If quarterback Drew Brees leads the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl victory on February 7, he would be the third Purdue University QB (Len Dawson and Bob Griese being the others) to win a Super Bowl. That would tie a record set by one other college.
Which college produced a record three Super Bowl winning QBs? Can you name them?
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UPDATE:
I rarely stumped my pal Mark on baseball trivia so it shouldn't come as a surprise he knew this football factoid.
The University of Alabama produced three Super Bowl winning quarterbacks in Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Ken Stabler.
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Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Super Bowl trivia: The coaches
Can you name the five head coaches who have guided two different franchises to Super Bowl appearances?
Again, see if you can answer without online assistance.
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ANSWER
Don Shula (Colts, Dolphins)
Dick Vermeil (Eagles, Rams)
Bill Parcells (Giants, Patriots)
Mike Holmgren (Packers, Seahawks)
Dan Reeves (Broncos, Falcons)
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Again, see if you can answer without online assistance.
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ANSWER
Don Shula (Colts, Dolphins)
Dick Vermeil (Eagles, Rams)
Bill Parcells (Giants, Patriots)
Mike Holmgren (Packers, Seahawks)
Dan Reeves (Broncos, Falcons)
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Life or Something Like It
I haven't seen any polls recently but if I had to guess I would say that the majority of Americans consider themselves "pro-life." Nevertheless, the abortion issue is still very divisive, evidenced by the flap over a Super Bowl ad featuring an anti-abortion message.
Obviously, Mrs. Tebow's testimony can hardly be conveyed in a 30-second ad. Suffice to say, she had an indelible faith and knew that the Lord would see her through Tim's birth as well as be with her while raising him. That is, if the Lord would allow Tim to be born healthy, Mrs. Tebow would never let Tim forget that his birth was a miracle of miracles. And given the way Tim carries himself today, he truly embraces each and every day of his life.
Which is why the objection expressed by The Viewcaustic hag co-host Joy Behar is so absurd.
No, but it's amazing what a loving, faith-filled environment can do for a child. Pam Tebow allowed her son to live and may have put herself at risk in doing so. With that kind of start to his life, Tim's odds of becoming deviant were virtually non-existent.
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CBS responded to complaints over a conservative group's planned Super Bowl ad featuring football star Tim Tebow by saying that it had eased restrictions on advocacy ads and would consider "responsibly produced" ones for open spots in its Feb. 7 broadcast.
CBS said Tuesday it had received numerous e-mails — both critical and supportive — since a coalition of women's groups began a protest campaign Monday against the ad, which the critics say will use Tebow and his mother to convey an anti-abortion message.
Funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, the 30-second ad is expected to recount the story of Pam Tebow's pregnancy in 1987. After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child. She later gave birth to Tim, who won the 2007 Heisman Trophy and helped his Florida team win two BCS championships.
Obviously, Mrs. Tebow's testimony can hardly be conveyed in a 30-second ad. Suffice to say, she had an indelible faith and knew that the Lord would see her through Tim's birth as well as be with her while raising him. That is, if the Lord would allow Tim to be born healthy, Mrs. Tebow would never let Tim forget that his birth was a miracle of miracles. And given the way Tim carries himself today, he truly embraces each and every day of his life.
Which is why the objection expressed by The View
The only argument against any of it is, that, you know, he could just as easily become some kind of a rapist pedophile. I mean, you don't know what someone's going to be.
No, but it's amazing what a loving, faith-filled environment can do for a child. Pam Tebow allowed her son to live and may have put herself at risk in doing so. With that kind of start to his life, Tim's odds of becoming deviant were virtually non-existent.
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Super Bowl trivia: The teams
I know it's only been two days since the NFL conference championship games took place but I'm already tired of waiting for Super Bowl Sunday.
So to pass the time, let's go with a little Super Bowl trivia.
Here's a relatively easy one to start with.
Now that the New Orleans Saints will be playing in their first Super Bowl, there are four other franchises who have yet to make an appearance in the big game. Who are they?
And see if you can answer without using Google or any of those other search engines.
------------------------------------------
UPDATE: Commenter "K-Rod" got it! The four teams who have never made a Super Bowl appearance are the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.
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So to pass the time, let's go with a little Super Bowl trivia.
Here's a relatively easy one to start with.
Now that the New Orleans Saints will be playing in their first Super Bowl, there are four other franchises who have yet to make an appearance in the big game. Who are they?
And see if you can answer without using Google or any of those other search engines.
------------------------------------------
UPDATE: Commenter "K-Rod" got it! The four teams who have never made a Super Bowl appearance are the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.
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Sunday, January 24, 2010
Devastating Classic.
Well, I did predict the final score correctly. Unfortunately it was my Minnesota Vikings on the wrong end of a 31-28 score. Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints, who move on to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Yes, we were warned incessantly that Brett Favre would break the collective hearts of Purple Nation. Favre's three turnovers (The Vikes had five total), including a costly interception late in regulation when the Vikings were close to field goal range, certainly didn't help. But I maintained from day one that without Favre, the Vikings don't get near the Super Bowl. So I was willing to risk having my heart broken if my favorite squad could just be in the position to get to the ultimate game. That said, I'll eventually be able to look back at the 2009 season with pride. But not tonight.
