Cleveland Browns 13, Pittsburgh Steelers 6. Let me just type that again. Not so much for you, but for myself. Cleveland Browns 13, Pittsburgh Steelers 6. GOD that feels good! The Cleveland Browns came out of the locker room last night and played that game like they were fighting for their playoff lives and the did the unthinkable. They ended a, nearly, SIX year losing streak against the most hated team in Cleveland. More than the White Sox, Yankees, Bulls and Pistons combined. I could not fall asleep last night I was so ecstatic about beating the Steelers. And you know what? I really like what I am FINALLY seeing from this team! Let me explain.
First, their was the rushing game. Josh Cribbs lines up in the backfield in the Wild Cat. The Steeler KNOW he is going to be running the ball. He gets 14 yards anyways. Chris Jennings is a former CFL ball carrier, now he's got 73 yards on the Steelers Defense. In total, the Browns racked up 171 yards on the ground. Brady Quinn did not have a great night and the Steelers still could not stop the run.
Second, the defense. Are you freaking kidding me??? The Browns sacked Ben Worthlisberger EIGHT TIMES for a total of 60 yards. Not exactly what you want to hear about your quarterback who just had a concussion a few weeks ago. Being behind the whole game caused the Steelers to go away from the run (Only 75 yards rushing) and the Browns knew they would pass. The Browns pass defense has been weak but they stepped up big time and held Little Ben to 201 yards passing. With the sacks, that's a net of 141. The Steelers attacked the Browns' weakness and couldn't beat it.
Third, the coaching. Somehow, someway the coaches were able to get the players jacked up for this game, BIG TIME. The Browns seemingly have nothing to play for except a good draft pick and there was even the thought that Eric Mangini wouldn't make it through the entire season. Now this city and the players are loving the guy. He's let the reins loose a little bit and he's got this team fighting, tooth and nail, to the end of every game. Eric Mangini HAS to be the coach next year. The man can draft and we have ELEVEN draft picks in April. Awesome. We are going to have the chance to get a bunch of quality players and turn this team around for good.
It's a great day in Cleveland.
It's not a great day in Bowling Green. Freddie Barnes was passed over for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the Nation's top Wide Receiver, for Golden Tate. Really? The kid who finished on a .500 team with 45 less catches than Freddie Barnes? More yards, more touchdowns, more receptions per game. But, because BG isn't in the National Spotlight like Notre Shame, Lame, Tame, _ame (They have no "D"), the award goes to Taint...excuse me, Tate. The Irish aren't even going to a bowl game because they are far too superior to put themselves in the position to possibly lose to a MAC team.
Barnes should have won it, hands down. He was the biggest weapon on his team, everyone knew the ball was going to him and they could do NOTHING to stop him. He's five catches away from breaking the single season record and should get that done in the Humanitarian Bowl against the Idaho Vandals. That's right. Bowling Green IS going to a Bowl Game, unlike the school from South Bend, Indiana. Go Falcons!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Manny Acta - What to Expect
From the beginning of the Indians' Managerial search I was very critical of the fact that Manny Acta was one of the people being considered. I was even more disappointed that he was the man who was eventually hired. But I think I may have to re-think my position on this guy. First, it is clear that Acta had no talent to work with in Washington D.C. I think he is a born leader and it seems to me that all of the players he had looked up to him. Also, I read today in the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he is well respected by most of the league. That is a great thing. He's built a good coaching staff, including Sandy Alomar Jr. The only position he has left to fill is the bullpen coach.
The next thing that excites me about Acta is that he exudes a confidence that Eric Wedge never had and Charlie Manuel couldn't muster. He plans on giving this team all the confidence they need to go out and win ballgames. One of his quotes that struck me was "We don't want to compete. We want to win" which is the greatest mind-set a manager can give his players. The big test will be when the Indians lose a few in a row, because it will happen, and how he deals with it. Giving his team the ability to bounce back after a tough string of games is most important. I can honestly say that I never saw a "quit" in the Natinals, even when they were 30 games under .500.
Acta also believes that he has talent in place to compete and that this team is NOT rebuilding. While that may or may not be true, it is very important for the Indians' players to believe that they belong in the Majors. Again, it's all about the mindset that Acta puts his players in. He needs to keep the clubhouse upbeat and fun while getting his players to focus on fundamentals and achieving all they can. If he can do that, he and his team will be successful.
It's going to be very important for Acta to recognize the leaders of the team and let them take charge at times as well. It is equally important for those leaders to make themselves known. We can't have Grady sitting back and keeping quiet any longer. Give the man a "C" for his jersey so everyone knows, including him, that he is the leader of this team when it is on the field. Shake things up, make it fresh, fun, new. Make this team want to do its best.
Only time will tell just what Manny Acta can do with this team but I will be there, supporting the team, win or lose. Let's just hope that Mark Shapiro doesn't royally screw something up during the Winter Meetings to really put the Tribe behind the 8-ball.
The next thing that excites me about Acta is that he exudes a confidence that Eric Wedge never had and Charlie Manuel couldn't muster. He plans on giving this team all the confidence they need to go out and win ballgames. One of his quotes that struck me was "We don't want to compete. We want to win" which is the greatest mind-set a manager can give his players. The big test will be when the Indians lose a few in a row, because it will happen, and how he deals with it. Giving his team the ability to bounce back after a tough string of games is most important. I can honestly say that I never saw a "quit" in the Natinals, even when they were 30 games under .500.
Acta also believes that he has talent in place to compete and that this team is NOT rebuilding. While that may or may not be true, it is very important for the Indians' players to believe that they belong in the Majors. Again, it's all about the mindset that Acta puts his players in. He needs to keep the clubhouse upbeat and fun while getting his players to focus on fundamentals and achieving all they can. If he can do that, he and his team will be successful.
It's going to be very important for Acta to recognize the leaders of the team and let them take charge at times as well. It is equally important for those leaders to make themselves known. We can't have Grady sitting back and keeping quiet any longer. Give the man a "C" for his jersey so everyone knows, including him, that he is the leader of this team when it is on the field. Shake things up, make it fresh, fun, new. Make this team want to do its best.
Only time will tell just what Manny Acta can do with this team but I will be there, supporting the team, win or lose. Let's just hope that Mark Shapiro doesn't royally screw something up during the Winter Meetings to really put the Tribe behind the 8-ball.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Back in Black...Well, Back Anyways
Actually, now that I think about it, I am back in black as I have mostly black on today. Whatever.
It's been almost two weeks since I last posted and quite a bit has happened. The first thing I want to talk about is the fact that I got to participate in the annual tradition that is the Lions playing on Thanksgiving Day. I was mostly excited because they were playing the Packers, my second favorite NFL team. Let me tell you, I did not have any thoughts that Ford Field would be just as amazing as it is. That building is a site to behold. I expected it to be a sanitized, watered down version of an NFL stadium, mostly because I think domes are stupid. I couldn't have been more wrong. That place was FILLED with character. Each side of the stadium was different. On the visitor's side it was a very "industrial" feel with a cement walkway that was very well lit. On the home side of the stadium, the walkway was a brick road with cast-iron fences in front of the seating sections. The lighting was not nearly as bright as the visitor's side of the stadium. It was a really nice contrast and gave it a feeling like they really want the home team to feel at home. All in all, it was a great trip as I got to see the Packers lay the wood to the Lions. Making it doubly sweet was the fact that I have Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's Defense on my Fantasy Team (They both got me 23 Fantasy points).
Also, the Browns have had two games and lost both of them. One in heart-breaking fashion on an untimed down after a pass interference call on a "Hail Mary" by the defense. That was against the Lions...yes, the Browns lost to the Lions. Did I mention that the Browns were WINNING 24-3 in the FIRST QUARTER? They had the game in the palm of their hand and the Defense let it all go away. They made Matthew Stafford look like Peyton Manning leading a comeback like that. At first I was extremely pissed that the pass interference was even called...and then I saw the replay. The defender didn't really give the refs a choice. They HAD to make that call.
Then they lost to the Bengals. The Defense played a great game in this one, in my opinion. Some will say that offenses play conservative against the Browns because they know they will win. Well, I don't think that the Bengals purposely won by just nine points. The Bengals didn't let the Browns stick around like that. The defense earned it and the offense couldn't capitalize. Had it not been for Shaun Rogers' horse collar penalty at the end of the first half, the Browns are looking at needing a Touchdown to win the game. The Browns have now given up 10 points on untimed downs this season.
Tiger Woods wrecked his car. I don't care why, I don't care how, please stop talking about it. It's not news.
The Indians hired Sandy Alomar Jr. to be the first base coach and catcher's coach. This is a great PR move by the Tribe and I think it will pay off to some degree. First.....
This just in, Charlie Weis was fired.
...he'll be working with the Indians catchers VERY closely. Sandy was a great defensive catcher and under his tutelage I think the Indians' catchers will be some of the best at picking off potential base stealers. Second, there are some fans that will come just to see him in an Indians uniform again. Nevermind that Wyatt Torregas currently has number 15 on his back. That should change soon. Unfortunately, the Indians missed out on bringing back Omar Vizquel, another fan favorite from the '90's. He's going to the hated White Sox. Hey Omar, you're dead to me until you're out of that nasty city, ESPECIALLY since Shapiro actually did something smart and offered you a comeback.
I think that's all for now. Hall of Fame ballots are out and maybe I'll take a look at that next time.
It's been almost two weeks since I last posted and quite a bit has happened. The first thing I want to talk about is the fact that I got to participate in the annual tradition that is the Lions playing on Thanksgiving Day. I was mostly excited because they were playing the Packers, my second favorite NFL team. Let me tell you, I did not have any thoughts that Ford Field would be just as amazing as it is. That building is a site to behold. I expected it to be a sanitized, watered down version of an NFL stadium, mostly because I think domes are stupid. I couldn't have been more wrong. That place was FILLED with character. Each side of the stadium was different. On the visitor's side it was a very "industrial" feel with a cement walkway that was very well lit. On the home side of the stadium, the walkway was a brick road with cast-iron fences in front of the seating sections. The lighting was not nearly as bright as the visitor's side of the stadium. It was a really nice contrast and gave it a feeling like they really want the home team to feel at home. All in all, it was a great trip as I got to see the Packers lay the wood to the Lions. Making it doubly sweet was the fact that I have Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's Defense on my Fantasy Team (They both got me 23 Fantasy points).
Also, the Browns have had two games and lost both of them. One in heart-breaking fashion on an untimed down after a pass interference call on a "Hail Mary" by the defense. That was against the Lions...yes, the Browns lost to the Lions. Did I mention that the Browns were WINNING 24-3 in the FIRST QUARTER? They had the game in the palm of their hand and the Defense let it all go away. They made Matthew Stafford look like Peyton Manning leading a comeback like that. At first I was extremely pissed that the pass interference was even called...and then I saw the replay. The defender didn't really give the refs a choice. They HAD to make that call.
Then they lost to the Bengals. The Defense played a great game in this one, in my opinion. Some will say that offenses play conservative against the Browns because they know they will win. Well, I don't think that the Bengals purposely won by just nine points. The Bengals didn't let the Browns stick around like that. The defense earned it and the offense couldn't capitalize. Had it not been for Shaun Rogers' horse collar penalty at the end of the first half, the Browns are looking at needing a Touchdown to win the game. The Browns have now given up 10 points on untimed downs this season.
Tiger Woods wrecked his car. I don't care why, I don't care how, please stop talking about it. It's not news.
The Indians hired Sandy Alomar Jr. to be the first base coach and catcher's coach. This is a great PR move by the Tribe and I think it will pay off to some degree. First.....
This just in, Charlie Weis was fired.
...he'll be working with the Indians catchers VERY closely. Sandy was a great defensive catcher and under his tutelage I think the Indians' catchers will be some of the best at picking off potential base stealers. Second, there are some fans that will come just to see him in an Indians uniform again. Nevermind that Wyatt Torregas currently has number 15 on his back. That should change soon. Unfortunately, the Indians missed out on bringing back Omar Vizquel, another fan favorite from the '90's. He's going to the hated White Sox. Hey Omar, you're dead to me until you're out of that nasty city, ESPECIALLY since Shapiro actually did something smart and offered you a comeback.
