Phjoshua Week 9 NFL Picks!

Hello again my pigskin loving friends, it’s time once more to pick winners for NFL football.

I have a confession to make… these picks were made without the time and consideration that they deserved. I am depending on gut feelings, hunches, intuition and luck to get me through the weekend successfully.

My gut is telling me to take Buffalo, Dallas and Pittsburgh at home and to believe in Atlanta, San Francisco and Denver on the road.

Side Note: If Tim Tebow wins in Oakland I will have photos taken of me in his pose and will post them on the internets!

As always I wish you the best of luck with your picks and hope you come out on top!

Phjoshua Week 8 NFL Picks!

Hello again boys and girls. I hope you’ve all had a stellar week and enjoyed the hell out of the World Series.

Baseball is finished now and with the NBA out football just got even bigger. Last week my record dropped to 8-5 after two weeks of double digit wins in a row.

The plan this week is simple – get back to 10.

Take a look at Buffalo against the Redskins in Toronto – I expect a huge road win for New Orleans in St. Louis and I’m on Pittsburgh against New England… sorry Tom Brady.

NFL Week 7 Picks!

Ladies and gentlemen - I am on a roll. In the last 2 weeks I am 20-6. 2 weeks in a row of 10-3 record picking games.

However, this week isn't as easy to look at as the last 2 have been. It wasn't fun picking these games. Out loud I voiced my opinion of the schedule - and it wasn't favorable.

But they have to be picked, so here we are!

I've got the Jets winning at home in the battle of the coaches who love to hate.

I've got Cam Newton winning at home over the upside down Redskins.

I've got Green Bay absolutely murdering the Vikings.

And I've got Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys winning at home against the awful Rams.

Here's hoping my luck continues and yours does too!

Week 7

#GoCowboys

Phjoshua - 2011 World Series Prediction!

The Raiders Paid How Much?!

NFL Week 6 Picks!

Hello friends, it’s time for week 6 in the NFL and that means more picks, picks, picks!

Last week was friggin’ awesome – in a 13 game week filled with Turkey Dinner I ended up with 10 wins. That means I only had 3 losses. I love it.

This week feels like a trap week. But I’m okay with that. There aren’t many road teams worth taking…

I’m going to say Buffalo, Philly and New Orleans are worth a shot though.

Take a look at my 13 picks for Week 6 – here’s hoping your luck is as good as mine!

NFL Week 5 Picks!

It's Week 5 in the NFL - and I HATE IT!

I shouldn't say hate... but this is the 1st week with byes and that means that I can't blindly pick against Cleveland and St. Louis. However, because Dallas has a bye I don't have to worry about pulling my hair out while the 4th quarter falls apart.

With all of that said, there are still 13 games on the schedule to pick and I have a feeling that we can get to 9 wins. I hope. Maybe.

The 3 games of the week are probably Green Bay vs. Atlanta in a rematch from the playoffs, the Jets in New England with a big divisional win on the line and Chicago visiting Detroit on Monday Night Football as the Cinderella Lions try to keep their perfect record alive.

I'm not as confident as I was last week - but let's see how it goes. Wish me luck. And good luck to you!

Yankees vs Tigers - Win or Go Home (October 4, 2011)

So, the playoff fate of the New York Yankees has fallen into the hands of AJ Burnett.

Ha!

I love it!

The Yankees find themselves in Detroit tonight with a win or go home situation staring them in the face. It’s not a place that anyone ever wants to be in. It’s not a place that the best players in the game always thrive in. But it is what it is.

And now the Tigers have the chance to finish off the series with a win at home. 1 win, that’s all they need to move on and get one step closer to the World Series.

This is not a game that favours the Yankees. At all. Even espn.com has them as underdogs with pre-game odds set at 38%.

The Tigers may not be the best team in baseball from top to bottom - but they won their division. They have some very talented position players & hitters. And whether you like him or not, Jose Valverde is a solid closer.

I don’t have any money on this game - because I try not to bet on baseball - BUT if you were to offer me something in return I think I’m liking the Tigers and Rick Porcello tonight.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:37pm eastern time... be ready for some tense moments and perhaps some celebrations at about midnight.

Go Tigers!

Another Wild Week in Review!

It’s been a wild week in sports.  


In football we saw Beardy Fitzpatrick and the Bills beat the Patriots in their own building to go to 3-0 on the young NFL season. Then the Cowboys won at home on Monday Night Football without scoring a single friggin’ touchdown. And I went 10-6 in my picks to bring me to a 26 - 22 for the season so far.

Pre-season NHL hockey has started to heat up and the suspensions are rolling through the league. New disciplinarian Brendan Shannahan has handed down more suspensions than anyone ever thought we would have to see. And I’m on his side. There needs to be 0 tolerance for hits to the head that endanger the livelihoods and long-term health and safety of NHL players. These hits need to stop and the only way that it’s going to happen is to take away money and playing time from the players.


And then there was baseball. Holy shit. Both the Braves and Red Sox completed their epic and historic September slides and allowed the Cardinals and Rays to steal the Wild Card playoff spots. If you weren’t watching baseball on Wednesday night because you aren’t a fan, you are forgiven. If you weren’t watching baseball on Wednesday night and you are a fan - you missed one of the most exciting nights of channel flipping that have ever happened.