It was all right there. Ryan Longwell, another former Packer, was getting warmed up late in regulation to kick the game-winner. FINALLY, we were going to get redemption for Gary Anderson's miss in the '98 NFC Championship game. But while at the Saints' 33-yard line with about 12 seconds to go, the Vikes inexplicably get caught with too many men in the huddle. A five yard penalty moved them back to the 38. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! The next play was the aforementioned interception, sending the game into overtime.
The Vikings would not see the ball again as the Saints won the coin toss in OT and drove down the field to get in position for a game-winning field goal. Saints kicker Garrett Hartley nailed a 40-yarder for the win. True to the caveat of Packer Nation, the Vikings' season ultimately ended on a Favre interception. It is what it is.
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Yes, we were warned incessantly that Brett Favre would break the collective hearts of Purple Nation. Favre's three turnovers (The Vikes had five total), including a costly interception late in regulation when the Vikings were close to field goal range, certainly didn't help. But I maintained from day one that without Favre, the Vikings don't get near the Super Bowl. So I was willing to risk having my heart broken if my favorite squad could just be in the position to get to the ultimate game. That said, I'll eventually be able to look back at the 2009 season with pride. But not tonight.
It was all right there. Ryan Longwell, another former Packer, was getting warmed up late in regulation to kick the game-winner. FINALLY, we were going to get redemption for Gary Anderson's miss in the '98 NFC Championship game. But while at the Saints' 33-yard line with about 12 seconds to go, the Vikes inexplicably get caught with too many men in the huddle. A five yard penalty moved them back to the 38. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! The next play was the aforementioned interception, sending the game into overtime.
The Vikings would not see the ball again as the Saints won the coin toss in OT and drove down the field to get in position for a game-winning field goal. Saints kicker Garrett Hartley nailed a 40-yarder for the win. True to the caveat of Packer Nation, the Vikings' season ultimately ended on a Favre interception. It is what it is.
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Friday, January 22, 2010
NFL Playoffs: Championship Sunday
Jets (+8) at Colts: This is a rematch of a week 16 regular season game, one the Colts fans won’t soon forget. With Indianapolis sitting at a 14-0 record, head coach Jim Caldwell pulled most of the starters (including MVP quarterback Peyton Manning) midway through the third quarter with the Colts leading 15-10. The Jets would rally for a 29-15 victory, thus denying the Indianapolis Colts the dream of an undefeated season. So how ironic is it that the Colts are taking on a Jets team who needed to win that week 16 battle just to stay alive in the postseason hunt? The only way I see the Jets pulling off this upset is if they are able to maintain a consistent running game (Colts defense allowed 4.3 yards per carry in regular season) which would keep Manning & Co. off the field. The strategy worked in the divisional playoffs against San Diego but the Jets were also beneficiaries of Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding missing three field goals. The key here is for the Jets to keep the game close early. If they have to rely on QB Mark Sanchez to win it for them, it will be a long day, courtesy of pass rushing specialist Dwight Freeney. But if the Jets pull off the monumental upset, many will draw parallels to Super Bowl III where Jets QB Joe Namath’s famous “guarantee” came to fruition in a 16-7 win over the heavily favored Colts.
Colts 24 Jets 14
Vikings (+4) at Saints: I’d be lying if I said I remember anything about the Vikings’ last Super Bowl appearance. I was 7 ½ years old on January 9, 1977 when the Oakland Raiders crushed my beloved Vikes 32-14 in Super Bowl XI. No, my earliest recollection of Vikings football was QB Fran Tarkenton’s final season in 1978. So this would be my 32nd season as a fan of the purple and gold juggernaut. While many Vikings fans have become jaded after the heartbreak of the 1998 NFC Championship game, others became downright cynical after "41-doughnut" in the 2000 contest. In fact, I can envision a scenario after that shellacking against the Giants where many of the Vikings’ faithful were lamenting the fact they may never see their favorite squad in a Super Bowl again. ”Yeah” says Grandpa Ole, ”Massachusetts would elect a Republican to the Senate before the Vikings ever get to a Super Bowl again.”
An auspicious omen? Or pathetically grasping at straws?
What can I say? I’m a rube.
Vikings 31 Saints 28
Playoff record:
Straight up: 4-4
Against the spread: 5-3 (4-0 in the divisional round!!!)
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Colts 24 Jets 14
Vikings (+4) at Saints: I’d be lying if I said I remember anything about the Vikings’ last Super Bowl appearance. I was 7 ½ years old on January 9, 1977 when the Oakland Raiders crushed my beloved Vikes 32-14 in Super Bowl XI. No, my earliest recollection of Vikings football was QB Fran Tarkenton’s final season in 1978. So this would be my 32nd season as a fan of the purple and gold juggernaut. While many Vikings fans have become jaded after the heartbreak of the 1998 NFC Championship game, others became downright cynical after "41-doughnut" in the 2000 contest. In fact, I can envision a scenario after that shellacking against the Giants where many of the Vikings’ faithful were lamenting the fact they may never see their favorite squad in a Super Bowl again. ”Yeah” says Grandpa Ole, ”Massachusetts would elect a Republican to the Senate before the Vikings ever get to a Super Bowl again.”
An auspicious omen? Or pathetically grasping at straws?
What can I say? I’m a rube.
Vikings 31 Saints 28
Playoff record:
Straight up: 4-4
Against the spread: 5-3 (4-0 in the divisional round!!!)
-----------------------
Thursday, January 21, 2010
What Brown will do for you
While Scott Brown is not my ideal GOP politician (appears cut out in the mold of a John McCain or Jim Ramstad Republican) I definitely applaud his "take the bull by the horns" approach in responding to concerns of not only Massachusetts residents but Americans across the country.