I think that's all for now. Hall of Fame ballots are out and maybe I'll take a look at that next time.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
What? Basketball Season Started???
Well, I totally missed the boat on doing an NBA Preview. I'll tell you what, the NBA Season really does sneak-up on the world. You've got the NFL in it's Mid-Season, the NHL starting, Baseball finishing up and the NBA just gets lost in the shuffle sometimes. The Cleveland Cavaliers, for instance, have already played 10 games, winning seven of them. Surprising is that two of their losses have come at home, where they only lost two games all of last season.
The Cavaliers started out slow, learning how to play with each other and getting a feel for the way the new guys pass, shoot, play defense and move without the ball. Things weren't looking too good but the team has really started to gel and they are definitely heading in the right direction. LeBron is off to another great start, Shaq is finding his place in the offense and Z is having trouble adjusting to coming off the bench.
Cleveland had a great back-to-back in Florida last week, taking down the Magic and the Heat with great ease. Both teams were able to hang around for awhile but neither final score was telling of the game. The Cavs dominated both teams from the opening tip and were able to do all the right things to win. This included getting Dwight Howard into foul trouble early, in Orlando, and playing with extreme aggressiveness in Miami.
Mo Williams has been shooting out of his mind recently and I hope that is a trend that continues. Delonte West is having off the court issues and hopefully we'll see the signing of Antonio Daniels soon to take his spot. In all honesty, they should just sign him already and dump Coby Karl. The kid has played three minutes, in one game, and didn't attempt a shot. Why is he here? Daniels is a guy that can come in and contribute, especially with West sidelined for who knows how long.
In my opinion, this Cavaliers team is great. They definitely have a chance to win the NBA Title this year. They have to beat Boston though. I really thought that the Celtics made some mistakes in the off-season but all the changes they made are paying off. I did not expect Rasheed Wallace to do what he's doing, but the Cavs have Leon Powe coming back later in the season and he will be very helpful in a title run!
The Cavaliers started out slow, learning how to play with each other and getting a feel for the way the new guys pass, shoot, play defense and move without the ball. Things weren't looking too good but the team has really started to gel and they are definitely heading in the right direction. LeBron is off to another great start, Shaq is finding his place in the offense and Z is having trouble adjusting to coming off the bench.
Cleveland had a great back-to-back in Florida last week, taking down the Magic and the Heat with great ease. Both teams were able to hang around for awhile but neither final score was telling of the game. The Cavs dominated both teams from the opening tip and were able to do all the right things to win. This included getting Dwight Howard into foul trouble early, in Orlando, and playing with extreme aggressiveness in Miami.
Mo Williams has been shooting out of his mind recently and I hope that is a trend that continues. Delonte West is having off the court issues and hopefully we'll see the signing of Antonio Daniels soon to take his spot. In all honesty, they should just sign him already and dump Coby Karl. The kid has played three minutes, in one game, and didn't attempt a shot. Why is he here? Daniels is a guy that can come in and contribute, especially with West sidelined for who knows how long.
In my opinion, this Cavaliers team is great. They definitely have a chance to win the NBA Title this year. They have to beat Boston though. I really thought that the Celtics made some mistakes in the off-season but all the changes they made are paying off. I did not expect Rasheed Wallace to do what he's doing, but the Cavs have Leon Powe coming back later in the season and he will be very helpful in a title run!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Finally!?!?
All I keep hearing about is how "long" it has been since the Yankees won a World Series. I was actually rooting for the Yankees to win this year. I love C.C. Sabathia and really felt like he deserved to get a ring. But as soon as the final out was made all anyone kept talking about was how long it had been since the Yankees actually won it all. You know what? Bite me. Seriously.
The last time the Yankees won it all was 2000. Nine freaking years. That's it. Here in Cleveland, you know, the real world, we haven't sniffed a title since 1964. Sure, the Cavs went to the Finals a couple years back but did anyone really think we had a shot against Tim Duncan's Spurs? Not a chance. The Giants won the Super Bowl two years ago. It's not like the city of New York was aching for a championship win.
Let's put some things in perspective. The Yankees have now won 27 World Championships. That's one more than the Cardinals (11), Athletics (8) and Red Sox (7) combined. The Knicks have two titles, the Islanders, Rangers and Devils have combined for 11 Stanley Cups and the Giants have three Super Bowl victories. The Browns have never even been to the Super Bowl.
The last time the Indians were even in the World Series was 1997. The Yankees lost it in 2001 and 2003. Also, the Yankees have been to the World Series six times since the Indians last made a trip to the Fall Classic. I guess my point in all of these numbers and ramblings is SHUT THE HELL UP!!! I understand that many Yankee fans, including their former owner, consider anything other than a championship a failure. Well, that's just not the case. Be thankful for your 40 American League Pennants. Be grateful for your plethora of championships, not just in baseball, but in all four major sports. Yeah, the Knicks suck right now. But that's just God's way of evening things out. So quit your freaking whining and be thankful for the winning ways that you've (bought) had!
The last time the Yankees won it all was 2000. Nine freaking years. That's it. Here in Cleveland, you know, the real world, we haven't sniffed a title since 1964. Sure, the Cavs went to the Finals a couple years back but did anyone really think we had a shot against Tim Duncan's Spurs? Not a chance. The Giants won the Super Bowl two years ago. It's not like the city of New York was aching for a championship win.
Let's put some things in perspective. The Yankees have now won 27 World Championships. That's one more than the Cardinals (11), Athletics (8) and Red Sox (7) combined. The Knicks have two titles, the Islanders, Rangers and Devils have combined for 11 Stanley Cups and the Giants have three Super Bowl victories. The Browns have never even been to the Super Bowl.
The last time the Indians were even in the World Series was 1997. The Yankees lost it in 2001 and 2003. Also, the Yankees have been to the World Series six times since the Indians last made a trip to the Fall Classic. I guess my point in all of these numbers and ramblings is SHUT THE HELL UP!!! I understand that many Yankee fans, including their former owner, consider anything other than a championship a failure. Well, that's just not the case. Be thankful for your 40 American League Pennants. Be grateful for your plethora of championships, not just in baseball, but in all four major sports. Yeah, the Knicks suck right now. But that's just God's way of evening things out. So quit your freaking whining and be thankful for the winning ways that you've (bought) had!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Jason Kaminski Responds
Starting tomorrow, I will be participating in a new blog. I will also continue writing this one. The new blog, to be titled "Heads or Tails," will be a back-and-forth blog by Jason and I. We will discuss sports, movies, music and life in general. To get ready for that, Jason has written a blog in response to my most recent blog. Here it is...
It is a common theme these days to be hard on the Browns and Indians due to their lack of success. I thought this topic was a good one to discuss since it hits close to home for us both. Though I share a lot of the same sentiment that Matt does I have some differing opinions on a few things. First the Indians. We both grew up during a time when we just barely remember the bad days of the 80's and vividly remember the excitement of the 90's glory days. I do think it's sad when people "dismiss" teams as "their" teams because lets face it that is the definition of fair weather fandom. I feel I can never blindly follow a team and act like all is right with the world. Here's what I expect. Do what you can to win and don't lie to the fans who fund your paycheck. I believe the Indians SHOULD be questioned for their moves. I feel the Indians SHOULD take responsibility for bad moves instead of building up their GM like he's the second coming of Jesus. Other than the Colon for prospects deal, Shapiro has made bad move after bad move. I think that people who desert the team are weak but those who question it are passionate. We deal with "rebuilding" far too often.
Second the Browns. Here's where I differ greatly. I LOVE...repeat...LOVE the organized stayout and here is why. I have been a Browns fan my whole life and it was a very traumatic experience getting the team taken away from us. When the Browns came back people were just happy to have a team back in town. Fast forward to 10 years later. Our team is the laughing stock of the NFL and we were once the gold standard. Fans are tired of excuses. Fans are tired of the runaround. They are tired of losing. Embarrassed at what we've become. I have close friends of the family that have stuck by this team through thick and thin. They spend their hard earned paycheck on season tickets. It seems this team makes the same mistakes over and over and over. Bravo to fans who have the guts to stand up and say, "Look, enough is enough! We love our team so we will continue to buy tickets but we must do something in unison to show our disappointment." I actually wish they could do more because the Browns make some of the highest profits in the NFL and they have lost more than the majority of franchises in the last 10 years. ONE playoff appearance since returning and that was a fluke.
It is in my humble opinion that these things Lerner is trying to do to become more visible is directly related to the fans publicly displaying their displeasure. It's sad that we can not find competent front office people to stabilize this organization. What Matt views as fair weathered and sad I view to be some of the most passionate fan moves you will see. It's not that these fans are "deserting" the Browns. They paid their money for a product they are dissatisfied with. Season tickets are a big purchase for the blue collared, average worker. If you bought a car that performed like the Browns would you remain loyal to it? We love our teams but we expect more out of them than what we've been given. I don't want to hear "we should just be happy we have a team" because that train has left the station years ago. Now it's time we look like a real NFL team and not just a pity party gift from Paul Tagliabue.
So there you have it. Check out tomorow for the new "Heads or Tails" blog!!!
It is a common theme these days to be hard on the Browns and Indians due to their lack of success. I thought this topic was a good one to discuss since it hits close to home for us both. Though I share a lot of the same sentiment that Matt does I have some differing opinions on a few things. First the Indians. We both grew up during a time when we just barely remember the bad days of the 80's and vividly remember the excitement of the 90's glory days. I do think it's sad when people "dismiss" teams as "their" teams because lets face it that is the definition of fair weather fandom. I feel I can never blindly follow a team and act like all is right with the world. Here's what I expect. Do what you can to win and don't lie to the fans who fund your paycheck. I believe the Indians SHOULD be questioned for their moves. I feel the Indians SHOULD take responsibility for bad moves instead of building up their GM like he's the second coming of Jesus. Other than the Colon for prospects deal, Shapiro has made bad move after bad move. I think that people who desert the team are weak but those who question it are passionate. We deal with "rebuilding" far too often.
Second the Browns. Here's where I differ greatly. I LOVE...repeat...LOVE the organized stayout and here is why. I have been a Browns fan my whole life and it was a very traumatic experience getting the team taken away from us. When the Browns came back people were just happy to have a team back in town. Fast forward to 10 years later. Our team is the laughing stock of the NFL and we were once the gold standard. Fans are tired of excuses. Fans are tired of the runaround. They are tired of losing. Embarrassed at what we've become. I have close friends of the family that have stuck by this team through thick and thin. They spend their hard earned paycheck on season tickets. It seems this team makes the same mistakes over and over and over. Bravo to fans who have the guts to stand up and say, "Look, enough is enough! We love our team so we will continue to buy tickets but we must do something in unison to show our disappointment." I actually wish they could do more because the Browns make some of the highest profits in the NFL and they have lost more than the majority of franchises in the last 10 years. ONE playoff appearance since returning and that was a fluke.
It is in my humble opinion that these things Lerner is trying to do to become more visible is directly related to the fans publicly displaying their displeasure. It's sad that we can not find competent front office people to stabilize this organization. What Matt views as fair weathered and sad I view to be some of the most passionate fan moves you will see. It's not that these fans are "deserting" the Browns. They paid their money for a product they are dissatisfied with. Season tickets are a big purchase for the blue collared, average worker. If you bought a car that performed like the Browns would you remain loyal to it? We love our teams but we expect more out of them than what we've been given. I don't want to hear "we should just be happy we have a team" because that train has left the station years ago. Now it's time we look like a real NFL team and not just a pity party gift from Paul Tagliabue.
So there you have it. Check out tomorow for the new "Heads or Tails" blog!!!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time to Vent
I know that I have been very critical of front office moves by both the Indians and Browns ever since I started writing this blog. I have questioned 99% of the things that each team has done. Some of it I have agreed with. Much of it has been the opposite. But you know what? I love these teams. I love the Indians. I love the Browns. They are MY teams. Always have been, always will be. As much as I have talked about boycotting the Indians if they do this or that, I could never do it. I love the team way too damn much. The same thing goes for the Browns. I hate how they are playing right now but when Sunday comes around I put on my jersey, sit in front of the television and scream my head off as I try to will them to the right decisions. It hasn't worked much but, hey, they won't go win-less. I love the city of Cleveland and I love the sports teams.