In the end people will talk about the collapse of the teams that were leading the playoff race with so little tie left in the regular season. But when you look back on it later or talk about it with your friends this fall remember that the teams that got in had to win almost every night just to give themselves a chance.


Note: The Rays looked great in Texas on Friday afternoon behind rookie pitcher Matt Moore in a 9-0 game 1 win. This young, energetic and now pumped team could do a lot of damage this fall... if they don’t run out of gas.


It was a great week. Here’s hoping that the next 7 days are just as exciting!


ps. Catch a special post about Cooper Stone, Josh Hamilton and the Rangers this Sunday morning at photojunkie.ca

NFL Week 4 Picks!

Well friends, it’s week 4 and that means that we should be starting to get a better handle on what is going on in the NFL. Week 3 gave me double digits in wins for the first time this year (10) and this week we’re aiming even higher.

There were 2 games that gave me more trouble than the rest... Detroit in Dallas and the New York Jets in Baltimore.

The Dallas game wasn’t just hard to pick because I love the Cowboys. It was hard to pick because Tony Romo is still hurt, the Cowboys didn’t score a single touchdown on Monday night and the passing game doesn’t look especially great. However, they won and they’re at home. Then there’s Detroit. The Lions are 3-0 and look good. Matt Stafford is healthy and he has Calvin Johnson (arguably one of the best receivers in the league) who can run downfield and catch the ball. HOWEVER, I’m taking the home team. #GoCowboys

The other game is a toss up because I’m not sure what to think of either of these teams. The Jets have all of the pieces and I think they could be really good. The Ravens are the same team that they’ve always been and can hang with just about anyone... and because they’re the home team - I’m taking them.

Here’s hoping for good luck on my picks and yours - be awesome!

Hope - #GoHabsGo

I Still Believe In Tony Romo!

Beardy Fitzpatrick!

NFL Week 3 Picks!

Alright boys and girls it’s time to get the picks in for week 3. No more messing around. After a 7-9 week 1 and a 9-7 week 2, you had better believe that I’m ready to knock a double digit win week out.


I’m not sure I have a lot of locks this week, but I do really like Pittsburgh in Indy... sorry Colts fans. I also like New England on the road in Buffalo although it makes me sick to hope that Tom Brady wins football games.


And of course, of course, of course I am taking the Dallas Cowboys at home against the Washington Redskins. I know that Tony Romo suffered that bruised/broken/banged up rib in week 2 - but I believe in Romo!

I’ve also got the Panthers to win at home which would give Cam Newton his first NFL win - I also expect a 3rd straight 400+ yard game. 


Get ready for some football friends - it’s going to be a good weekend. Good luck to you! 

Week 3

p.s. Grilled Cheese sandwiches will be featured on the menu.  

The MLB Play-Offs Are Coming - Get Ready!

The MLB play-offs are almost here and while we still don’t know all 8 teams that will be playing for a chance to hoist the World Series trophy, we do know that it’s going to be exciting. 


I am so sure that it’s going to be exciting that today I made the 1st tentative plan to hang out with a friend and watch some baseball. Sean and I will find a pub, order food that we shouldn’t eat, drink beer that we don’t really need and second guess pitching changes, hit-and-runs and missed opportunities.

If I were to make any guesses right now I would say that you’re going to see the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers face off for a chance to represent the National League. Common sense says that the Phils will win and go on to the World Series, but I’m not always a fan of common sense, especially when it comes to sports.


In the American League I have no idea what to tell you. The Tigers look good - but I’m not sure if they have enough to go all the way - Justin Verlander can’t pitch every day. The Rangers are being chased by the Angels and that means that they aren’t really on a roll right now. The Yankees are a little banged up right now and their pitching isn’t extremely deep. The Red Sox look awful at times and are barely hanging on. And the Rays are driving hard, but do they have enough to get the big job done. Ugh!


There are a lot of maybes left on the board. And we have about 9 days left to figure them all out. 


And when we do, I’ll be ready to sit back and enjoy. If you’re in Toronto and want to hang with Sean and I, just let us know here or on Twitter -> Joshua - Sean.

NFL Week 2 Picks!

Hey kids, it’s week 2... which has to be better than week 1.


Last week was a gong show all over the league. There were records set by Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Sebastian Janikowski, Wes Welker and more. There was the 4th quarter breakdown of the Dallas Cowboys (which hurt as a fan but made my pick come through). There was an opening game on Thursday which set the tone for a great season. 


This week’s schedule looks a lot easier (on paper) for picking. It wasn’t nearly as ridiculous going through the 16 games and trying to figure out where I wanted to take chances. I actually feel good about these picks and will be extremely disappointed if I don’t end up with 11 or 12 wins. 


With that said, take a look for yourself at what I’m predicting and chirp as you see fit. 


Oh, and good luck to you!

Week 2

Week 1 Is Over - What Did We Learn?

So, what have we learned in week 1 of the NFL season?