And as the Today show host Meredith Vieira learned Wednesday, Senator-elect Brown will stand firm in his message, especially when the elite media attempts to distort his stances on the issues.
To paraphrase the First Lady of the U.S.: For the first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of Massachusetts! Not just because a Republican won, but because I think people are hungry for change. I have been desperate to see Massachusetts moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment.
-------------------------------------------
And as the Today show host Meredith Vieira learned Wednesday, Senator-elect Brown will stand firm in his message, especially when the elite media attempts to distort his stances on the issues.
To paraphrase the First Lady of the U.S.: For the first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of Massachusetts! Not just because a Republican won, but because I think people are hungry for change. I have been desperate to see Massachusetts moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment.
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Do you believe in miracles??? YESSSSSSSS!!!!!
In 1952, a 35-year old young man named John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected to the United States Senate out of the state of Massachusetts. He would serve until 1960 when he was elected President. Kennedy encouraged then Democratic governor Foster Furcolo to appoint Benjamin Smith (a close friend of the Kennedy family) to the vacated seat. Many speculated that Smith would be nothing more than a "seat warmer" for two years because in 1962 JFK's youngest brother, Teddy, would reach the age of 30 (the minimum age to serve in the Senate). Sure enough, Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy was appointed Senator of Massachusetts in '62.
So for nearly sixty years, a Kennedy or a Kennedy family flunky has occupied the same seat in the U.S. Senate.
Until now!
I recall all the fawning and delirium that surrounded the inauguration festivities last year and how people would have stooped to touch the hem of Obama's garment had they been able to get close enough. Almost one year later, Obama had to make a campaign stop on behalf of Coakley in a state he won by 26 points in the 2008 Presidential election. Amazingly, said visit actually seemed to be a detriment to the Coakley campaign.
Add it all up: Democrats were defeated last year in gubernatorial races in two states (Virginia and New Jersey) which went for Obama in '08 and now Brown scores a resounding Senate win in Massachusetts. Does the President really need any more evidence of a referendum against his abomination of a health care bill?
But the one aspect I can't stop thinking about is the delicious irony of a special election. It was Ted Kennedy himself who, in 2004, encouraged the Massachusetts legislature to change the law which gave the state's governor the purview to appoint a Senator to a vacated seat. Hence, a special election is now required to fill an open Senate seat in Massachusetts. The motivation behind such a law change was to prevent then Governor Mitt Romney from appointing a fellow Republican to John Kerry's senate seat had he been elected President. But Kerry lost, thus making the law change moot. Had Kennedy just left well enough alone, the authority to fill a vacant Senate seat would have remained with the Governor's office, now occupied by Democrat Deval Patrick. Think about that! It is only because of Kennedy's actions nearly six years ago that something he tried to prevent (a Republican Senator from Massachusetts) has actually come to fruition.
-------------------------------------------
So for nearly sixty years, a Kennedy or a Kennedy family flunky has occupied the same seat in the U.S. Senate.
Until now!
In an epic upset in liberal Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown rode a wave of voter anger to win the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy for nearly half a century, leaving President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in doubt and marring the end of his first year in office.
The loss by the once-favored Democrat Martha Coakley in the Democratic stronghold was a stunning embarrassment for the White House after Obama rushed to Boston on Sunday to try to save the foundering candidate. Her defeat on Tuesday signaled big political problems for the president's party this fall when House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates are on the ballot nationwide.
I recall all the fawning and delirium that surrounded the inauguration festivities last year and how people would have stooped to touch the hem of Obama's garment had they been able to get close enough. Almost one year later, Obama had to make a campaign stop on behalf of Coakley in a state he won by 26 points in the 2008 Presidential election. Amazingly, said visit actually seemed to be a detriment to the Coakley campaign.
Add it all up: Democrats were defeated last year in gubernatorial races in two states (Virginia and New Jersey) which went for Obama in '08 and now Brown scores a resounding Senate win in Massachusetts. Does the President really need any more evidence of a referendum against his abomination of a health care bill?
But the one aspect I can't stop thinking about is the delicious irony of a special election. It was Ted Kennedy himself who, in 2004, encouraged the Massachusetts legislature to change the law which gave the state's governor the purview to appoint a Senator to a vacated seat. Hence, a special election is now required to fill an open Senate seat in Massachusetts. The motivation behind such a law change was to prevent then Governor Mitt Romney from appointing a fellow Republican to John Kerry's senate seat had he been elected President. But Kerry lost, thus making the law change moot. Had Kennedy just left well enough alone, the authority to fill a vacant Senate seat would have remained with the Governor's office, now occupied by Democrat Deval Patrick. Think about that! It is only because of Kennedy's actions nearly six years ago that something he tried to prevent (a Republican Senator from Massachusetts) has actually come to fruition.
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Monday, January 18, 2010
Still Tea'd off (UPDATE: Sen. John Kerry now attempts to mainstream vulgar reference)
It still floors me how despicable lefties are when opining on the actions of Americans who are fed up with outlandish government spending. While disgruntled Americans speak out against the Federal government in the motif of the 18th century Boston Tea Party, leftist shills condescendingly refer to them as "tea baggers."
For those who can't understand why that term is so grossly offensive, please take a moment to enlighten yourself.
We good?