Now, the venting part. Why are there so many fair-weather fans in this world? Last Friday, at work, we had costume day. I dressed up as a Cleveland Indians baseball player. I must have received ten or 20 comments on how "scary" my costume was. What a load of crap! Many of these people are the same people that would've done the same thing 12 years ago when the Indians were playoff contenders every season. But now, just because we hit a rough patch, they don't want to associate with the team and call a costume representing a ballplayer as "scary." You know what I say to people like that? Go away. We don't need you. If you're going to be a fan, be a fan. If you're not, then fine. You know what though? Don't come back when that magical day comes and the Indians win the World Series. Don't show your face at the parade down Superior.
It makes me sick that Dawg Pound Mike would try to organize a "Stay Out" until the opening kickoff to make a point that the fans are unhappy. You know who else is unhappy? Randy Lerner. I know the man has been a very private person for most of his ownership period but he made two moves that I love. First, he stood in the Visitor's tunnel Sunday at Soldier Field as the Browns came off the field so they had to look him in the eye. They deserve it too. They are NOT earning the money they are being paid, well, most of them. Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs, Kamerion Wimbley, these guys are earning their paychecks. They give their all on every play. Second, Randy Lerner decided to fire George Kokinis, less than a year after he was hired. Unfortunately, it was due to Lerner's own negligence that he was put in the position of needing to fire Kokinis. Lerner ignored the chain of command that should have taken place. He should have hired a GM, whoever he wanted, and then let that GM hire a coach. Instead, he let the coach pick his GM. Bad move. It looks like he is really taking the time to try and fix his mistakes.
As much as this team might make you angry, organizing a protest against them, after fighting tooth and nail to get them back after Satan took them to Baltimore, is absolutely ludicrous. This is OUR team. They will always be OUR team unless you turn your back. When you do that, you have no more rights to this team and I don't want to see you associated with them in any way, shape or form. When you do that, they are no longer YOUR team. So either be a fan or don't. No matter what, there will be fans and they will love this team...because they are OURS and no one can take that away from us....again.
Now, the venting part. Why are there so many fair-weather fans in this world? Last Friday, at work, we had costume day. I dressed up as a Cleveland Indians baseball player. I must have received ten or 20 comments on how "scary" my costume was. What a load of crap! Many of these people are the same people that would've done the same thing 12 years ago when the Indians were playoff contenders every season. But now, just because we hit a rough patch, they don't want to associate with the team and call a costume representing a ballplayer as "scary." You know what I say to people like that? Go away. We don't need you. If you're going to be a fan, be a fan. If you're not, then fine. You know what though? Don't come back when that magical day comes and the Indians win the World Series. Don't show your face at the parade down Superior.
It makes me sick that Dawg Pound Mike would try to organize a "Stay Out" until the opening kickoff to make a point that the fans are unhappy. You know who else is unhappy? Randy Lerner. I know the man has been a very private person for most of his ownership period but he made two moves that I love. First, he stood in the Visitor's tunnel Sunday at Soldier Field as the Browns came off the field so they had to look him in the eye. They deserve it too. They are NOT earning the money they are being paid, well, most of them. Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs, Kamerion Wimbley, these guys are earning their paychecks. They give their all on every play. Second, Randy Lerner decided to fire George Kokinis, less than a year after he was hired. Unfortunately, it was due to Lerner's own negligence that he was put in the position of needing to fire Kokinis. Lerner ignored the chain of command that should have taken place. He should have hired a GM, whoever he wanted, and then let that GM hire a coach. Instead, he let the coach pick his GM. Bad move. It looks like he is really taking the time to try and fix his mistakes.
As much as this team might make you angry, organizing a protest against them, after fighting tooth and nail to get them back after Satan took them to Baltimore, is absolutely ludicrous. This is OUR team. They will always be OUR team unless you turn your back. When you do that, you have no more rights to this team and I don't want to see you associated with them in any way, shape or form. When you do that, they are no longer YOUR team. So either be a fan or don't. No matter what, there will be fans and they will love this team...because they are OURS and no one can take that away from us....again.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Anyone Else Think This Might Be a Bad Idea?
The last two seasons have seen the St. Louis Cardinals slug their way into the post-season only to watch their title hopes slip away. What is a team to do? How about hire one of your most famous alumni to come back and help out? That sounds like a good idea! I'm sure, even though he's almost 75 years old, that Bob Gibson could definitely show the Cardinals pitchers a few tricks!
They aren't bringing in Gibson? Well, it must be Ozzie Smith then! Man, he could definitely show those infielders a thing or two about defending their position. This is an awesome idea. The fans are going to love it, the team will respond well and they should definitely be able to move past that first round of the playoffs with him helping out!
Wrong again. How about Dennis Eckersley? I know he wasn't a Cardinal for an extended amount of time but, much like Gibson, he is a Hall of Fame pitcher with great credentials to help the bullpen out. He might even be able to turn Ryan Franklin into an even better closer than he already is. Plus, Tony LaRussa LOVES Eck. This is great.
Not him either? Ok, well who could it be then? Red Schoendienst? No way. He's 85 years old and there's not much he could do to help out. Steve Carlton? Orlando Cepeda? Lou Brock? No. All these people, even Red in his old age, would make more sense than the former Cardinal who is coming back to help St. Louis reach the World Series again. Mark McGwire.
What in the world are the Cards thinking? Do you really want this tainted big leaguer who was, at one time, a first ballot Hall of Famer around your young talent? I mean, just putting this guy in the same clubhouse as Albert Pujols puts a little doubt in every fans mind that maybe, just maybe, McGwire is "helping" Pujols out. I don't want that, and I know that Major League Baseball won't want it. Pujols and Derek Jeter are the good guys, may even be the only two left. Don't give us any doubt about one of them.
Yes, I know, McGwire had a magical season a decade ago and everyone thought he was the savior of the sport at the time. But that was before Congressional Hearings, the Mitchell Report and a 103-player list that may or may not have McGwire's name on it. It was before McGwire declared that he wasn't at the hearings to talk about the past and stated that he was there because, and I quote with grammatical errors caused by nervousness of having to possibly admit his steroid use, "I'm here because...because Steroids...is bad." They are bad, Mark, but St. Louis' decision to hire you is even worse.
They aren't bringing in Gibson? Well, it must be Ozzie Smith then! Man, he could definitely show those infielders a thing or two about defending their position. This is an awesome idea. The fans are going to love it, the team will respond well and they should definitely be able to move past that first round of the playoffs with him helping out!
Wrong again. How about Dennis Eckersley? I know he wasn't a Cardinal for an extended amount of time but, much like Gibson, he is a Hall of Fame pitcher with great credentials to help the bullpen out. He might even be able to turn Ryan Franklin into an even better closer than he already is. Plus, Tony LaRussa LOVES Eck. This is great.
Not him either? Ok, well who could it be then? Red Schoendienst? No way. He's 85 years old and there's not much he could do to help out. Steve Carlton? Orlando Cepeda? Lou Brock? No. All these people, even Red in his old age, would make more sense than the former Cardinal who is coming back to help St. Louis reach the World Series again. Mark McGwire.
What in the world are the Cards thinking? Do you really want this tainted big leaguer who was, at one time, a first ballot Hall of Famer around your young talent? I mean, just putting this guy in the same clubhouse as Albert Pujols puts a little doubt in every fans mind that maybe, just maybe, McGwire is "helping" Pujols out. I don't want that, and I know that Major League Baseball won't want it. Pujols and Derek Jeter are the good guys, may even be the only two left. Don't give us any doubt about one of them.
Yes, I know, McGwire had a magical season a decade ago and everyone thought he was the savior of the sport at the time. But that was before Congressional Hearings, the Mitchell Report and a 103-player list that may or may not have McGwire's name on it. It was before McGwire declared that he wasn't at the hearings to talk about the past and stated that he was there because, and I quote with grammatical errors caused by nervousness of having to possibly admit his steroid use, "I'm here because...because Steroids...is bad." They are bad, Mark, but St. Louis' decision to hire you is even worse.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Review of Stalemate: Silhouettes & Syllables
About eight years ago, two friends of mine started a band, Jason Kaminski and Phil Martin. They found a drummer named Rob Schuster and Tooth Fuzz was born. For the better part of a decade, this trio from Elyria, Ohio has been playing shows all over the Midwest, opening for bands like the Starting Line and the Ataris and participating in the Vans Warped Tour with bands such as NOFX and the Transplants. In their early years they had influences ranging from the Foo Fighters to Sum 41. Now, they have outgrown pop-punk, outgrown the name Tooth Fuzz and become Stalemate. The same three guys have seen this whole thing through and have produced their best album, by far. I recently saw them perform many songs from the new album and was given a copy of the CD, Silhouettes and Syllables.
The first track, Dreams, starts with an extended intro of guitar chords seemingly played in reverse, fading to a clean instrumental opening to a song that quickly adds bass and drum to the mix. As the intro goes on, it builds to its climax which hears the guitar go to distortion for a crunching sound that leads to the first verse. This is where Kaminski really shines. His lyrical content is always full of meaningful material. This song is no different. We hear his vocals, talking about the dreams we all had at one time, with a very distinct bass line by Martin, amazing drum work by Schuster and subtle guitar plucking. The verses lead to a hard rock chorus in which Kaminski reaches for the limits of his vocal range and the angst and strain in his voice brings us to his revelation: “I don’t believe that everyone is wrong but they will never know what I’m really thinking so I can’t help to feel like I’m alone.
Ghost Town is next and it starts with a chilling open that leads directly to the first verse which is over only the guitar. The song talks about the hometown of the band and the despair and hopelessness that seems to envelope many of its citizens. A haunting acoustic guitar layered over the bass, drums and synthesizer are the focal points. Again, Kaminski breaks into a powerful chorus that is the complete opposite of the verses. A short acoustic break leads to a verse with the same extremes as the chorus. The song ends with an outro that has a faint sound of hope that things could get better sometime.
The outro from Ghost Town leads to Keep Moving On, a song about letting go of the past and being able to move past it. It starts light but you can tell it’s going to build into something much more and it does just that. Kaminski goes for his vocal peak in a strong chorus proclaiming “I won’t make the same mistake again, I’ll keep moving on.” A short bass solo by Martin leads to a perfectly placed keyboard and then Kaminski comes back with his guitar and sends our ears on a rollercoaster that reaches its highest point right before a keyboard trill fades in while the other instruments fade out.
Going Through the Motions is driving from beginning to end. This song really lets Schuster shine on the drums as he is let out of his cage. Each hit and kick is done with a purpose and it definitely has Schuster in the driver’s seat of the track. Kaminski’s vocals are an excellent mix of control and strain while Martin’s bass gives us a great background. The best part of the song takes place when Kaminski exclaims “Excuses all come easy!” and holds out the final note until letting the guitar end the track.
Next, Kaminski starts with calm vocals only on Planets. Shortly after the beginning the instruments come in and Kaminski hits his upper register and stays there for most of the song. Drums and bass are evident again with Schuster hitting backbeats and snare shots that penetrate the listener and only add to a great song. A short guitar solo ends the song on a very strong note.
Buckle up for the next track, What I Want to Believe. We hear Stalemate hauntingly remind us of the Kings of Grunge, Nirvana. Kaminski’s vocals are eerily reminiscent of Kurt Cobain and the slight punk undertones of the song meld together well with the grunge sound that has been a staple of this trio since its inception. There is no let-up in this song. From the moment the song starts, you are on a ride that won’t end until the band says so. Martin’s bass plays a great role in this song and keeps your heart thumping in time with everything else going on.
Streamline starts with a complete distortion of vocals and guitar alike. Another driving track is ahead with Kaminski straining his voice, and sounding great doing it. A bass solo in the middle leads to a calmer Kaminski making us think this song has reached its denouement when in fact he’s just preparing to unleash his final chorus on our eardrums.