We learned that I am terrible at picking winners in week 1. For about the 3rd year in a row now I'm below .500. I was close this year at 7 and 9... but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

I learned that the Broncos aren't very good. I know that the Raiders beat them twice last year and maybe I should have factored that in more heavily. But I really thought that Denver could find a way to win an interdivisional game at home on Monday Night Football.

I learned that you're not allowed to say shit on Monday Night Football. But if you do, apologizing on the air is the classy thing to do as proven by Jon Gruden.

I learned that the Patriots are for real. Again. Even without Chad Ocho Cinco.

I learned that I was right about the Colts without Peyton Manning. At least I got something right.

I learned that a blocked punt in the 4th quarter can absolutely ruin your chances of winning on the road. Way to go Cowboys.

I also learned that Rob Ryan really does love coaching defense and I hope that it translates into a strong season on that side of the ball for the 'Boys.

I learned that Michael Vick wants to be a pocket QB even though he is still one of the most explosive dudes in the game of football.

I learned that Cam Newton is NFL ready... even if his team isn't.

I also learned that I need to get smarter when I'm picking games. We want winners!

See y'all before Sunday kick-off!

The New Habs Season Is Coming - And I'm Expecting Big Things!

It seems like it was only days ago that I rocked back and forth, then jumped up and down and then stood in shocked silence as the Montreal Canadiens played their last game of the 2010-2011 season.

However, it hasn't been days, it's been months and now we're getting back into the swing of things with the opening of NHL training camps and the springing hope of a new hockey season this autumn.

As a Habs fan I am always looking for a playoff season. I expect more wins than losses. And this year I also expect some other things.

I expect a solid season from Carey Price. He is another year older and smarter and hopefully steadier. Carey can lead us to the playoffs with consistent game play this season.

I expect a step up from PK Subban. I know that he had a pretty great rookie year. I know that he's skilled, fast and flashy. But now that he's entering his second full season in the NHL I expect him to make the smart plays when needed. I expect him to know when he can and when he can't take big chances. And I expect him to lock it down in the blue paint when our goaltenders are under attack.

I expect a goal from Scott Gomez. Just 1 really. Anything more than that will exceed my expectations.

I expect Andrei Markov to try and stay healthy. He needs to be smart about the plays that he can make safely. I understand that he won't want to change his game but he is much more valuable in uniform and on the ice than he is in a suit on crutches.

I expect that the fans will question Jacques Martin weekly and sometimes more than that.

I expect that the media will blow something up when it really wasn't that big of a deal.

I expect a huge ovation the first time that Max Pacioretty's name is announced at the Bell Centre and again when he scores his first goal.

Overall I expect an excited roller coaster ride of a season that will see me laughing and cheering and screaming and throwing my remote.

But no matter what's going on I will wear my hat and hoodie with pride and have my Habs key chain in my pocket every day.

Get Well Peyton - Good Luck Indy!

So Peyton is still hurt and surgery will keep him off of the field and out of the line-up for 2 to 3 months. That’s not good for the Colts. Not at all. This is a team that has managed to stay competitive and successful over the years because Peyton Manning made the most out of the situations that he was stuck in.

Last season I remarked on a picks vlog that Brad & I were only a phone call away from playing special teams. That’s not good. Again, not at all.

If Manning misses 3 months of the season we are looking at approximately 12 of 16 games… yikes. My guess is that it`s going to take 10 wins to get into the play-offs in a pretty tough division. And if Peyton comes back and wins 4 games at the end of the season they still have to win 6 of 12 without him. I`m not sure that they can.

Maybe this is a good thing for the Colts. It`s been a long time since a QB other than Peyton was important in Indy.

I'm not ready to write him off completely. He's still crazy skilled and the master of his offence. But he's not getting any younger and at age 35 and he's never been fast so he's only getting slower. I don't see that being good for the Colts in the short term or the long term.

In fact, I think it may even be time for the Colts to think about taking a QB in the draft next year.

Side Note: I feel like I should be slapped just for thinking that.

In the end it doesn't matter what I think. Nobody is busting down the door for my opinion. But we will see what the team is going to look like starting this Sunday when the Colts take the field without Peyton and take on Houston.

I'm not expecting much. I don't recommend that you do either.

NFL Week 1 Picks!

It’s here, it’s here!

Finally, after 7 months and a scary work stoppage, we are back to the NFL regular season.

Tonight marks the start of the 2011-12 season with the Super Bowl Champion Packers hosting the former champion Saints. New Orleans is catching up with the rest of America as they start their own post-(Reggy)Bush era and hopes to get back on track after a somewhat disappointing season last year. Meanwhile the Packers are looking to continue the momentum that they had last season and move forward with a more experienced and still very atheletic and talented roster. This was one of the easier picks of the week for me... I’ll take the Packers at home.

The rest of the week 1 picks weren’t that easy... Philly, New England and San Diego came pretty quickly. But in week 1 I’m never sure of how a real team of starting players is going to preform.

Then there’s the Indianapolis vs Houston game. I was ready to take Indy, they’re a pretty safe bet most of the time. But then the announcement was made that Peyton won’t start. So I’m taking Houston.