Anyhow, this repeated taunt of "tea bagger" continues to be tossed out by the likes of pompous lefty "pundits" Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow.
Just check out the latest gratuitous use of the phrase:
Classy, eh? Well, I guess we shouldn't get in such a dither anymore. I mean given the sagging ratings of lefty talk shows (TV and radio), it's clear they don't have a lot of influence.
But what if I told you the above excerpt came from a letter penned by a United States Senator? That's right. The senior Senator from New York, the "Honorable" Charles E. (Chuck) Schumer, made that very statement in a fund raising letter.
Remember the good old days when we could reasonably expect our politicians to act with a certain amount of dignity and decorum? Yeah, neither do I.
--------------------------------------------
UPDATE: The now senior Senator from Massachusetts weighs in on Republican Scott Brown's supporters.
--------------------------------------------
For those who can't understand why that term is so grossly offensive, please take a moment to enlighten yourself.
We good?
Anyhow, this repeated taunt of "tea bagger" continues to be tossed out by the likes of pompous lefty "pundits" Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow.
Just check out the latest gratuitous use of the phrase:
Dear Friend,
I got a message from Ted Kennedy's widow, Vicki, and I wanted to make sure you saw it.
Martha Coakley is running to fill the rest of Ted Kennedy's term, and her opponent is a far-right tea-bagger Republican.
Classy, eh? Well, I guess we shouldn't get in such a dither anymore. I mean given the sagging ratings of lefty talk shows (TV and radio), it's clear they don't have a lot of influence.
But what if I told you the above excerpt came from a letter penned by a United States Senator? That's right. The senior Senator from New York, the "Honorable" Charles E. (Chuck) Schumer, made that very statement in a fund raising letter.
Remember the good old days when we could reasonably expect our politicians to act with a certain amount of dignity and decorum? Yeah, neither do I.
--------------------------------------------
UPDATE: The now senior Senator from Massachusetts weighs in on Republican Scott Brown's supporters.
"We also see how revved up the tea baggers are at the thought of hijacking health care reform and every chance we have at making progress in Washington."
--------------------------------------------
Saturday, January 16, 2010
But they said it really loud, they said it on the air on the radio
I had as much fun as I anticipated in my role as guest co-host Saturday on the Northern Alliance Radio Network. Once again, I want to convey my sincere thanks to Brian Ward for the more than generous invitation.
I've done radio before and I can tell you it's better to leave topics on the table than to run out of show material. Given we were live on location at the 2010 Minnesota Sportsmen's Show, there was a lot to talk about in terms of just the exhibits at said show.
And as advertised, we had a very diverse lineup of guests on the program.
Tom Goodrich, founder of an awesome charitable organization called Fishing for Life. It's an endeavor which introduces urban kids to the sport of fishing and allows them to actually experience nature and the great outdoors.
Lou Ann Best with Twiggy the water skiing squirrel.
Here we are joined by Michael Cummins, who is vying for the GOP nomination in MN Congressional District 8. Cummins will attempt to unseat barnacle DFLer Jim Oberstar, who has been in the US House nearly 40 years!
Brian and I interviewing local sports author Ross Bernstein, who joined us via telephone. Bernstein was promoting his latest book I Love Brett Favre/I Hate Brett Favre.
Crystal and Ashley of The Bikini Ice Fishing Team. They did not don their ice fishing "uniforms" in an effort to make the weekend a family-friendly environment.
The gals were really flattered to have been asked to be on the radio. Brian and I were concerned that asking them "Hey, you wanna do a radio show?" would come across as a bad pickup line.
Man, what a fun day! I will definitely be more than ready for my next opportunity!!
-------------------------------------------
I've done radio before and I can tell you it's better to leave topics on the table than to run out of show material. Given we were live on location at the 2010 Minnesota Sportsmen's Show, there was a lot to talk about in terms of just the exhibits at said show.
And as advertised, we had a very diverse lineup of guests on the program.
Tom Goodrich, founder of an awesome charitable organization called Fishing for Life. It's an endeavor which introduces urban kids to the sport of fishing and allows them to actually experience nature and the great outdoors.
Here we are joined by Michael Cummins, who is vying for the GOP nomination in MN Congressional District 8. Cummins will attempt to unseat barnacle DFLer Jim Oberstar, who has been in the US House nearly 40 years!
Brian and I interviewing local sports author Ross Bernstein, who joined us via telephone. Bernstein was promoting his latest book I Love Brett Favre/I Hate Brett Favre.
Crystal and Ashley of The Bikini Ice Fishing Team. They did not don their ice fishing "uniforms" in an effort to make the weekend a family-friendly environment.
The gals were really flattered to have been asked to be on the radio. Brian and I were concerned that asking them "Hey, you wanna do a radio show?" would come across as a bad pickup line.Man, what a fun day! I will definitely be more than ready for my next opportunity!!
-------------------------------------------
The Chronicles of NARN: The Squirrel, The Fish and The Author.
It's shaping up to be a fun-filled extravaganza on The First Team of the Northern Alliance Radio Network!
Brian "Saint Paul" Ward and myself will be broadcasting live from The Sportsmen's Show at the River Centre in downtown St. Paul. We will be on the air TODAY from 11:00 am CT until 1:00 on AM 1280 The Patriot.
We will of course delve into the latest political news as well as be joined by a myriad of guests.
Amongst the cavalcade of stars tentatively scheduled to appear during the broadcast:
Twiggy, the water-skiing squirrel! Well, his handler, Lou Ann Best, will be there for sure. Dunno if Twiggy himself will be along.