Next, Stalemate goes Soul Searching. A great guitar intro leads us to the first verse where the bass and drums really drive the track. After the second verse, the kick drum starts off the chorus with the bass and guitar almost as an afterthought. Kaminski hits those high end vocals again, telling us “I searched for what I needed but I can’t fight this feeling, I’m on my way, I’m leaving.” After his extreme vocal to finish, we fade to the next track.
Southern rock undertones start us on a Long Ride Home. Kaminski again starts off in a calm voice, almost conversing with the person on the other end of his musical conversation before kicking us in the gut and telling us “I don’t owe you anything except a long ride home.” The solo that comes after the second chorus is a building, driving piece of art that starts with the bass giving us a prelude to a rock-a-billy guitar followed by a great round of drumming by Schuster. Kaminski’s vocal closing is him almost a crying that really gives this song a climax.
The next track is an acoustic one; just Kaminski and his guitar. His voice is nearly soothing in this song with great plucking on his guitar. It’s hard to describe the feeling you get when listening to this song. You’re waiting for a build that never comes, but in a good way. Kaminski really shows his vulnerability on this track that you would never think you would see coming from the other tracks. A lengthy outro gives the listener a feeling of calm with some mandolin mixed in for added serenity.
Our calm feeling doesn’t last for too long as Schuster takes to his tom-tom drums to start off the next track, Edge of Perception. The song builds, and builds with the bass and guitar coming in along with a synthesizer. Kaminski’s vocals build as well, leading us to a heavy chorus that tells us “Don’t let it go!” After the chorus we head back down hill only to build into the same driving chorus. Each chorus hears another layer of Kaminski vocals which sound phenomenal. A guitar solo leads us right back to a calm verse which builds right back up to the driving chorus.
The twelfth track is My Best Excuse, a song the band had recorded in the past but decided to update. Best. Idea. Ever. This version of the song is twice as good as the original. It starts off slow and clean and builds to a driving verse which features the vocals of Martin in the background and they are placed perfectly. Martin’s voice is a deep contrast to Kaminski’s which makes for a great sound. Once the chorus hits, you think the song is over but it’s just getting started. A slow build from nothing takes into a heavy guitar solo and a shouting refrain of “You don’t have me to blame!” with Kaminski and Martin shouting back and forth to each other.
The last track, Without You, is unlike anything that I’ve ever heard from this trio. A duet with Samantha Naelitz shows us the soft side of Stalemate…sort of. Kaminski starts with a verse and leads us to a harmonizing chorus with Naelitz that proclaims that “I’m doing fine without you in my life.” The first verse is a sharp contrast to this as it sounds as if he’s not doing all that well. Naelitz’ vocals on the second verse are absolutely beautiful. Her angelic voice carries us to the second chorus. A bridge with Naelitz and Kaminski going back and forth with a line each really gives us the Climax of the song, leading to a final chorus with Naelitz’ vocals drifting right over Kaminski’s to end a powerful, original album.
As a whole, this album is absolutely phenomenal, and each track evolves into something more than it seems at its starting point. The writing, both musically and lyrically, is light years away from it was when this band started its journey eight years ago. I highly recommend fans of all kinds of music to pick up this great, local masterpiece. Make sure you check out their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/stalemateohio. You will NOT be disappointed.
The first track, Dreams, starts with an extended intro of guitar chords seemingly played in reverse, fading to a clean instrumental opening to a song that quickly adds bass and drum to the mix. As the intro goes on, it builds to its climax which hears the guitar go to distortion for a crunching sound that leads to the first verse. This is where Kaminski really shines. His lyrical content is always full of meaningful material. This song is no different. We hear his vocals, talking about the dreams we all had at one time, with a very distinct bass line by Martin, amazing drum work by Schuster and subtle guitar plucking. The verses lead to a hard rock chorus in which Kaminski reaches for the limits of his vocal range and the angst and strain in his voice brings us to his revelation: “I don’t believe that everyone is wrong but they will never know what I’m really thinking so I can’t help to feel like I’m alone.
Ghost Town is next and it starts with a chilling open that leads directly to the first verse which is over only the guitar. The song talks about the hometown of the band and the despair and hopelessness that seems to envelope many of its citizens. A haunting acoustic guitar layered over the bass, drums and synthesizer are the focal points. Again, Kaminski breaks into a powerful chorus that is the complete opposite of the verses. A short acoustic break leads to a verse with the same extremes as the chorus. The song ends with an outro that has a faint sound of hope that things could get better sometime.
The outro from Ghost Town leads to Keep Moving On, a song about letting go of the past and being able to move past it. It starts light but you can tell it’s going to build into something much more and it does just that. Kaminski goes for his vocal peak in a strong chorus proclaiming “I won’t make the same mistake again, I’ll keep moving on.” A short bass solo by Martin leads to a perfectly placed keyboard and then Kaminski comes back with his guitar and sends our ears on a rollercoaster that reaches its highest point right before a keyboard trill fades in while the other instruments fade out.
Going Through the Motions is driving from beginning to end. This song really lets Schuster shine on the drums as he is let out of his cage. Each hit and kick is done with a purpose and it definitely has Schuster in the driver’s seat of the track. Kaminski’s vocals are an excellent mix of control and strain while Martin’s bass gives us a great background. The best part of the song takes place when Kaminski exclaims “Excuses all come easy!” and holds out the final note until letting the guitar end the track.
Next, Kaminski starts with calm vocals only on Planets. Shortly after the beginning the instruments come in and Kaminski hits his upper register and stays there for most of the song. Drums and bass are evident again with Schuster hitting backbeats and snare shots that penetrate the listener and only add to a great song. A short guitar solo ends the song on a very strong note.
Buckle up for the next track, What I Want to Believe. We hear Stalemate hauntingly remind us of the Kings of Grunge, Nirvana. Kaminski’s vocals are eerily reminiscent of Kurt Cobain and the slight punk undertones of the song meld together well with the grunge sound that has been a staple of this trio since its inception. There is no let-up in this song. From the moment the song starts, you are on a ride that won’t end until the band says so. Martin’s bass plays a great role in this song and keeps your heart thumping in time with everything else going on.
Streamline starts with a complete distortion of vocals and guitar alike. Another driving track is ahead with Kaminski straining his voice, and sounding great doing it. A bass solo in the middle leads to a calmer Kaminski making us think this song has reached its denouement when in fact he’s just preparing to unleash his final chorus on our eardrums.
Next, Stalemate goes Soul Searching. A great guitar intro leads us to the first verse where the bass and drums really drive the track. After the second verse, the kick drum starts off the chorus with the bass and guitar almost as an afterthought. Kaminski hits those high end vocals again, telling us “I searched for what I needed but I can’t fight this feeling, I’m on my way, I’m leaving.” After his extreme vocal to finish, we fade to the next track.
Southern rock undertones start us on a Long Ride Home. Kaminski again starts off in a calm voice, almost conversing with the person on the other end of his musical conversation before kicking us in the gut and telling us “I don’t owe you anything except a long ride home.” The solo that comes after the second chorus is a building, driving piece of art that starts with the bass giving us a prelude to a rock-a-billy guitar followed by a great round of drumming by Schuster. Kaminski’s vocal closing is him almost a crying that really gives this song a climax.
The next track is an acoustic one; just Kaminski and his guitar. His voice is nearly soothing in this song with great plucking on his guitar. It’s hard to describe the feeling you get when listening to this song. You’re waiting for a build that never comes, but in a good way. Kaminski really shows his vulnerability on this track that you would never think you would see coming from the other tracks. A lengthy outro gives the listener a feeling of calm with some mandolin mixed in for added serenity.
Our calm feeling doesn’t last for too long as Schuster takes to his tom-tom drums to start off the next track, Edge of Perception. The song builds, and builds with the bass and guitar coming in along with a synthesizer. Kaminski’s vocals build as well, leading us to a heavy chorus that tells us “Don’t let it go!” After the chorus we head back down hill only to build into the same driving chorus. Each chorus hears another layer of Kaminski vocals which sound phenomenal. A guitar solo leads us right back to a calm verse which builds right back up to the driving chorus.
The twelfth track is My Best Excuse, a song the band had recorded in the past but decided to update. Best. Idea. Ever. This version of the song is twice as good as the original. It starts off slow and clean and builds to a driving verse which features the vocals of Martin in the background and they are placed perfectly. Martin’s voice is a deep contrast to Kaminski’s which makes for a great sound. Once the chorus hits, you think the song is over but it’s just getting started. A slow build from nothing takes into a heavy guitar solo and a shouting refrain of “You don’t have me to blame!” with Kaminski and Martin shouting back and forth to each other.
The last track, Without You, is unlike anything that I’ve ever heard from this trio. A duet with Samantha Naelitz shows us the soft side of Stalemate…sort of. Kaminski starts with a verse and leads us to a harmonizing chorus with Naelitz that proclaims that “I’m doing fine without you in my life.” The first verse is a sharp contrast to this as it sounds as if he’s not doing all that well. Naelitz’ vocals on the second verse are absolutely beautiful. Her angelic voice carries us to the second chorus. A bridge with Naelitz and Kaminski going back and forth with a line each really gives us the Climax of the song, leading to a final chorus with Naelitz’ vocals drifting right over Kaminski’s to end a powerful, original album.
As a whole, this album is absolutely phenomenal, and each track evolves into something more than it seems at its starting point. The writing, both musically and lyrically, is light years away from it was when this band started its journey eight years ago. I highly recommend fans of all kinds of music to pick up this great, local masterpiece. Make sure you check out their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/stalemateohio. You will NOT be disappointed.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Mark Shapiro...You Are an IDIOT!
If you haven't heard by now, the Cleveland Indians are looking for a new manager. This is great. That is, until you read the list of candidates that are listed as "Finalists" for the position. The four finalists, according to General Manager Mark Shapiro are Manny Acta, Bobby Valentine, Don Mattingly and Torey Luvello. Let's look at these so-called "candidates" one at a time.
First, we've got Manny Acta. Apparently Shapiro thinks that this would be a good hire because Acta was born in the Dominican Republic and thinks he'll be able to pass along his experience to the young Latin players in the Indians organization. Why shouldn't he be hired? Oh, I don't know. Let's start with his .385 winning percentage in three years of managing the Natinals. You know what? We can pretty much end there too.
Then there's Don Mattingly, a guy with NO PREVIOUS MANAGING EXPERIENCE!!! RED FLAG! RED FLAG!!! I know, I know, at some point no one had managing experience. But he doesn't even have Minor League managing experience. His only real work in the Majors is as Joe Torre's hitting coach in New York and now in Los Angeles.
Torey Luvello is currently the manager of the Indians Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. You know who else was a manager in the Indians farm system? Eric Wedge and you all know my feelings about him. If you want the next seven years to be exactly like the last seven years, then yes, go right ahead and hire Torey Luvello.
Last, and certainly not least, Bobby Valentine. This is the only candidate that has had success in the Majors. He took the Mets to the World Series in 2000 but his accolades kind of end there. He has over 1,000 Major League victories between his time as the Texas Rangers manager and the Mets skipper but his biggest successes came in his time as the manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. There, he won a Japan Series Championship as well as the Inaugural Asia Series Championship.
Lost in all this is the fact that Mike Hargrove has expressed interest in managing the Indians once again. Let me repeat that: MIKE HARGROVE WANTS TO MANAGE THE INDIANS! Not only would this be an AWESOME public relations move but even if the team is a sub .500 team, there will be people in the seats because Hargrove is only nine wins away from becoming the all-time winningest manager in Cleveland Indians history. People want to be a part of history. They will come see the man who led the Indians to two American League pennants and did so without ever having a true #1 pitcher to compete with the likes of the Braves, Yankees and Marlins of the '90's.
It's extremely clear to me who SHOULD be the Indians next manager but unfortunately our current management doesn't think that Mike Hargrove is the right move for the Indians to take. Well guess what? Neither are the four other moves you want to make, Mark. Please, just do what's right for the team AND the city.
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
First, we've got Manny Acta. Apparently Shapiro thinks that this would be a good hire because Acta was born in the Dominican Republic and thinks he'll be able to pass along his experience to the young Latin players in the Indians organization. Why shouldn't he be hired? Oh, I don't know. Let's start with his .385 winning percentage in three years of managing the Natinals. You know what? We can pretty much end there too.