Take a look at the full picks for all 16 games in week 1 and post your picks in the comment section. Let’s see who has a better read on things to start the season.

Good luck!

Week 1

Fall Means Sports - Get Ready!

Hey there sports fans.

It’s September, I’m sure that you noticed. But I’d also bet that you’ve accidentally written August on something in the last 2 days.

I digress... September is here and that means that we are getting closer to a new phase of the 2011 sports calendar. NFL pre-season football is in full swing and we are only days away from the regular season kick-off. (Go Cowboys!) And NHL training camps are getting ready to start which means a whole new season of hope, joy, pain, swearing and high fives is just around the corner. Unfortunately this year it doesn’t look like we’re going to have any NBA games to talk about... but I’ll have an eye on Turkey and Greece to see what the stars are doing.

I love this time of year. In years past I’ve cranked out the Super Sports Pack and done as much damage as possible. This year I think I’m going to take a different, more measured approach. I’ll be looking to keep costs low and see as many quality games as possible.

This means researching the schedule, teams, days of the week, other plans, etc and being prepared. There will obviously be things that I’ll miss with this technique... but that’s why I’m on Twitter. Someone will be talking about a huge comeback or upset or breakdown if and when it happens.

I don’t know about you - but I can feel my blood flowing a little faster when I think about what’s coming. I feel goosebumps when I think about the possibilities. I’m just more excited to live life.

Side Note: I’m pulling for Boise State this season!

I haven’t even mentioned playoff baseball yet. My goodness... that stuff will put me over the top. I love it. The World Series is still huge for me, no matter who is playing. And right now I don’t even know who I want to see playing. If I had to choose right now I think I’d tell you I want to see Milwaukee vs. Texas.

It’s going to be a great fall my friends. Get yourself ready to cheer your teams on. And call me some time - we’ll grab a pitcher and watch a game!

The NHL Loses Another - And So Do We

Disclaimer: I did not know Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien or Wade Belak personally. I also not a health professional of any kind. I am merely a hockey fan with a blog.



The last 4 months have been hard on NHL fans. Particularly fans in Vancouver, Winnipeg, New York, Minnesota, Colorado, Calgary, Florida, Nashville and Toronto as all of those teams and their fans have now lost former players.



Yesterday’s news that Wade Belak was found dead in his downtown Toronto condo was like a kick to the gut. This was a guy that had finished his hockey career. He had plans to go into radio and TV broadcasting in Nashville and he was going to star in the upcoming season of the CBC’s Battle of the Blades. By all accounts this was a man who was always smiling, always upbeat and always ready to make sure that everyone in the room was in a good mood. He was also a husband and a father to 2 little girls who won’t have a daddy to pick them up and spin them around and kiss them on the forehead when they go to sleep at night.



There are a lot of theories right now as to what happened with Mr. Belak. And they are all just that, theories. As of now there has been no proof of contributing factors. Personally I don’t want to put any stock into any of them because I’m scared that my worst fears will be confirmed and this death could have been preventable. The odds that it could have been are overwhelming. That makes me incredibly sad.



Side note: My only personal memory attached to Wade Belak is a fight he was in against someone on the Bruins roster in a game at the ACC sometime in the 2002-03 season. It was my first NHL game and I was there with a Leaf fan ex-girlfriend watching the Habs 2 biggest rivals play. I don’t remember much from that night, but I do remember the way the fans in Toronto cheered for Wade Belak.



The fact that all three of the NHLers that have passed this summer were enforcers may be nothing more than coincidence, but coincidence is rarely without some actual basis. My hope now is that the right people get together and talk about what has happened and try to find a way to make sure that more families aren’t hurt by actions like these in the future.



This may also turn into a rallying point for depression and mental health action - and I welcome that. If those were contributing factors in the death of a man that was loved by his friends and family and adored by hockey fans in the 5 cities he played in and beyond, I hope we are able to point to his passing and tell the world that this doesn’t have to ever happen again.



At this point I don’t know what to say. I came into this wanting to make a quick point that this was a good man that has left us too soon. And then I became emotional. It’s not what I had planned, but that’s the way life goes sometimes.



Please take a moment today to send a positive thought or best wish or prayer to the friends and family of Wade Belak, Rick Rypien and Derek Boogaard. I can only imagine how their loved ones are feeling right now. And that breaks my heart.

Thank you.

I Am Ready For Some Football!

Originally posted at The Reviews Are In

Tis’ the season for preseason NFL football. And while I don’t really watch the exhibition games because the regular players don’t really play all that much… I am getting excited!

As per always I will be cheering for my Dallas Cowboys this season. Tony Romo is healthy again after the broken collarbone that sidelined him at the end of last season. The team looks like it could be ready to play. Jason Garrett gets his first full season to try and guide the team to a winning record, the play-offs and hopefully a Super Bowl!

I’m also excited because it means that I will soon be able to start making weekly NFL picks on the blog and perhaps elsewhere.

Last year there were vlogs at FanShots that Brad and I put together with some real picks and joke picks. It was a lot of fun.

There was also an office pool that I won some cash in. I’m hoping that I can get some of the folks in the new office to jump on with me.