No, Brett Favre will not be joining us. Rather it will be prolific Minnesota sports author Ross Bernstein to talk about his latest offering I Love Brett Favre, I Hate Brett Favre.
To conclude this guest intensive show, we will receive a visit from The Bikini Ice Fishing Team.
And of course, the regular end-of-hour segments like "Loon of the Week" and "This Week in Gate Keeping" will take place as well!
If you aren't able to be there in person, you can tune in to AM 1280 or you can stream the broadcast at am1280thepatriot.com.
------------------------------------------
Brian "Saint Paul" Ward and myself will be broadcasting live from The Sportsmen's Show at the River Centre in downtown St. Paul. We will be on the air TODAY from 11:00 am CT until 1:00 on AM 1280 The Patriot.
We will of course delve into the latest political news as well as be joined by a myriad of guests.
Amongst the cavalcade of stars tentatively scheduled to appear during the broadcast:
Twiggy, the water-skiing squirrel! Well, his handler, Lou Ann Best, will be there for sure. Dunno if Twiggy himself will be along.
No, Brett Favre will not be joining us. Rather it will be prolific Minnesota sports author Ross Bernstein to talk about his latest offering I Love Brett Favre, I Hate Brett Favre.
To conclude this guest intensive show, we will receive a visit from The Bikini Ice Fishing Team.
And of course, the regular end-of-hour segments like "Loon of the Week" and "This Week in Gate Keeping" will take place as well!
If you aren't able to be there in person, you can tune in to AM 1280 or you can stream the broadcast at am1280thepatriot.com.
------------------------------------------
Friday, January 15, 2010
NFL Playoffs: Divisional round
Cardinals (+7) at Saints: Given what the Cards did last week to one of the NFL’s top defenses, this game looks to be a shootout as well. The Saints ranked number one in total offense in the NFL during the regular season (4th in passing yards, 6th in rushing) and are coming into this game well rested. Naturally, both teams are going to play the “us against the world” card. Arizona, despite being the defending NFC champs, was a decided underdog last week against Green Bay. And some are beginning to doubt New Orleans, who stumbled to a 13-3 finish after starting 13-0. But the difference here will be the defensive line play. Arizona has to be pretty well wrung out after getting being torched by Aaron Rodgers & Co. in the wildcard round last week. I anticipate Saints QB Drew Brees may be a little rusty at the start but will eventually find his rhythm. The Cards will get theirs offensively but it won’t be enough.
Saints 38 Cardinals 28
Ravens (+7) at Colts: After forcing Patriots QB Tom Brady into four turnovers last week, the Ravens will need to do something similar to Colts quarterback Peyton Manning this week. Baltimore QB Joe Flacco will most assuredly need to complete more than four passes this game if his club is to continue another magical postseason run. And another 159 yard rushing performance from Ray Rice wouldn’t hurt either. Meanwhile, in the minds of the Colts fans, this season will be considered a miserable failure for Indianapolis if they don’t go all the way. With a third quarter lead in week 16 against the Jets, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell pulled many of his starters (including Manning) in the third quarter. The Jets would rally to beat the Colts backups and thus the dream of an undefeated season went by the boards. These two teams met in week 11 of the regular season with Indianapolis squeaking out a 17-15 win in Baltimore. I don’t anticipate this game being that close.
Colts 30 Ravens 21
Cowboys (+3) at Vikings: Dallas is the exact type of team which gives Minnesota matchup nightmares. The Cowboys have a big, physical offensive line that could wear down the leaner, quicker Vikings D-line. Vikes DE Jared Allen will absolutely have to win his battle against LT Flozell Adams. However, QB Tony Romo has a very quick release and takes a lot of three-step drops. On the other side of the equation, the Vikings O-line has been beat up lately when facing only three and four man rushes. If Dallas decides to blitz, it could be an especially long day. But Brett Favre should have some opportunities against the 20th ranked pass defense in the NFL. With RB Adrian Peterson having been a virtual non-factor for the past month, he has a chance to really step up against a defense allowing 4.0 yards per carry against the run. But if the Vikings fall behind quickly, AP may once again be insignificant. Home field, I believe, will be the Vikes’ saving grace, as they ran the table at home during the regular season.
Vikings 28 Cowboys 24
Jets (+8) at Chargers: Many consider San Diego the favorite to win the Super Bowl and with good reason. They won their last eleven games during the regular season and have clearly become QB Philip Rivers’ team. Rivers was third in the NFL in passer rating (behind only Brees and Favre), tied for sixth in TD passes and eighth in passing yardage. However, he will definitely be tested against the league’s top defense, who allowed only eight regular season TD passes. Combine that with the fact that the Jets running game (number one in the NFL in rushing offense) will be going against a Chargers’ defense which allowed 4.5 yards per carry, this game will be closer than many think. But even if Jets all pro CB Darrelle Revis is able to shut down the Chargers top WR Vincent Jackson, Rivers still has an embarrassment of offensive riches with top-tier TE Antonio Gates, WR Malcolm Floyd and RBs Darren Sproles and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Chargers 27 Jets 20
Playoff record:
Straight up: 1-3
Against the spread: 1-3
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Saints 38 Cardinals 28
Ravens (+7) at Colts: After forcing Patriots QB Tom Brady into four turnovers last week, the Ravens will need to do something similar to Colts quarterback Peyton Manning this week. Baltimore QB Joe Flacco will most assuredly need to complete more than four passes this game if his club is to continue another magical postseason run. And another 159 yard rushing performance from Ray Rice wouldn’t hurt either. Meanwhile, in the minds of the Colts fans, this season will be considered a miserable failure for Indianapolis if they don’t go all the way. With a third quarter lead in week 16 against the Jets, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell pulled many of his starters (including Manning) in the third quarter. The Jets would rally to beat the Colts backups and thus the dream of an undefeated season went by the boards. These two teams met in week 11 of the regular season with Indianapolis squeaking out a 17-15 win in Baltimore. I don’t anticipate this game being that close.