Then there's Don Mattingly, a guy with NO PREVIOUS MANAGING EXPERIENCE!!! RED FLAG! RED FLAG!!! I know, I know, at some point no one had managing experience. But he doesn't even have Minor League managing experience. His only real work in the Majors is as Joe Torre's hitting coach in New York and now in Los Angeles.
Torey Luvello is currently the manager of the Indians Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. You know who else was a manager in the Indians farm system? Eric Wedge and you all know my feelings about him. If you want the next seven years to be exactly like the last seven years, then yes, go right ahead and hire Torey Luvello.
Last, and certainly not least, Bobby Valentine. This is the only candidate that has had success in the Majors. He took the Mets to the World Series in 2000 but his accolades kind of end there. He has over 1,000 Major League victories between his time as the Texas Rangers manager and the Mets skipper but his biggest successes came in his time as the manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. There, he won a Japan Series Championship as well as the Inaugural Asia Series Championship.
Lost in all this is the fact that Mike Hargrove has expressed interest in managing the Indians once again. Let me repeat that: MIKE HARGROVE WANTS TO MANAGE THE INDIANS! Not only would this be an AWESOME public relations move but even if the team is a sub .500 team, there will be people in the seats because Hargrove is only nine wins away from becoming the all-time winningest manager in Cleveland Indians history. People want to be a part of history. They will come see the man who led the Indians to two American League pennants and did so without ever having a true #1 pitcher to compete with the likes of the Braves, Yankees and Marlins of the '90's.
It's extremely clear to me who SHOULD be the Indians next manager but unfortunately our current management doesn't think that Mike Hargrove is the right move for the Indians to take. Well guess what? Neither are the four other moves you want to make, Mark. Please, just do what's right for the team AND the city.
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Quick Hits IV
Here I am, back for another edition of my Quick Hits...and away we go...
44 for 63, 505 yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown.
22 receptions, 278 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Those are the lines for Bowling Green Quarterback, Tyler Sheehan, and receiver Freddie Barnes, respectively. Are you effing kidding me??? Those numbers are absolutely sick in every sense of the word. The Falcons won, 36-35 on Sheehan's rushing Touchdown with five seconds left, and ended an awful four game losing streak. Barnes ended up winning the MAC East Player of the week award for his ridonkulous performance.
THE BROWNS WON A GAME!!! In an offensive slugfest...the Browns took down the Buffalo Bills by the astronomical...score of 6-3. UNBELIEVABLE!!! I'll tell you what, while the offense was absolutely anemic, the defense looked like a force to be reckoned with. I'm not saying it's going to lead to more victories but the thoughts of the Browns going winless this season are gone, thank God! Derek Anderson threw about eight times as many incompletions as completions, but to be fair, his receivers dropped a lot of balls. Now, it's being reported that Brady Quinn's house is up for sale in Avon Lake. Hey, as long as they get a good Right-Side lineman for him and maybe a draft pick or 2, I'm all for it.
So, Braylon got traded and what does he do in his first game as a Jet? Just 65 yards and a touchdown. Good thing I made the only plausible move in Fantasy Football concerning Braylon Edwards...I traded FOR him. Worked out too. He got me 12 fantasy points and I think he'll be right around that total every week. I may have lost this week but I have a feeling he's going to help me win a couple games.
Michael Crabtree FINALLY signed his contract with the 49ers. He "settled" for a mere $16 million guaranteed which is an amount of money that I will never see in my life. You see that Michael? You just got $16 million just for signing your name. Must be a shame that you couldn't get a few million more. Jackass.
The NBA Pre-Season is underway and LeBron and Shaq are looking great together. They don't look like they've been playing together for ten years, but they also look a whole lot better than a duo who has been playing together for just two months of practice. I am very excited about the Cavaliers this season and I am really under the impression that this could be the year that the city of Cleveland has its Championship drought ended. LeBron is on a mission and he will be successful. The NBA regular season starts in just a few weeks so I'll probably do some sort of season preview, pick my playoff teams and whatnot. We'll see.
Major League Baseball is down to the League Championship Series and both of them are Coast-to-Coast affairs. In the National League, we've got the Phillies and the Dodgers in a rematch of last year's NLCS. I think this is the Dodgers year. They've got the players, the pitching and the bullpen to take down the defending Champs. In the AL, I like the Yankees to beat the Angels with their 3-man rotation of Sabathia, Burnett and Pettite. With C.C. and A.J., I think Andy Pettite is going to have to start going by initials. So, according to me, the World Series will be Yankees and Dodgers. I. Am. Pumped.
The Indians are on the hunt for a new manager (THANK GOD!!!) and it appears that one of the candidates is none other than Bobby Freaking Valentine! I think this would be absolutely great. I feel like he could bring a great combination of discipline and fun to the Cleveland clubhouse. The only other person I think would be better for the job is Mike Hargrove and from the sounds of it, he's enjoying retirement way too much to rebuild a franchise...again.
The NHL is underway and my teams already look awful. Minnesota and Toronto have both had slow starts but hopefully they can get things figured out and make a push for the playoffs. I think we're probably headed for another Eastern Conference Final which pits Alexander Ovechkin against Sidney Crosby, but it's WAY too early to tell if that's what is going to happen.
I'm going to be doing something a little different for my next blog. A band I know is coming out with a new album this week so I am going to be a doing a review for it. The name of the band is Stalemate and they are having a CD Release show this Friday at the Hi-Fi in Lakewood. Check out Stalemate from Elyria, Ohio on MySpace for more info!
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
44 for 63, 505 yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown.
22 receptions, 278 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Those are the lines for Bowling Green Quarterback, Tyler Sheehan, and receiver Freddie Barnes, respectively. Are you effing kidding me??? Those numbers are absolutely sick in every sense of the word. The Falcons won, 36-35 on Sheehan's rushing Touchdown with five seconds left, and ended an awful four game losing streak. Barnes ended up winning the MAC East Player of the week award for his ridonkulous performance.
THE BROWNS WON A GAME!!! In an offensive slugfest...the Browns took down the Buffalo Bills by the astronomical...score of 6-3. UNBELIEVABLE!!! I'll tell you what, while the offense was absolutely anemic, the defense looked like a force to be reckoned with. I'm not saying it's going to lead to more victories but the thoughts of the Browns going winless this season are gone, thank God! Derek Anderson threw about eight times as many incompletions as completions, but to be fair, his receivers dropped a lot of balls. Now, it's being reported that Brady Quinn's house is up for sale in Avon Lake. Hey, as long as they get a good Right-Side lineman for him and maybe a draft pick or 2, I'm all for it.
So, Braylon got traded and what does he do in his first game as a Jet? Just 65 yards and a touchdown. Good thing I made the only plausible move in Fantasy Football concerning Braylon Edwards...I traded FOR him. Worked out too. He got me 12 fantasy points and I think he'll be right around that total every week. I may have lost this week but I have a feeling he's going to help me win a couple games.
Michael Crabtree FINALLY signed his contract with the 49ers. He "settled" for a mere $16 million guaranteed which is an amount of money that I will never see in my life. You see that Michael? You just got $16 million just for signing your name. Must be a shame that you couldn't get a few million more. Jackass.
The NBA Pre-Season is underway and LeBron and Shaq are looking great together. They don't look like they've been playing together for ten years, but they also look a whole lot better than a duo who has been playing together for just two months of practice. I am very excited about the Cavaliers this season and I am really under the impression that this could be the year that the city of Cleveland has its Championship drought ended. LeBron is on a mission and he will be successful. The NBA regular season starts in just a few weeks so I'll probably do some sort of season preview, pick my playoff teams and whatnot. We'll see.
Major League Baseball is down to the League Championship Series and both of them are Coast-to-Coast affairs. In the National League, we've got the Phillies and the Dodgers in a rematch of last year's NLCS. I think this is the Dodgers year. They've got the players, the pitching and the bullpen to take down the defending Champs. In the AL, I like the Yankees to beat the Angels with their 3-man rotation of Sabathia, Burnett and Pettite. With C.C. and A.J., I think Andy Pettite is going to have to start going by initials. So, according to me, the World Series will be Yankees and Dodgers. I. Am. Pumped.
The Indians are on the hunt for a new manager (THANK GOD!!!) and it appears that one of the candidates is none other than Bobby Freaking Valentine! I think this would be absolutely great. I feel like he could bring a great combination of discipline and fun to the Cleveland clubhouse. The only other person I think would be better for the job is Mike Hargrove and from the sounds of it, he's enjoying retirement way too much to rebuild a franchise...again.
The NHL is underway and my teams already look awful. Minnesota and Toronto have both had slow starts but hopefully they can get things figured out and make a push for the playoffs. I think we're probably headed for another Eastern Conference Final which pits Alexander Ovechkin against Sidney Crosby, but it's WAY too early to tell if that's what is going to happen.
I'm going to be doing something a little different for my next blog. A band I know is coming out with a new album this week so I am going to be a doing a review for it. The name of the band is Stalemate and they are having a CD Release show this Friday at the Hi-Fi in Lakewood. Check out Stalemate from Elyria, Ohio on MySpace for more info!
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
B-B-B-Braylon and the Jets
On Sunday night, Braylon Edwards went to a night-club in Cleveland. While there, he hit a member of LeBron James' crew and gave him a black eye and a bloody lip...Allegedly. Now, whether Braylon was goaded into hitting this gentleman, allegedly, or not is not the question. The question is, why would you, allegedly, hit a member of the crew of the biggest sports star the city of Cleveland has ever seen? So, when LeBron heard about this, he was pissed and said that Braylon acted "childish." Did anyone honestly think that this would be the end of the story? If so, there are some nice nurses here who would like to get you fitted for these nice white suits!
Fast forward to this morning. I'm driving to work and hear the news on "Mike & Mike in the Morning." Braylon Edwards has been traded to the New York Jets for two players and two draft picks. If you didn't see this coming, you are completely blind in the eyes. When the King of Cleveland says he doesn't like someone, that person is going to get shipped right out of Cleveland. The sports owners in this city aren't dumb. They know that keeping LeBron here is vital to the city and if there is anything that threatens that, it will be taken care of.
Now, back to the trade. I like this trade. I think, in the long-run, it will be great for all parties involved. Braylon gets out of Cleveland, the Browns don't have to worry about Braylon being a malcontent, Mohamed Massoquoi and Brian Robiskie, along with Joshua Cribbs get to be the stars of the show and the Browns don't lose Braylon for absolutely nothing. Most importantly, LeBron is happy. Whether or not Braylon gets suspended for the alleged punch he threw is still up in the air.
How about the players we got in return? Well, we get Chansi Stuckey who was the Jets number two receiver behind Jerricho Cotchery. Stuckey's numbers aren't overwhelming but he, like Edwards, could do well due to the change of scenery. Another player coming to Cleveland is Jason Trusnik, who the Jets describe as a "key special teams player." Trusnik has six tackles this season and either one or two forced fumbles depending on which stats you look at. The draft picks coming Cleveland's way are conditional so we won't know exactly where those stand until the end of the season. All in all, I think this is a good trade and it really shows how much pull LeBron really has in Cleveland.
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Fast forward to this morning. I'm driving to work and hear the news on "Mike & Mike in the Morning." Braylon Edwards has been traded to the New York Jets for two players and two draft picks. If you didn't see this coming, you are completely blind in the eyes. When the King of Cleveland says he doesn't like someone, that person is going to get shipped right out of Cleveland. The sports owners in this city aren't dumb. They know that keeping LeBron here is vital to the city and if there is anything that threatens that, it will be taken care of.
Now, back to the trade. I like this trade. I think, in the long-run, it will be great for all parties involved. Braylon gets out of Cleveland, the Browns don't have to worry about Braylon being a malcontent, Mohamed Massoquoi and Brian Robiskie, along with Joshua Cribbs get to be the stars of the show and the Browns don't lose Braylon for absolutely nothing. Most importantly, LeBron is happy. Whether or not Braylon gets suspended for the alleged punch he threw is still up in the air.