I’m also hoping that we can turn NFL picks into a fundraiser for Movember. Last season I donated all the money I won during the month of November to my team. It wasn’t a ton of money – but every little bit helps!

So, let’s brainstorm that! I’ll be posting my picks here this all season long – but in the month of November let’s make some bets. Anyone that wants to jump in can play – we can do a prize structure that will get a couple people some donations and everyone feels good!

Back to the NFL season. I’m also ready to watch the Eagles play some football. Michael Vick gets the chance to be #1 again. The secondary looks good. And they want to beat the Packers. I’m hoping that the Colts can put together a good season with Peyton Manning taking the snaps. If they can stay healthy they always have a chance to win. But more than anything I want to see the New England Patriots lose. A lot. All the time. Big. Every week.

I’m ready for Thursday, September 8th when the Saints visit the Packers. I hope you are too!

Things I Love About Being At The Ball Park!

Originally posted at The Reviews Are In


-the sound of the ball hitting the bat on the sweet spot


-the smell of hot dogs

-the sound of the ball popping in a glove

-the smell of freshly cut grass on the field

-the look on the face of a little kid at their first big league game

-remembering the feeling of playing the game as a kid

-Take Me Out To The Ball Game

-players with dirty uniforms

-big leaguers that smile like 10 year olds on the field

-keeping track of in game stats

-slow claps with 2 strikes and 2 outs


Side Note: THE WAVE IS DEAD. TREAT IT AS SUCH. THANK YOU!

-rally towels

-all-star ballots

-clever jeering (be smart kids – swearing in your trash talk makes you look pretty dumb)

-buying a score book

-a fan making a good catch on a foul ball

-baseball card vending machines

-the public address announcer

-high fives after big plays

-winning

The March Madness Widow Survival Guide 2.0

Originally posted at The Reviews Are In

It’s here again, that time of year that non-college basketball loving spouses loathe. That time when sports geeks can feel their heartbeat quickening. That glorious time of year we know as March Madness!

Last year I came to you with the March Madness Widow Survival Guide. This spring I am happy to be back with a new list of suggestions that may help those afflicted with MMWS. As always, if you have any suggestions that you think would benefit the masses please add them in the comment section below.

The 2011 edition of March Madness begins Sunday March 13th with Selection Sunday and will conclude with the National Title game on April 6, 2011 in Houston. That gives us 25 days of basketball lovin’ to get through. 11 of those 25 days have basketball action. That means 11 days to find distraction.

I hope that something on this list may help you out!

Apps! Yes, those Apps. There are a billion and one of them out there and one for everyone. The likelihood that either you or your partner are rocking an App capable smart phone or tablet is very high. So find yourself a new App to play with and go nuts. Imagine how good you can get at Angry Birds between now and April 6th. You will have bragging rights and the chance to discover the next “IT” App in the process!

Sewing! I’m serious here. Sewing is an undervalued and underused skill in this day and age. Being able to hem pants, skirts and dresses is a great asset. Darning socks is like plumbing, it’s never going to stop being a need. I know that sewing may come off as a gender biased and offensive suggestion. But come on, you know me, I’d never say something with that intent. I think that sewing is getting left behind. And that’s sad! Who doesn’t remember those awesome homemade Halloween costumes for example. Don’t let that tradition die. Consider that over the next 3 weeks.

Writing! Last year I suggested using March Madness and tournament time to catch up on some reading. This year why not flip that idea and put your own words down. Maybe you have letters and emails you’ve been meaning to send to friends and family (or me). Or perhaps you’ve been dying to blog. I love new blogs so I’d love to see that happen. Heck, maybe you have a Survival Guide or two that can offer to the world. We all need a little help sometimes!

Cook! Who among us doesn’t enjoy a new recipe from time to time? I do. And if your S/O is going to cemented to the couch this is your opportunity. The best part of this option is the fact that the college hoops lover is in your livingroom is going to be content eating crap like french fries and chicken fingers all the time. That gives you the opportunity to cook and create dishes you will enjoy. Share only if you want to. You’re the culinary artist here. Have fun with it. Enjoy yourself. And don’t forget to pair your new masterpiece with a nice bottle of wine!

Yoga! Yoga is huge right now. Even I’m getting ready to start (really, I am). You can improve your flexibility and core strength. You can breathe deeply and find calm and Zen. And you can get yourself some awesome Yoga gear. This is also something that you can carry on after March Madness ends. Yoga night can become your night. You can make new friends and really gain some positives from the experience.

Get Into The Madness! I said it last year and I’ll say it again this year, watching the games with your obsessed S/O can be a lot of fun. Fill out your bracket, pick a fav team. Maybe give some love to Jimmer Fredette (that’s his real name, Jimmer) at BYU or cheer with me as I back the boys in baby blue from the University of North Carolina. It can be a lot of fun to cheer against or with your partner. Remember to try and keep it light hearted. We don’t want anyone’s feelings getting hurt here. It’s already a stressful time as it is. Be gentle with your NCAA loving, bracket busting, chicken finger dipping S/O – they may be very fragile.

There you are friends. 5 suggestions to help March Madness Widows (and widowers) through the 2011 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. I hope that at least 1 of them helps you out this spring.