Colts 30 Ravens 21
Cowboys (+3) at Vikings: Dallas is the exact type of team which gives Minnesota matchup nightmares. The Cowboys have a big, physical offensive line that could wear down the leaner, quicker Vikings D-line. Vikes DE Jared Allen will absolutely have to win his battle against LT Flozell Adams. However, QB Tony Romo has a very quick release and takes a lot of three-step drops. On the other side of the equation, the Vikings O-line has been beat up lately when facing only three and four man rushes. If Dallas decides to blitz, it could be an especially long day. But Brett Favre should have some opportunities against the 20th ranked pass defense in the NFL. With RB Adrian Peterson having been a virtual non-factor for the past month, he has a chance to really step up against a defense allowing 4.0 yards per carry against the run. But if the Vikings fall behind quickly, AP may once again be insignificant. Home field, I believe, will be the Vikes’ saving grace, as they ran the table at home during the regular season.
Vikings 28 Cowboys 24
Jets (+8) at Chargers: Many consider San Diego the favorite to win the Super Bowl and with good reason. They won their last eleven games during the regular season and have clearly become QB Philip Rivers’ team. Rivers was third in the NFL in passer rating (behind only Brees and Favre), tied for sixth in TD passes and eighth in passing yardage. However, he will definitely be tested against the league’s top defense, who allowed only eight regular season TD passes. Combine that with the fact that the Jets running game (number one in the NFL in rushing offense) will be going against a Chargers’ defense which allowed 4.5 yards per carry, this game will be closer than many think. But even if Jets all pro CB Darrelle Revis is able to shut down the Chargers top WR Vincent Jackson, Rivers still has an embarrassment of offensive riches with top-tier TE Antonio Gates, WR Malcolm Floyd and RBs Darren Sproles and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Chargers 27 Jets 20
Playoff record:
Straight up: 1-3
Against the spread: 1-3
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Monday, January 11, 2010
Interesting Development (UPDATE: Anderson to abandon gubernatorial candidacy and run for State Auditor)
So I see that Pat Anderson has a new Facebook page entitled Pat Anderson for State Auditor.
What did I miss?
Just a couple of months ago a few of my blogging colleagues and I sat down with Pat and saw her as a formidable gubernatorial candidate. Naturally, I decided to check out her Anderson4Governor web site where I read the following announcement:
Stay tuned I guess.
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UPDATE: It's official! Anderson to drop out of gubernatorial race and run for State Auditor, a position she held from 2003 until 2007. Check out the reaction of my True North colleague, Gary Gross.
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What did I miss?
Just a couple of months ago a few of my blogging colleagues and I sat down with Pat and saw her as a formidable gubernatorial candidate. Naturally, I decided to check out her Anderson4Governor web site where I read the following announcement:
The Pat Anderson for Governor Campaign will hold a press conference tomorrow, January 12, at 10 AM in Room 181 of the State Office Building. Pat will make a significant announcement affecting her campaign.
What: Pat Anderson for Governor Campaign Press Conference
When: 10 AM Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Where: Room 181 State Office Building
Stay tuned I guess.
-----------------------------------------
UPDATE: It's official! Anderson to drop out of gubernatorial race and run for State Auditor, a position she held from 2003 until 2007. Check out the reaction of my True North colleague, Gary Gross.
------------------------------------------
Big Mac stops telling Whoppers*
So former baseball slugger Mark McGwire has finally come clean about his steroid use during his 15-year major league career. That grand announcement was met with similar public reaction which occurred with Pete Rose's admission he bet on baseball and Clay Aiken's revelation that he was gay.
McGwire burst on the MLB scene in 1987, hitting 49 home runs with 118 RBIs, earning him AL Rookie of the year honors. In his first four major league seasons, he averaged 38 HRs and 105 RBIs. But then came 1991, when McGwire hit an anemic .201 while hitting only 22 homers and driving in 75. It's difficult to fathom what was going through his mind having his production taking such a nosedive in only his fifth season as a major leaguer. I recall McGwire looking incredibly bulked upon the arrival of the 1992 season. As a result, he belted 42 homers and 104 RBIs to go with a .268 average.
But with all that extra muscle came a rash of injuries. Over the next two seasons (1993-94) McGwire played in only 74 games. It was then he began to use steroids in earnest, which lasted the remaining seven years of his career. He would average more than fifty homers per year over that time, and would be the first player to ever usurp Roger Maris' season record of 61. To give you an indication of how prevalent steroids were in the '90s, Maris' record stood for 37 seasons but was surpassed six times between 1998 and 2001.