How about the players we got in return? Well, we get Chansi Stuckey who was the Jets number two receiver behind Jerricho Cotchery. Stuckey's numbers aren't overwhelming but he, like Edwards, could do well due to the change of scenery. Another player coming to Cleveland is Jason Trusnik, who the Jets describe as a "key special teams player." Trusnik has six tackles this season and either one or two forced fumbles depending on which stats you look at. The draft picks coming Cleveland's way are conditional so we won't know exactly where those stand until the end of the season. All in all, I think this is a good trade and it really shows how much pull LeBron really has in Cleveland.
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Maybe There is Hope After All
The Cleveland Browns played, by far, their best game of the season yesterday. They played great defense, performed very well on offense, got the running game going and even made a couple big plays. Unfortunately, they still lost to a very good, nearly undefeated (Ugh, that was tough to type) Bengals team. I think what we saw for sure though is that Derek Anderson should be the Quarterback of this team. He made just a few mistakes, the biggest one being an interception at the goal line. From what I saw, Derek looked more like his 2007-self rather than his 2008-self. He even figured out how to make the short passes that help open up the deep ball.
I was most impressed with the defense. They really made it tough on the Bengals. Other than the first quarter and the final drive of regulation, they kept the Bengals offense out of the end zone. The Browns kept the Bengals from getting a first down on seven straight drives. Six of those were Three-&-Outs and one was an interception. Also, for those of you that didn't know it before, Shaun Rogers is a kick-blocking machine! What a day he had! He blocked a field goal early that would have given Cinci a three point lead and then the extra point that would have put them ahead by one point with a little over a minute to play. Unfortunately, he didn't have a third block in him for the overtime attempt by Shayne Graham.
Get Joshua Cribbs some more money! He is a flat-out animal! I only wish they could find a way to use him more in the offense because he could be a great weapon. He had over 100 yards on kick returns, 120 yards on punt returns, 15 yards on one run, and five yards on a catch. I'll take those numbers any day of the week! The man is a weapon that not a lot of teams have and if we're not careful, soon we won't have him either. It's no secret he wants a new contract, and what makes me optimistic is that he's not holding out. He's going on the field and proving that he deserves more. Hey Crabtree, are you still sitting at home? Well, I hope you're watching Cribbs do his thing and EARN every single penny.
Mercifully, the Indians season is FINALLY over. Thank God. No more Wedge, no more Derek Shelton, no more Carl Willis, no more LOSING, at least until April. It's going to take a lot to turn this club around. I'm picturing a Lou Brown, Willie Hayes, Pedro Cerrano and Rick Vaughn type change. How did the Indians go from the glory years of the 90's to the horrid years that have been the 2000's? I'll tell you how, an owner who doesn't want to spend money to make money. Dick Jacobs had it right. He spent quite a bit of money putting those teams of the 90's together and he reaped the rewards ten or 20-fold. I'll have a playoff preview as soon as the picture is in focus. (Go Twins!)
Also, coming soon, I'll be trying something a little different. I'm going to be writing a review for an album by a local Cleveland-area band, Stalemate. Stay Tuned!
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
I was most impressed with the defense. They really made it tough on the Bengals. Other than the first quarter and the final drive of regulation, they kept the Bengals offense out of the end zone. The Browns kept the Bengals from getting a first down on seven straight drives. Six of those were Three-&-Outs and one was an interception. Also, for those of you that didn't know it before, Shaun Rogers is a kick-blocking machine! What a day he had! He blocked a field goal early that would have given Cinci a three point lead and then the extra point that would have put them ahead by one point with a little over a minute to play. Unfortunately, he didn't have a third block in him for the overtime attempt by Shayne Graham.
Get Joshua Cribbs some more money! He is a flat-out animal! I only wish they could find a way to use him more in the offense because he could be a great weapon. He had over 100 yards on kick returns, 120 yards on punt returns, 15 yards on one run, and five yards on a catch. I'll take those numbers any day of the week! The man is a weapon that not a lot of teams have and if we're not careful, soon we won't have him either. It's no secret he wants a new contract, and what makes me optimistic is that he's not holding out. He's going on the field and proving that he deserves more. Hey Crabtree, are you still sitting at home? Well, I hope you're watching Cribbs do his thing and EARN every single penny.
Mercifully, the Indians season is FINALLY over. Thank God. No more Wedge, no more Derek Shelton, no more Carl Willis, no more LOSING, at least until April. It's going to take a lot to turn this club around. I'm picturing a Lou Brown, Willie Hayes, Pedro Cerrano and Rick Vaughn type change. How did the Indians go from the glory years of the 90's to the horrid years that have been the 2000's? I'll tell you how, an owner who doesn't want to spend money to make money. Dick Jacobs had it right. He spent quite a bit of money putting those teams of the 90's together and he reaped the rewards ten or 20-fold. I'll have a playoff preview as soon as the picture is in focus. (Go Twins!)
Also, coming soon, I'll be trying something a little different. I'm going to be writing a review for an album by a local Cleveland-area band, Stalemate. Stay Tuned!
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Good News All Over Cleveland!
Well, the Indians finally made their move, of course it was a very mystifying time. Eric Wedge has been FIRED!!! (Applause heard throughout the entire city) The announcement comes FOUR DAYS before the end of the season, and the guy is such a "great" guy that he's going to stick around and finish it out. So, why make this announcement today? Why not wait until after the Red Sox sweep us in the final series of the season? There are still six games to be played and the guys in the clubhouse know they don't have to listen to the ass-hat making the lineup. It just boggled my mind that this decision was made today. Why not a week ago? A month ago? Before the fire-sale of trades that took place?
The decision making skills of this regime is just one of the reasons that my "To-Do List" is only partially done. GM Mark Shapiro needs to be the next to go. It's doing things like firing the manager half a week before the end of the season that makes me really dislike the front office of the Cleveland Indians. What is the point of having a guy in the clubhouse who the players are looking at knowing that it doesn't matter one lick what he has to say? Somebody is going to come in next season with (hopefully) a COMPLETELY different view on the game of baseball. I have two words for Larry Dolan. "Mike. Hargrove."
More good news from this. I just read the release on the Cleveland Indians website and it also states that his coaches will be let go. That is great because Carl Willis somehow found two needles in the haystack in 2008 and 2009 with C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. How those guys did so well under Willis' tutelage is beyond me. This news just makes things so much more sweet. Pretty interesting also that the longest tenured coach in Cleveland is one that was a revolving door for a long time: The Cleveland Cavaliers.
Now for something completely different, there is a Quarterback Controversy in Cleveland! Eric Mangini, who is already on the hot seat after only three games coached in Cleveland, has named Derek Anderson the starter for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Again, let me state that I love this move but it should have been made at the beginning of the season. The fact that it is happening now is something I completely disagree with. Mangini had his battle, picked his horse and now he should be running with it unless the horse (Quinn) goes down with an injury. More mystifying decisions by the lead men in C-Town.
Many of you will remember back in 2007, it was Cincinnati where Derek Anderson had his NFL coming out party. In that game he threw five Touchdowns and just one interception. He had 328 yards on 20 of 33 pass attempts, averaging 16.4 yards per completion. You know what helped the passing game be so efficient? THE RUNNING GAME! I know, it's a crazy thought but when your running game is being used, it makes people think you are going to run and then you can...gasp...THROW! Jamal Lewis had over 200 yards that game, by the way. Hopefully Derek can get in a groove on Sunday and show that he never should have been removed as the starting Quarterback of this team.
One more thing before I call it a day, today. Tomorrow is Day 1 of the NHL Regular Season! I love hockey and I hope I can get to a game down in Columbus this year and see them play the Leafs or the Wild. Have I mentioned before that I HATE the Blue Jackets? Well, I hate the Blue Jackets. I'd also like to get to Pittsburgh and see the Stanley Cup Champions play. Wouldn't mind getting to Hockeytown too! We'll see what happens. I was reading ESPN Magazine and my Wild are picked to finish 8th in the West and the Leafs are picked to finish dead last. Sad. Oh well.
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
The decision making skills of this regime is just one of the reasons that my "To-Do List" is only partially done. GM Mark Shapiro needs to be the next to go. It's doing things like firing the manager half a week before the end of the season that makes me really dislike the front office of the Cleveland Indians. What is the point of having a guy in the clubhouse who the players are looking at knowing that it doesn't matter one lick what he has to say? Somebody is going to come in next season with (hopefully) a COMPLETELY different view on the game of baseball. I have two words for Larry Dolan. "Mike. Hargrove."
More good news from this. I just read the release on the Cleveland Indians website and it also states that his coaches will be let go. That is great because Carl Willis somehow found two needles in the haystack in 2008 and 2009 with C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. How those guys did so well under Willis' tutelage is beyond me. This news just makes things so much more sweet. Pretty interesting also that the longest tenured coach in Cleveland is one that was a revolving door for a long time: The Cleveland Cavaliers.
Now for something completely different, there is a Quarterback Controversy in Cleveland! Eric Mangini, who is already on the hot seat after only three games coached in Cleveland, has named Derek Anderson the starter for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Again, let me state that I love this move but it should have been made at the beginning of the season. The fact that it is happening now is something I completely disagree with. Mangini had his battle, picked his horse and now he should be running with it unless the horse (Quinn) goes down with an injury. More mystifying decisions by the lead men in C-Town.
Many of you will remember back in 2007, it was Cincinnati where Derek Anderson had his NFL coming out party. In that game he threw five Touchdowns and just one interception. He had 328 yards on 20 of 33 pass attempts, averaging 16.4 yards per completion. You know what helped the passing game be so efficient? THE RUNNING GAME! I know, it's a crazy thought but when your running game is being used, it makes people think you are going to run and then you can...gasp...THROW! Jamal Lewis had over 200 yards that game, by the way. Hopefully Derek can get in a groove on Sunday and show that he never should have been removed as the starting Quarterback of this team.
One more thing before I call it a day, today. Tomorrow is Day 1 of the NHL Regular Season! I love hockey and I hope I can get to a game down in Columbus this year and see them play the Leafs or the Wild. Have I mentioned before that I HATE the Blue Jackets? Well, I hate the Blue Jackets. I'd also like to get to Pittsburgh and see the Stanley Cup Champions play. Wouldn't mind getting to Hockeytown too! We'll see what happens. I was reading ESPN Magazine and my Wild are picked to finish 8th in the West and the Leafs are picked to finish dead last. Sad. Oh well.
Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Mangenius??? More Like MangIdiot...
Another Sunday of Browns Football, Another Monday of being embarrassed because of the Sunday of Browns Football, or whatever you want to call the display that the Browns put on yesterday in Baltimore. What a letdown this year already is. Many, myself included, expected for Mangini to come in, make the necessary changes in the locker-room and on the field, only to have it all blow up in our optimistic faces. The Browns organization was so eager to make a change that it may have made things ten times worse then they were before.
When the Browns started looking to interview coaches, one name popped into my mind, and it sure as hell wasn't "Eric Mangini." I like Mangini, I really do, but his decision making, play-calling and lack of emotion are making it harder and harder to like him. No, I wanted to see a great, Super Bowl Winning coach, with REAL Head Coaching experience. Mike Shanahan, fired by the Broncos for very questionable reasons, was right there, not ready to retire from the game of football. Did they even interview the guy? Not a chance! On top of that, they hired Mangini before hiring a General Manager. Dumb, dumb, dumb. We were all dooped, sucked into the "Bill Belichick Coaching Tree" when we should have realized he just fired one of those branches!
And now, in the middle of a debacle that saw the Browns execute punt after punt, he pulls Brady Quinn, the man that HE chose to lead this team into the season, puts him on the bench and inserts Derek Anderson who, in my opinion, should have been the opening day starter. Instead, he gets thrust into a fire without so much as a squirt gun, tries to "gun sling" his team back into contention for the game only to be intercepted thrice. Granted, those interceptions guaranteed me victory in my Fantasy Football League, but it was the wrong move. If Quinn is hurt, that's one thing but from the look of disgust on his face, it's clear to me that Brady Quinn is healthy and may not be in Cleveland much longer.
