuscitated. Cherepanov, a first round pick of the Rangers in 2007 was playing for Omsk in Russia in the KHL. It Seems to have happened way too often recently in sports and one might wonder why. Last year it was Windsor Spitfires captain Mickey Renaud, and it is a few years removed from Juri Fischer from the Red Wings who thanks to having a Defibrillator accessible was able to be revived. In Fischer's case he may never play hockey again but he is alive.
Just another reason to ensure that all areana's be equipped with this type of machine. Malls have them, sport venuse need to too.
Heart attacks of this nature are subjective and many times will be hereditary but it does raise the question of perhaps some of the supplements these kids are taking to get that edge to become bigger stronger and faster. Not illegal drugs necessarily but the Creatine and items of that nature. It seems to be more evident in hockey for some reason then other sports. Football has had there share of tragedies but it seems more a matter of heat and exhaustion. In any event it is just a sad situation that not only a great young player was taken away but also young life.

Week 6 NFL Picks

• Aaron Rogers if at least 75% should be able to handle a very bad looking Seattle team

• No Kellen Winslow for Cleveland should let the Giants Roll

• Dallas V Arizona may be the one of the games of the week, look for the Cards to keep it close

• Lions are just bad, Look for Peterson to run all over them

• Rams, new coach or not are bad and Washington has looked good the last few weeks

Fingers are crossed for some redemption this week, and man do I need it!

Week 5 NFL Results

Wow, so 4-10 is not going in the right direction at all. Sure there were some games that I only lost due to a mere 1/2 point but that i guess is why the line was set where it was. I was actually pretty confident in my picks this week, only to get cut down again. Like I said last week and will say again, next week is the week and all the bad luck will turn to good luck and right the ship. Week 6 is in the cross hairs already. Have a look on Friday!

Week 5 NFL Picks

It is the second quarter of the NFL season and it is time to make the move away from mediocrity. Here is to hoping that I will have a good week and start making a charge. Check back Tuesday for the results

NFL- Always entertaining, even off the field

Travis Henry is in trouble again, this time it is for something a little more serious then smoking some pot. He has been arrested in an alleged coke deal. A trooper and DEA agent stopped a car that was carrying six pounds of marijuana and about three kilograms of cocaine.
He should have stuck with his day job...which was apparently fathering nine children by nine women as stated in a child support case in Georgia. Looks like Henry is taking the role of the NFL’s version of Shawn Kemp.

Al Davis finally drooped the axe on Lane Kiffen.
In one of the more entertaining press conferences in some time by Davis he not only announced the firing but made it a point to systematically cut down Kiffen basically calling him a liar and a fraud. It may have been harsh, but no denying it was entertaining.
It may have only taken 4 months longer then it should have but it is done and the soap opera has come to a conclusion...or has it?...bummm bummm boooooommmmm.

Cardinals Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin has fractured sinus membrane.
This will come as no surprise to anyone who saw the "snot knocker" of a hit he took in last weeks game versus the Jets.
But in all seriousness it is good that that was the worst that happened as it initially looked like he may have suffered a serious spinal or neck injury.

Chad Ocho Cinco says that he loves the Cowboys, So much so that he says that he is going to score and Kiss the "Dallas Star".
Even T.O. must shake his head on this one. Maybe he should mention to chad that the "Star" celebration has been done and it isn’t worth the hit. Sure when Owens did it there was no kiss but Ocho Cinco needs to be more creative, the way he was when the Bungles were good that 1 year.