So the debate will now rage on about whether or not McGwire (or any other player linked to performance enhancing drugs) will ever be enshrined in the baseball Hall of Fame. During his candid admission, McGwire felt he "was given a gift to hit home runs" and that the only reason he took steroids "was for health purposes." But given the timeline, McGwire had barely hit more than 200 homers by the early '90s (when he admits to have started to use PEDs). Those numbers are hardly worthy of a hall of famer.
It could be argued that hitting a baseball is by far the most difficult skill to master. That being the case, if a player can't get around on a 95 MPH fastball, steroids aren't going to help him much. For a skilled power hitter, the assistance of PEDs merely turns 375-foot home runs into 400-foot shots. McGwire is currently tied for eighth on the all-time home run list with 583. But given the vote totals McGwire has accumulated in his first four years of hall of fame eligibility, the baseball writers are clearly not convinced of his natural home run prowess.
*Clever blog title stolen from former S.I. writer Steve Rushin.
-------------------------------------------
McGwire burst on the MLB scene in 1987, hitting 49 home runs with 118 RBIs, earning him AL Rookie of the year honors. In his first four major league seasons, he averaged 38 HRs and 105 RBIs. But then came 1991, when McGwire hit an anemic .201 while hitting only 22 homers and driving in 75. It's difficult to fathom what was going through his mind having his production taking such a nosedive in only his fifth season as a major leaguer. I recall McGwire looking incredibly bulked upon the arrival of the 1992 season. As a result, he belted 42 homers and 104 RBIs to go with a .268 average.
But with all that extra muscle came a rash of injuries. Over the next two seasons (1993-94) McGwire played in only 74 games. It was then he began to use steroids in earnest, which lasted the remaining seven years of his career. He would average more than fifty homers per year over that time, and would be the first player to ever usurp Roger Maris' season record of 61. To give you an indication of how prevalent steroids were in the '90s, Maris' record stood for 37 seasons but was surpassed six times between 1998 and 2001.
So the debate will now rage on about whether or not McGwire (or any other player linked to performance enhancing drugs) will ever be enshrined in the baseball Hall of Fame. During his candid admission, McGwire felt he "was given a gift to hit home runs" and that the only reason he took steroids "was for health purposes." But given the timeline, McGwire had barely hit more than 200 homers by the early '90s (when he admits to have started to use PEDs). Those numbers are hardly worthy of a hall of famer.
It could be argued that hitting a baseball is by far the most difficult skill to master. That being the case, if a player can't get around on a 95 MPH fastball, steroids aren't going to help him much. For a skilled power hitter, the assistance of PEDs merely turns 375-foot home runs into 400-foot shots. McGwire is currently tied for eighth on the all-time home run list with 583. But given the vote totals McGwire has accumulated in his first four years of hall of fame eligibility, the baseball writers are clearly not convinced of his natural home run prowess.
*Clever blog title stolen from former S.I. writer Steve Rushin.
-------------------------------------------
Friday, January 08, 2010
NFL Playoffs: Wildcard weekend
Jets (+3) at Bengals: Fresh off a 37-0 beating at the hands of the Jets in the regular season finale, the AFC North champion Bengals will attempt to win their first playoff game since 1990. Back then they beat the Houston Oilers (who are now the Tennessee Titans) in the wildcard round but then lost to the Los Angeles Raiders in the divisional playoff contest (Bo Jackson's last game as an NFL player). Both teams feature solid defenses with potent rushing attacks. The Jets' Thomas Jones finished with 1,402 yards rushing (third best in the NFL) while the Bengals' Cedric Benson finished eighth in the NFL with 1,251 yards. Say, aren't both those guys former Bears? Ah, but who needs running backs of that caliber when you have Matt Forte running for 3.6 yards per carry.
But I digress.
Bengals 17 Jets 13
Eagles (+4) at Cowboys: With this being the third matchup of these two teams this season, the Cowboys will look to complete a three game sweep of Philly. Naturally, we're going to hear the tired old cliche of how difficult it is to beat a team three times in a season. But the fact of the matter is it happens more often than not. In the past ten postseasons, teams have met for a third time on six occasions. In those six games, the team who swept the regular season matchups went 4-2 in the playoff games. And right now the Cowboys seem to be the most complete team entering this year's postseason. Not only have they shutout their last two opponents (including the Eagles last week), they dealt the New Orleans Saints their first defeat in week 15. In fact, the high octane Saints offense didn't even score a touchdown until the fourth quarter. Dallas QB Tony Romo put together a solid December for the first time in his career and WR Miles Austin has successfully replaced T.O. as the Cowboys #1 receiver.
Cowboys 27 Eagles 17
Ravens (+3 1/2) at Patriots: Pats QB Tom Brady apparently has three broken ribs and a fractured finger on his throwing hand. WR Wes Welker is out due to torn knee ligaments. And to top it all off, New England also has nary a star on defense. Ah, but Randy Moss is still in the fold after a nice regular season with 83 catches (13 for TDs) and 1,264 yards. Meanwhile, the Ravens seem to be finding a little mojo on offense with the emergence of Ray Rice, who can gash a defense via the run or pass. And QB Joe Flacco has piled up better offensive numbers than his rookie year last season when he led Baltimore all the way to the AFC Championship. Who would have guessed that this game has the potential to be an offensive shootout, given the Ravens have the reputation as a top-tier defense? I give the Patriots the edge simply because they are at home, where they finished 8-0 during the regular season
Patriots 31 Ravens 27
Packers (+1 1/2) at Cardinals: To me, the Packers not only enter the playoffs as the NFL's hottest team, but they are by far the most resilient. After losing at home to Brett Favre and the Vikings in week 8 and then falling to the 0-7 Buccaneers the following game, the Pack found themselves reeling at 4-4. Since then, they were a miracle Ben Roethlisberger TD pass away from running the table the second half of the season. In fact, they went 5-1 the final six weeks without defensive stalwarts Aaron Kampman and Al Harris, both lost for the season with knee injuries. Meanwhile, the Cards have bucked the recent trend of the Super Bowl runner-up missing the playoffs the following season. Of course, playing in the same division as the Seahawks and Rams doesn't hurt. But what does hurt is stud WR Anquan Boldin being hampered by a high ankle sprain. That means there will be an extra burden placed upon Larry Fitzgerald's shoulders, and I'm sure he's up for the task. In fact, the thought of Packers CB Charles Woodson on Fitzgerald makes for the most intriguing one-on-one matchup of the weekend.