Mangini said he thought that Anderson could "provide a spark" to the offense. If you look at the stats, Brady Quinn is not the one that couldn't get the offense "sparked." In the first half, Quinn was 6 of 8 passing with 34 yards. You're not going to set the world on fire with those numbers by any means, but clearly he was making good throws, save the interception that he threw in the first two minutes. The problem isn't Quinn. It's the running game, and the fact that the Browns were up against the Ravens defense. If you want Brady Quinn to be the leader of this team, you have to let him lead it whether the team is winning or losing. He's not going to learn anything sitting on the bench while Derek Anderson gets thrown to the wolves. Put him back in the fire and let him lead this team the way he was meant to when he was drafted.
It's not just the offense either. This team is bad on defense as well, which is made apparent by the 34 points they gave up to the Ravens. Kamerion Wimbley is looking so much better than he did a year ago but he is really the only bright spot. The secondary is atrocious, the linebackers look slow and the defensive line gets pushed around like little kids. Maybe bringing all those Jets players in wasn't the best idea in the world. I don't know what they should do but something has got to change.
And now, reports are arising that several players are filing grievances against Mangini due to fines he has been handing out. We're barely three weeks into the season and Mangini is already losing his locker room. Mangini claims that all the fines he has given out were addressed in a team handbook he gave to players at the beginning of the season. This is the same thing that happened in the early part of his time as the New York Jets head coach and will hopefully pass just as it did in the big apple.
In the mean-time, the Detroit Lions have ended their losing streak at 19 games and the Browns is slowly climbing towards double-digits with seemingly no end in sight. The Rams losing streak is a little bit longer but they at least have the potential to break their losing streak. The Browns, on the other hand, look like they have way too much to fix before they can even consider leaving the field with a "W" when the clock reaches 00:00. Something has to give. I just don't know when it will be.
When the Browns started looking to interview coaches, one name popped into my mind, and it sure as hell wasn't "Eric Mangini." I like Mangini, I really do, but his decision making, play-calling and lack of emotion are making it harder and harder to like him. No, I wanted to see a great, Super Bowl Winning coach, with REAL Head Coaching experience. Mike Shanahan, fired by the Broncos for very questionable reasons, was right there, not ready to retire from the game of football. Did they even interview the guy? Not a chance! On top of that, they hired Mangini before hiring a General Manager. Dumb, dumb, dumb. We were all dooped, sucked into the "Bill Belichick Coaching Tree" when we should have realized he just fired one of those branches!
And now, in the middle of a debacle that saw the Browns execute punt after punt, he pulls Brady Quinn, the man that HE chose to lead this team into the season, puts him on the bench and inserts Derek Anderson who, in my opinion, should have been the opening day starter. Instead, he gets thrust into a fire without so much as a squirt gun, tries to "gun sling" his team back into contention for the game only to be intercepted thrice. Granted, those interceptions guaranteed me victory in my Fantasy Football League, but it was the wrong move. If Quinn is hurt, that's one thing but from the look of disgust on his face, it's clear to me that Brady Quinn is healthy and may not be in Cleveland much longer.
Mangini said he thought that Anderson could "provide a spark" to the offense. If you look at the stats, Brady Quinn is not the one that couldn't get the offense "sparked." In the first half, Quinn was 6 of 8 passing with 34 yards. You're not going to set the world on fire with those numbers by any means, but clearly he was making good throws, save the interception that he threw in the first two minutes. The problem isn't Quinn. It's the running game, and the fact that the Browns were up against the Ravens defense. If you want Brady Quinn to be the leader of this team, you have to let him lead it whether the team is winning or losing. He's not going to learn anything sitting on the bench while Derek Anderson gets thrown to the wolves. Put him back in the fire and let him lead this team the way he was meant to when he was drafted.
It's not just the offense either. This team is bad on defense as well, which is made apparent by the 34 points they gave up to the Ravens. Kamerion Wimbley is looking so much better than he did a year ago but he is really the only bright spot. The secondary is atrocious, the linebackers look slow and the defensive line gets pushed around like little kids. Maybe bringing all those Jets players in wasn't the best idea in the world. I don't know what they should do but something has got to change.
And now, reports are arising that several players are filing grievances against Mangini due to fines he has been handing out. We're barely three weeks into the season and Mangini is already losing his locker room. Mangini claims that all the fines he has given out were addressed in a team handbook he gave to players at the beginning of the season. This is the same thing that happened in the early part of his time as the New York Jets head coach and will hopefully pass just as it did in the big apple.
In the mean-time, the Detroit Lions have ended their losing streak at 19 games and the Browns is slowly climbing towards double-digits with seemingly no end in sight. The Rams losing streak is a little bit longer but they at least have the potential to break their losing streak. The Browns, on the other hand, look like they have way too much to fix before they can even consider leaving the field with a "W" when the clock reaches 00:00. Something has to give. I just don't know when it will be.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Crabtree Still Crabby, Crushers Are Champs!
On August 7th I wrote a blog about Michael Crabtree and his hold out. Then, and now, I feel like this kid needs to do some serious soul-searching, fire his cousin/agent and get on a football team. Am I saying that the 49ers should sign him? Hell no. There is no way that Crabtree would fit in on this team now. He has missed the time that was meant for him to build camaraderie with his teammates, he has missed learning the playbook and he has missed out on a TON of money. Which raises the question, what money is Michael Crabtree surviving on right now? Maybe that's another question for another time.
Mike Singletary, in my honest opinion, couldn't care less if Michael Crabtree shows up, contract in hand, ready to play. This kid is not going to be a 49er. It just can't happen. His potential teammates should be upset because he kind of left them hanging, thinking they would have a stud receiver to help the turnaround of this once proud franchise. Instead, they are 2-0 without him and his value to them drops with every victory. Now, the Niners are accusing other teams of tampering with Crabtree while he holds out.
The biggest loser in all of this is going to end up being Crabtree. He was the tenth overall pick in the 2009 Draft in the class that was mediocre to say the least. Next year, he is looking at being involved in a draft that could be one of the strongest ever, top to bottom. Because of the potential for a lockout for the 2011 NFL Season, many players who would, under normal circumstances, stick around for their Senior season in college, will head for the NFL. Why would they stick around and possibly not have an employer after they graduate? Unless something drastic changes with the Collective Bargaining Agreement between now and the draft, Crabtree could end up being the 5th or 6th best receiver available in the draft, and out of all the players who could come out, he could end up at the bottom of the 1st round or even become a 2nd round pick.
One last thought on this: Mike, your agent/cousin knows that he doesn't get paid unless you do, doesn't he?
Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2009 Frontier League Champions, the Lake Erie Crushers!!! (Applause)
That's right, the season of dreams ended like a true Fantasy. A year ago, this team hadn't even been named. The website was simply "avonprobaseball.com" and they hadn't even started the "Name the Team" competition. Now this group of guys can call themselves Champions. The season ended with a 13-10 victory over the River City Rascals in O'Fallon, Missouri. The game was decided on a 7-run fifth inning in which the Crushers sent 10 men to the plate. The Rascals made it interesting though, scoring two runs in the sixth, three in the seventh and two more in the ninth. But the Crushers did their fair of scoring as well, always answering the Rascals runs.
Paul Fagan ended up being credited with the victory, a fitting player to do so as he dominated the Frontier League all season. The Crushers really utilized their entire pitching staff though, using five arms to get the victory. Eddie Tisdale and Arden McWilliams each had 3-hit nights for the Crushers with McWilliams driving in three runs. Todd Balduf also contributed two hits and three RBI. Andrew Davis was named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship series, as he hit .324 in the post-season. As a team, the Crusher hit .267 in the post season, scoring more runs than anyone (52) and the second most Home Runs (11).
Now, if only the other baseball team in the Cleveland area could figure out how to win a game...
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Mike Singletary, in my honest opinion, couldn't care less if Michael Crabtree shows up, contract in hand, ready to play. This kid is not going to be a 49er. It just can't happen. His potential teammates should be upset because he kind of left them hanging, thinking they would have a stud receiver to help the turnaround of this once proud franchise. Instead, they are 2-0 without him and his value to them drops with every victory. Now, the Niners are accusing other teams of tampering with Crabtree while he holds out.
The biggest loser in all of this is going to end up being Crabtree. He was the tenth overall pick in the 2009 Draft in the class that was mediocre to say the least. Next year, he is looking at being involved in a draft that could be one of the strongest ever, top to bottom. Because of the potential for a lockout for the 2011 NFL Season, many players who would, under normal circumstances, stick around for their Senior season in college, will head for the NFL. Why would they stick around and possibly not have an employer after they graduate? Unless something drastic changes with the Collective Bargaining Agreement between now and the draft, Crabtree could end up being the 5th or 6th best receiver available in the draft, and out of all the players who could come out, he could end up at the bottom of the 1st round or even become a 2nd round pick.
One last thought on this: Mike, your agent/cousin knows that he doesn't get paid unless you do, doesn't he?
Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2009 Frontier League Champions, the Lake Erie Crushers!!! (Applause)
That's right, the season of dreams ended like a true Fantasy. A year ago, this team hadn't even been named. The website was simply "avonprobaseball.com" and they hadn't even started the "Name the Team" competition. Now this group of guys can call themselves Champions. The season ended with a 13-10 victory over the River City Rascals in O'Fallon, Missouri. The game was decided on a 7-run fifth inning in which the Crushers sent 10 men to the plate. The Rascals made it interesting though, scoring two runs in the sixth, three in the seventh and two more in the ninth. But the Crushers did their fair of scoring as well, always answering the Rascals runs.
Paul Fagan ended up being credited with the victory, a fitting player to do so as he dominated the Frontier League all season. The Crushers really utilized their entire pitching staff though, using five arms to get the victory. Eddie Tisdale and Arden McWilliams each had 3-hit nights for the Crushers with McWilliams driving in three runs. Todd Balduf also contributed two hits and three RBI. Andrew Davis was named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship series, as he hit .324 in the post-season. As a team, the Crusher hit .267 in the post season, scoring more runs than anyone (52) and the second most Home Runs (11).
Now, if only the other baseball team in the Cleveland area could figure out how to win a game...
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Crushers Stay Alive, Browns Go Down in Flames
Last night, facing elimination for the second straight game, the Lake Erie Crushers, led by an Andrew Davis Grand Slam, forced a fifth and deciding game in the Frontier League Championship series. After the River City Rascals pitcher, Stephen Flake, walked the bases loaded with two outs, Andrew Davis came up and delivered not only a bases loaded blast, but the first hit of the game for the Crushers. The Rascals only run came in the 1st inning when Chad Maddox drove in Scott Houin to score River City's only run of the game.
On the mound for the Crushers, no one saw more than four innings of work. Brent Lysander went the first four innings, giving up just the one run on four River City hits. The bullpen of Josh Faiola, Jacinto Gonell, Alberto Rolon and JJ Pacella combined for five innings of 3-hit, no-run baseball. Those three hits were allowed by Faiola in his 2 & 1/3 innings of relief.
Andrew Davis has been a model of consistency for the Crushers in the post-season, putting up a .324 batting average to go along with the one home run, six RBI and five runs scored. Though they didn't do much last night, Eddie Tisdale and Tyler Johnson have also been great in the playoffs. They are batting .344 and .324 respectively, with eight RBI a piece and one and two Home Runs respectively. These three will have to be productive again on Wednesday night for the Crushers to win the Frontier League Championship in just their first season of existence.
From winners to losers. The Browns look like hell and I don't see it changing anytime soon. Cleveland looked awful in their 24-6 loss to the Broncos on Sunday. It's becoming clearer and clearer that this team does not have the right Quarterback on the field. Is Derek Anderson the right QB to have on the field? I don't know but I want to find out sooner rather than later. There are so many things wrong with this team and I know they can't all be fixed at once, but can we at least make a little progress? The Browns haven't scored a LEGITIMATE touchdown since November of last year. Are you kidding me!?
Our drives get a good head of steam going from the 20 to midfield and then get derailed by dumb penalties or bad execution. The pocket collapses like a cheap card table around Quinn as he tries to throw, and his internal clock ticks for about three seconds too long when he finally decides it's time to get rid of the ball. I know the O-Line isn't helping very much but Brady needs to show a LOT better presence when he's back looking to throw. I feel like he goes through nine or 10 progressions before he decides he better get rid of the ball. Something needs to change, and quick, if the Browns want to avoid an 0-16 season.