Good Luck.

I've Got Baseball Fever (Like Bieber Fever Only Better)

Originally posted at FanShots


Ladies and gentlemen it is official – we are 31 days (including today) away from the start of the 2011 MLB regular season!

That’s right - we are now in the month that will host Opening Day. How exciting is that?!

On March 31, 2011 there will be 6 games on the schedule, 4 in the National League and 2 in the American League. And, if I can find away to make it happen, I will be watching and or listening to parts of all 6!

Here’s what day 1 looks like on the calendar

Thursday March 31, 2011 (all times Eastern)
Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals 1:05pm
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees 1:05pm
Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds 2:10pm
Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals 4:10pm
San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals 4:15pm
San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers 8:00pm

With a little bit of luck, multiple screens/windows and varied lengths of National Anthems, I could see all 6 first pitches. I think that’s an accomplishable goal. And an admirable one.

I love baseball. We all know this. There’s nothing that I can do about it at this point. That love is strong and the spark arises each and every spring with the vim and vigor.

This year is no different. We have our first 2 Spring Training clips uploaded on in the video section today (David Ortiz 3-run bomb & Bryce Harper’s 1st Batting Practice) and I’ve been following everything that I can from both Florida and Arizona in an attempt to prepare myself for the 7 to 8 month marathon that is the Major League Baseball season.

There are rookies to learn, new depth charts to memorize, scouting reports to pour over, gut feelings to consider, bounce back years to predict, fall-back-to-earth seasons to fear and 162 regular season games per team to anticipate. You may think this is all a little ridiculous. Maybe I’m too into it. Maybe I need a hobby. But this is my hobby. I’m a baseball geek. I’ve been admitting it for years. There’s no stopping me now!

I won’t go as far as admitting to you that I have a countdown calendar somewhere in the office that takes us to March 31/April 1, 2011… but it could be the case.

I have Baseball fever kids. It’s like Bieber fever, only more grown-up and less embarrassing.

If you’re like me and you think you have the fever here is what I suggest. Go to mlb.com, espn.com/mlb,cbssports.com/mlb, fanshots.com/videos and every other sports site that you love and start getting yourself ready for the season. There is no avoiding. There is only acceptance. Resistance is futile (okay, that was geeky). What I’m trying to say is, embrace it.

You’re not alone good people. I’m right here with you. Leading the charge!

Carmelo Anthony & Deron Williams: The Decision Trickle-Down Effect | NBA

Originally posted at FanShots


Everyone remembers last summer and “The Decision” – but it’s the fallout from that situation that has me looking around the NBA and wondering what is going to happen next.

After the 2009-2010 season both Chris Bosh and LeBron James decided to leave their teams and head to Miami in free agency. That was their prerogative. I’m not here to argue the validity of their choice. It’s the aftermath. That’s what I want to look at.

This is what we’ve seen this season already since in the 2010-2011 season – Carmelo Anthony forced his way out of Denver with the threat of leaving via free agency and leaving the organization empty handed. He also picked his team. Essentially Melo turned the trade into early free agency for himself.

Side note: I believe that long-term the Nuggets won that trade, but that’s not the point right now.

The Nuggets did not want to end up like Toronto and Cleveland. They wanted to get a measurable return for the best player on their roster. And I don’t blame them for that at all. Raptor fans pushed for Bryan Colangelo to trade Bosh last season because the general feeling was that he would not be returning. The return on investment via sign and trade was nowhere near what he would have fetched in the open trade market.

So the Nuggets made their decision based on what they saw in 2 other circumstances. Good for them. Then came along the Utah Jazz who shocked the basketball world on Wednesday when they traded their All-Star point guard, Deron Williams, to the New Jersey Nets. I did not see this trade coming at all. Especially after Jazz coach Jerry Sloan stepped down. The rumors had been that Williams won a locker room dispute that pushed Sloan out of Utah. But if that was the case I don’t think this trade happens.

The word around the league and in the media now is that the Jazz knew that Williams would want out of Utah at the end of the 2011-2012 season when his current contract expires. So to make sure that they weren’t put in the same situation as the Nuggets (who didn’t want to be in the same situation as the Raptors and Cavaliers) they moved their star now. The whole thing has become a fear based system. Teams know that players hold all the cards in the current NBA atmosphere. The players know it as well.

I’m ready to call this “The Decision Trickle-Down Effect”. Organizations have started to look so far ahead that they are moving pieces long before they used to. Winning this season has, for the most part, been replaced with not losing key pieces in 6 to 18 months. It is hurting fans and teams and win/loss records. And it needs to stop. Look for the Owners to try and correct this imbalance during CBA talks in the offseason. They can’t be happy. The Decision Trickle-Down Effect is not something they want to see spread.

Stay tuned.

Remembering Vince Carter 2000 | NBA Sprite Slam Dunk

Originally posted at FanShots

With the NBA All-Star weekend starting tonight I’ve started getting pretty hyped up for the Sprite Slam Dunk on Saturday night. And in my excitement there are 3 things that I’ve been thinking about.