Packers 31 Cardinals 21
The previous prognostications are for recreational purposes only and not to be used as a basis for a cash wager
-----------------------------------------
But I digress.
Bengals 17 Jets 13
Eagles (+4) at Cowboys: With this being the third matchup of these two teams this season, the Cowboys will look to complete a three game sweep of Philly. Naturally, we're going to hear the tired old cliche of how difficult it is to beat a team three times in a season. But the fact of the matter is it happens more often than not. In the past ten postseasons, teams have met for a third time on six occasions. In those six games, the team who swept the regular season matchups went 4-2 in the playoff games. And right now the Cowboys seem to be the most complete team entering this year's postseason. Not only have they shutout their last two opponents (including the Eagles last week), they dealt the New Orleans Saints their first defeat in week 15. In fact, the high octane Saints offense didn't even score a touchdown until the fourth quarter. Dallas QB Tony Romo put together a solid December for the first time in his career and WR Miles Austin has successfully replaced T.O. as the Cowboys #1 receiver.
Cowboys 27 Eagles 17
Ravens (+3 1/2) at Patriots: Pats QB Tom Brady apparently has three broken ribs and a fractured finger on his throwing hand. WR Wes Welker is out due to torn knee ligaments. And to top it all off, New England also has nary a star on defense. Ah, but Randy Moss is still in the fold after a nice regular season with 83 catches (13 for TDs) and 1,264 yards. Meanwhile, the Ravens seem to be finding a little mojo on offense with the emergence of Ray Rice, who can gash a defense via the run or pass. And QB Joe Flacco has piled up better offensive numbers than his rookie year last season when he led Baltimore all the way to the AFC Championship. Who would have guessed that this game has the potential to be an offensive shootout, given the Ravens have the reputation as a top-tier defense? I give the Patriots the edge simply because they are at home, where they finished 8-0 during the regular season
Patriots 31 Ravens 27
Packers (+1 1/2) at Cardinals: To me, the Packers not only enter the playoffs as the NFL's hottest team, but they are by far the most resilient. After losing at home to Brett Favre and the Vikings in week 8 and then falling to the 0-7 Buccaneers the following game, the Pack found themselves reeling at 4-4. Since then, they were a miracle Ben Roethlisberger TD pass away from running the table the second half of the season. In fact, they went 5-1 the final six weeks without defensive stalwarts Aaron Kampman and Al Harris, both lost for the season with knee injuries. Meanwhile, the Cards have bucked the recent trend of the Super Bowl runner-up missing the playoffs the following season. Of course, playing in the same division as the Seahawks and Rams doesn't hurt. But what does hurt is stud WR Anquan Boldin being hampered by a high ankle sprain. That means there will be an extra burden placed upon Larry Fitzgerald's shoulders, and I'm sure he's up for the task. In fact, the thought of Packers CB Charles Woodson on Fitzgerald makes for the most intriguing one-on-one matchup of the weekend.
Packers 31 Cardinals 21
The previous prognostications are for recreational purposes only and not to be used as a basis for a cash wager
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Tune in to AM 1280 The Patriot....
....well, any time you possibly can.
But especially check in to the Northern Alliance Radio Network on Saturday, January 16. That is because yours truly, along with Brian Ward, will be on The First Team from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00! You can listen to the broadcast on the web at am1280thepatriot.com or come see us in person. We will be broadcasting live from the Sportsmen's Show at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.
One of our guests that day will be local author Ross Bernstein, who will be promoting his latest offering I Love Brett Favre : I Hate Brett Favre.
I am totally fired up for another opportunity to get on the airwaves! Hope to hear from you or see you all out there!
------------------------------------------
But especially check in to the Northern Alliance Radio Network on Saturday, January 16. That is because yours truly, along with Brian Ward, will be on The First Team from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00! You can listen to the broadcast on the web at am1280thepatriot.com or come see us in person. We will be broadcasting live from the Sportsmen's Show at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.
One of our guests that day will be local author Ross Bernstein, who will be promoting his latest offering I Love Brett Favre : I Hate Brett Favre.
I am totally fired up for another opportunity to get on the airwaves! Hope to hear from you or see you all out there!
------------------------------------------
Friday, January 01, 2010
Rush on the mend!
Having been a fan of conservative radio titan Rush Limbaugh for nearly 20 years, I was deeply concerned when I learned he was rushed to a Honolulu hospital last week due to chest pains.
Thankfully he is on the mend and seems raring to get back to normal life!
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Thankfully he is on the mend and seems raring to get back to normal life!
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