1. Blake Griffin will probably win the contest.
2. I really want to see DeMar DeRozan put on a throwback Raptors jersey with his name on it and do some of Vince Carter's dunks.
3. Vince might be the best dunker my generation has ever seen.

In 2000 when Vince won the Dunk Contest in Oakland the whole world gasped as he flew through the air and hammered down some of the best dunks in the history of the contest. I’ll be honest, I just watched the video of Tracy McGrady’s bounce pass to VC that turned into the between the legs – windmill… and it gave me chills.

As a Raptors fan I know that I was spoiled watching Air Canada fly almost every night (early in his career) but that night in Oakland was something above and beyond what we were used to as fans. That was special. It put the team and the city on the map. It got everyone out of their seats. It got Isaiah Thomas off of his judge’s chair, over the table and hugging Vince. The TV commentators were trying to figure out a way to give him more than a perfect score. And Vince busted out the “it’s over” to the camera. He was right. There was no way that either Steve Francis or his teammate McGrady were going to be able to better his performance.

So here we are 11 years later and I want it back. And I can’t be the only one who feels that way. I know that everyone has loved watching Nate Robinson and Dwight Howard over the last few years. And I know that Blake Griffin has put about 75 guys on posters so far this season. But if Vince, in his prime, were to walk out onto the floor and bust out something that he was always capable of I’m not sure any of those 3 dudes could beat him.

I’m aware that there are a lot of basketball fans that are sour on Carter because of a lot of things. The way he forced his way out of Toronto, his seeming unwillingness to play through any pain, his fear of contact and his sometimes jerky attitude. But if you can separate your personal feelings from the equation and go back at look at the Vince Carter that the NBA was privy to in the early days you will remember and have to admit that he was the best. Maybe not the best player in the league but there was no player more exciting or better dunker. And on that night in Oakland in 2000 he showed the world.

I want to see something that amazing on Saturday. I want the chills. I want the excitement. I want the energy. I want to be wowed. My fingers are crossed. Do me a favor and cross yours too.

Enjoy the festivities!

Miguel Cabrera Needs Help | MLB Tigers

Originally posted at FanShots

I’m not here today to write and tell you that Miguel Cabrera is not responsible for his own behavior, choices and arrest last night in Florida. All I’m here to say is that we need to look at him the same way that we would a friend or family member and realize that this is a 27 year old man that needs help.

Reports indicate that last night (February 16, 2011) Cabrera was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. The reports continue to allege that he refused to take a breathalyzer test and that he took a drink of scotch straight from the bottle in front of a St. Lucie County deputy. It is also said that he was obnoxious and belligerent to police asking “don’t you know who I am” and pushing a police officer before needing to be hit repeatedly in the leg to put him in the back of the police car.

This is not the first time that Cabrera has been in the public eye because of problems with alcohol. In 2009, during the playoffs, the Tigers’ first baseman was taken to the police station in Detroit after coming home drunk at 6:00am and starting a domestic disturbance with his wife. Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski had to pick up his star at the station at 7:30am on game day. The incident made many fans, media members and baseball people question the maturity of Cabrera and his dedication to the game and his team.

It was later revealed that Miguel Cabrera spent 3 months in an alcohol abuse treatment center in an effort to recover from his addiction. This information becomes worrisome as it seems Cabrera himself doesn’t seem to think that he has an alcohol issue. In March 2010 when asked about his issues he had this to say: "You guys write in the paper 'alcoholic,' that's not right, I don't know how to explain, but it's not an alcohol problem."

If this was my brother or friend or cousin I can tell you right now that I would be worried about him. Yes I would expect him to take responsibility for his actions. And yes I would be pissed that he had made such stupid decisions. But my priority would be helping him, showing him that people care about him and that he could accomplish great things if he made the commitment to getting better.

This is exactly what Miguel Cabrera needs right now. He has access to everything that he could possibly need to help him. Between his salary, the MLBPA and the Detroit Tigers organization I can guarantee that there is nothing in the form of counseling, treatment and ongoing therapy that this man doesn’t have at his disposal. However, he needs to be shown the way. He needs the support of those closest to him before his poor decisions turn into life changing decisions and someone, either himself or someone else, is hurt or killed.

I am not trying to tell you that Miguel Cabrera deserves your overflowing sympathy or to be let off of the hook for what took place in Florida last night. All I’m saying is that this is a young man with a wife and 2 children who deserves and needs support not condemnation.

Think of him as a son, brother, husband and father not just a millionaire baseball player. That’s what his family does. And that’s what you would do for yours.

Who The F*ck is Bill Simmons?!

Originally posted at FanShots.com

His unabashed crushes on Paul Pierce, everyone on the Red Sox roster and Tom friggin’ Brady make me want to fly to LA and slap him in the face with a selection of big foam fingers from every other team in every major sporting league.

Just who the f*ck is Bill Simmons?

I’ll tell you. William (Bill) J. Simmons is an online sports writing and podcasting star who was born September 25, 1969 and grew up in sports crazy Massachusetts.

After college at Holy Cross (Worcester, Mass) and Boston University he became a writer at the Boston Herald covering High School sports before starting his career as an online writer with AOL in 1997. Simmons is widely regarded as one of the pioneers in the internet content age, but that isn’t the half of it.

To tell you the brutal, awful, ugly truth, Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy, @sportsguy33 is nothing more than a Boston sports fan who took his love of sports and writing, put them together and hit it big. I want to be happy for him, I really do. But he talks about Boston sports so much that I kind of hate him on the inside.

His unabashed crushes on Paul Pierce, everyone on the Red Sox roster and Tom friggin’ Brady make me want to fly to LA and slap him in the face with a selection of big foam fingers from every other team in every major sporting league.

Yes, Bill Simmons is an incredibly talented and funny man who really does know his sports. Yes he has 1,330,560 followers on Twitter at the time of this article. Yes his podcast, The B.S. Report, was downloaded more than 25 million times in 2009. Yes he was part of the original writing staff on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Yes he is a 2-time New York Times Best Sellers List #1 author for 2005’s Now I Can Die in Peace based on the 2004 World Series Winning Boston Red Sox and 2009’s The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy where Simmons breaks down the history of the NBA from the beginning to the present. And yes his mail bag columns on ESPN.com are some of the most popular pieces that the website runs every month.

But don’t let all of that fool you. Bill Simmons may fill in sometimes on Pardon the Interruption but that doesn’t make him the be all and end all. And even though I’m so jealous of him that I’m writing this piece like I hate him, you should not start liking him.

Simmons is just a regular dude with a funny voice, a crush on Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman and more love for the original Beverly Hills 90210 than any man in the universe. He’s married, has 2 kids and has season tickets to the Los Angeles Clippers. THE CLIPPERS! Ha! Who buys Clippers seats? And this has nothing to do with Blake Griffin, don’t let him tell you that. He’s had these tickets for years.

Bill Simmons may have my dream gig, he may be what I strive to be as a writer, online presence and sports fan. He may be one of my professional idols and heroes. He may even be in my top 10 list of people that I want to meet and talk to in my life. At the end of the day though, he’s just a dude who followed his gut and his heart and made life work. He went out and got it.

If you love sports as much as I do you owe it to yourself to pay attention to Bill Simmons.

Follow him on Twitter, listen to the B.S. Report and read his columns on ESPN.com – you won’t be disappointed.

Super Bowl XLV Review - Packers Win, I Lose

Originally posted at FanShots

Good day all – Happy day after the Super Bowl to you.

I hope that you’re feeling better than I am. Let’s just say that I’m a little dehydrated this AM.

As for last night’s game – let me say this first and get it out of the way. I was wrong.

Yup, I picked the Steelers, I took the under, I thought Big Ben would come through again in the big game. And I was wrong on all accounts.

However, the game was exciting. The score was still close. And the Steelers had a shot at the end of the game with that last possession and a chance to win the game.

I’m not ready to throw Ben Roethlisberger under the bus for the Steelers loss. It’s not all on him. That pick 6 in the first quarter hurt bad. There’s no doubt about that. But it was obvious that Ben got hit as he released the ball… I can only imagine the joy and anticipation that Packers fans were feeling as that ball fluttered in the air for what seemed like forever. It must have been the exact opposite of what I was feeling as I watched it. I knew it was bad news right away. They must have known it was good. Ugh.

I’m very willing to give Green Bay the credit that they deserve. Especially in the first half of the football game. They were all over the ball. Aaron Rodgers was able to avoid mistakes. Jordy Nelson was catching balls at an alarming rate (as far as I was concerned) and the lack of a great running game wasn’t making a difference at all. The Packers were doing everything that they needed to do to take control of Super Bowl XLV.

The second half was killer exciting at our party full of Steelers supporters. We all had a feeling like the boys in black and yellow were going to be able to pull off the comeback. The momentum had swung. The gears were in motion. The blood was pumping.

When Rashard Mendenhall ran in from about the 8 yard line I gave a quick yelp of happiness and enthusiasm which lasted until the Packers came back and found Greg Jennings in the 4th quarter. But my yelling came back when (after my pleas all night long) Mike Wallace finally made a big play with his 25 yard TD reception. The room exploded and it seemed like the Packers were on the ropes. Ben and Coach Tomlin were wearing them down. They were ready to take control of the game. Things were interesting.

But the Packers didn’t break. They bent, but that’s it. And that’s a sign of a really good football team. The defense stepped back up and did their job and held down the Steelers during the 2 minute drill with the game on the line. The 3 point favorite held on for a 6 point victory and I’m sure made a bunch of people very happy and fatter in the wallet. More importantly though they made their fans happy and accomplished what they set out to do at the start of the NFL season.

In the end though it was mistakes that undid the Steelers and a well played game that lifted the Packers. Aaron Rodgers was a deserving MVP with 3 touchdown passes, no picks and the leadership that he needed to bring to the table. That leadership was especially needed after the Pack lost Charles Woodson and Donald Driver to injury during the game. Those are 2 veteran guys who could have derailed a more fragile team. Looking back now it’s pretty impressive that the Packers pulled through the way that they did. There’s a lot of credit deserved – and this is me giving it to the team. They all played well and earned the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Congratulations Green Bay – You’re the champions of the world.