The Indians still suck.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
On the mound for the Crushers, no one saw more than four innings of work. Brent Lysander went the first four innings, giving up just the one run on four River City hits. The bullpen of Josh Faiola, Jacinto Gonell, Alberto Rolon and JJ Pacella combined for five innings of 3-hit, no-run baseball. Those three hits were allowed by Faiola in his 2 & 1/3 innings of relief.
Andrew Davis has been a model of consistency for the Crushers in the post-season, putting up a .324 batting average to go along with the one home run, six RBI and five runs scored. Though they didn't do much last night, Eddie Tisdale and Tyler Johnson have also been great in the playoffs. They are batting .344 and .324 respectively, with eight RBI a piece and one and two Home Runs respectively. These three will have to be productive again on Wednesday night for the Crushers to win the Frontier League Championship in just their first season of existence.
From winners to losers. The Browns look like hell and I don't see it changing anytime soon. Cleveland looked awful in their 24-6 loss to the Broncos on Sunday. It's becoming clearer and clearer that this team does not have the right Quarterback on the field. Is Derek Anderson the right QB to have on the field? I don't know but I want to find out sooner rather than later. There are so many things wrong with this team and I know they can't all be fixed at once, but can we at least make a little progress? The Browns haven't scored a LEGITIMATE touchdown since November of last year. Are you kidding me!?
Our drives get a good head of steam going from the 20 to midfield and then get derailed by dumb penalties or bad execution. The pocket collapses like a cheap card table around Quinn as he tries to throw, and his internal clock ticks for about three seconds too long when he finally decides it's time to get rid of the ball. I know the O-Line isn't helping very much but Brady needs to show a LOT better presence when he's back looking to throw. I feel like he goes through nine or 10 progressions before he decides he better get rid of the ball. Something needs to change, and quick, if the Browns want to avoid an 0-16 season.
The Indians still suck.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Quick Hits III
I've been gone for far too long, so let's get caught up on some stuff!!!
First, my Bowling Green Falcons. BGSU started off with a big win over Troy State University, coming back from 14 down to win 31-14. The new season was off to a great start! Our new coaching staff is phenomenal and they have made this team everything they should be! Unfortunately, game two against Missouri ended with a heart-breaking loss, 27-20. The Falcons held a 20-6 lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter but just couldn't hold on. Missouri proved to be a bit too strong for the Falcons. This week, BG travels to West Virginia to take on former MAC Foe, Marshall. I don't see the Falcons having any problems taking down this team. Big win to go home with.
The Browns started the season with a disappointing showing against the Minnesota Vikings. Brady Quinn looked absolutely terrible, except for one drive that saw the Browns FINALLY end their offensive scoring drought. Braylon got called for some dumb penalties, the offensive line couldn't protect Quinn, the defensive line couldn't stop Adrian Peterson and the only bright spot was Josh Cribbs still playing like Josh Cribbs. A buddy of mine said it best, halftime leads are a great indicator of nothing, unless of course you lose by two, or pretty much three touchdowns. Then it's an indicator that you suck indescribably. While I think there is some potential with this team, there is no denying that they suck. But I will root for them all year, because that's what fans do.
The Indians are still playing for another couple weeks. Let's just leave it at that so my head doesn't explode.
In the Frontier League, the Crushers clinched a birth in the Championship Series against the River City Rascals. Last night, Lake Erie beat Kalamazoo, 6-2 in a 10-inning game to win the "Wild Card" series three games to two. What a magical season! In just their first year of existence, they finished the regular season with a GREAT record, won their first playoff series and now have a chance to win the Frontier League Championship. It's awesome to have some good baseball in these parts!
Ohio State lost to USC on Saturday night, everyone knows that. What they don't know is that there is no reason that game should have been that close. I honestly thought that USC was going to come into the Shoe and take the Buckeyes behind the woodshed. I know there is no such thing as a moral victory in college football but the Buckeyes should be proud that they were able to keep up with a USC team that has a ton of returning starters.
Serena Williams is a scary chick when she's pissed off. Did you see the look on that Line Judge's face when Serena said she would "shove a f------ tennis ball down (her) f------ throat?" Damn. There is one woman I never want to see in a dark alley! Granted, the foot fault call was absolutely wrong, but what Serena did was even more wrong. The punishments she may receive could be catastrophic to her career. Stay tuned to this one folks!
Well, I think that covers everything for now. Questions? Comments? Got an idea for something I should write about? Let me know!!!
First, my Bowling Green Falcons. BGSU started off with a big win over Troy State University, coming back from 14 down to win 31-14. The new season was off to a great start! Our new coaching staff is phenomenal and they have made this team everything they should be! Unfortunately, game two against Missouri ended with a heart-breaking loss, 27-20. The Falcons held a 20-6 lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter but just couldn't hold on. Missouri proved to be a bit too strong for the Falcons. This week, BG travels to West Virginia to take on former MAC Foe, Marshall. I don't see the Falcons having any problems taking down this team. Big win to go home with.
The Browns started the season with a disappointing showing against the Minnesota Vikings. Brady Quinn looked absolutely terrible, except for one drive that saw the Browns FINALLY end their offensive scoring drought. Braylon got called for some dumb penalties, the offensive line couldn't protect Quinn, the defensive line couldn't stop Adrian Peterson and the only bright spot was Josh Cribbs still playing like Josh Cribbs. A buddy of mine said it best, halftime leads are a great indicator of nothing, unless of course you lose by two, or pretty much three touchdowns. Then it's an indicator that you suck indescribably. While I think there is some potential with this team, there is no denying that they suck. But I will root for them all year, because that's what fans do.
The Indians are still playing for another couple weeks. Let's just leave it at that so my head doesn't explode.
In the Frontier League, the Crushers clinched a birth in the Championship Series against the River City Rascals. Last night, Lake Erie beat Kalamazoo, 6-2 in a 10-inning game to win the "Wild Card" series three games to two. What a magical season! In just their first year of existence, they finished the regular season with a GREAT record, won their first playoff series and now have a chance to win the Frontier League Championship. It's awesome to have some good baseball in these parts!
Ohio State lost to USC on Saturday night, everyone knows that. What they don't know is that there is no reason that game should have been that close. I honestly thought that USC was going to come into the Shoe and take the Buckeyes behind the woodshed. I know there is no such thing as a moral victory in college football but the Buckeyes should be proud that they were able to keep up with a USC team that has a ton of returning starters.
Serena Williams is a scary chick when she's pissed off. Did you see the look on that Line Judge's face when Serena said she would "shove a f------ tennis ball down (her) f------ throat?" Damn. There is one woman I never want to see in a dark alley! Granted, the foot fault call was absolutely wrong, but what Serena did was even more wrong. The punishments she may receive could be catastrophic to her career. Stay tuned to this one folks!
Well, I think that covers everything for now. Questions? Comments? Got an idea for something I should write about? Let me know!!!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Many Questions Still Remain for Browns
I was fortunate enough to attend the Browns pre-season game against the Titans Saturday night and got to see a very well played game, on both sides of the ball. The Browns finally looked like a cohesive unit on the field and the coaching is definitely the reason for that. Eric Mangini has taken a group who couldn't even sniff the Endzone last year and turned them into a machine. They've stepped up their game 200% since the pre-season disaster that was the game in Lambeau. With all that being said, there are still a few questions left to answer.
1. Who will be the Browns starting QB on September 13th?
A lot of people aren't going to like what I have to say here. Derek Anderson, at this point, in my honest opinion, gives the Browns the best chance to win. As I listened to the post-game radio show on the way home from the game I couldn't help but think to myself "Were this people watching the same game I was?" I know, I know...Brady Quinn led the only offensive touchdown drive of the evening. I get that, but you know who he did it against? A bunch of guys who won't be starting for the Titans in their first game. What did he do in his first few series? The first one was a Three & Out that started with a 5-yard throw that went straight to Josh Cribbs. Unfortunately it was straight to his feet. Also, in the first scoring drive, Quinn stalled at the 14 yard line. I realize not every trip to the Red Zone is going to result in a touchdown but the way the offense was moving, there was no reason for that drive to end.
In Derek Anderson's first drive, he threw a nice ball to the Endzone that went through Braylon Edwards' hands. He took the team down the field, 13 plays and 47 yards before settling for a Field Goal. Could he have done better? Absolutely, but I don't think Quinn's TD pass against a 2nd String Defense put him in the lead for the QB spot. Let us not forget the scoring drives that Derek Anderson has orchestrated as well. He may not have thrown the ball into the Endzone, but he has put us there. Derek needs to start the season as the starter. Period.
2. Can the Defense keep the other team out of the Endzone?
Last night started shaky for the Browns Defense as they let the Titans march down the field and score on their 2nd drive. Kerry Collins and the Titans "O" made adjustments after a Three and Out to start the game and the Browns "D" couldn't keep up. But they did make some GREAT plays! They had a Pick 6, a couple forced fumbles including one that ended what should have been a Touchdown drive by Vince Young. As great as it was to get that fumble recovery as Vince tried to get to the Endzone, there were too many mental lapses during that Tennessee drive.
3. Will the Browns stop committing STUPID penalties?
They damn well better! There were numerous flags thrown on Saturday night and a couple of them hurt the Browns pretty bad. First, there was Derek Anderson and Phil Dawson standing WELL outside of the "Players Box" on the sideline. An official ran into Anderson, fell and threw a flag for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Should have been thrown for Aggravated Stupidity. You know where players should be? In the "Players Box!" Another great kick return by Josh Cribbs was negated as well. I can't remember if any took place during the game against Green Bay but this is the 2nd week in a row that I witnessed a great return brought back due to laundry on the field. NFL players should know the proper and illegal ways to block someone. Guess which you should be doing? The proper one! I guarantee there is a worn out circle around the Browns' practice field from all the laps Mangini has these guys running.
4. Who will be the starting Running Back for the Browns?
This question initially seems to have a pretty clear cut answer: Jamal Lewis. Not so fast Cleveland fans! Have you watched a lick of the pre-season? James Davis is quickly establishing himself as the man in the backfield. I have seen him make cuts like a young...Jamal Lewis. This kid has the quickness, the ability to cut and the breakaway speed you need to be a successful back in the NFL. In my opinion, and I think I've stated it before, Jamal Lewis needs to be a 2nd & 3, 3rd &2, Goal Line guy. I think James Davis is the best option right now. He's been getting a lot of reps with the first team and he's taking full advantage of them.
So there you have it. Four questions the Browns MUST find answers to if they are going to have a good 2009-10 season. It can happen, and with Eric Mangini at the helm I have full faith that it WILL happen!
1. Who will be the Browns starting QB on September 13th?
A lot of people aren't going to like what I have to say here. Derek Anderson, at this point, in my honest opinion, gives the Browns the best chance to win. As I listened to the post-game radio show on the way home from the game I couldn't help but think to myself "Were this people watching the same game I was?" I know, I know...Brady Quinn led the only offensive touchdown drive of the evening. I get that, but you know who he did it against? A bunch of guys who won't be starting for the Titans in their first game. What did he do in his first few series? The first one was a Three & Out that started with a 5-yard throw that went straight to Josh Cribbs. Unfortunately it was straight to his feet. Also, in the first scoring drive, Quinn stalled at the 14 yard line. I realize not every trip to the Red Zone is going to result in a touchdown but the way the offense was moving, there was no reason for that drive to end.
In Derek Anderson's first drive, he threw a nice ball to the Endzone that went through Braylon Edwards' hands. He took the team down the field, 13 plays and 47 yards before settling for a Field Goal. Could he have done better? Absolutely, but I don't think Quinn's TD pass against a 2nd String Defense put him in the lead for the QB spot. Let us not forget the scoring drives that Derek Anderson has orchestrated as well. He may not have thrown the ball into the Endzone, but he has put us there. Derek needs to start the season as the starter. Period.
2. Can the Defense keep the other team out of the Endzone?
Last night started shaky for the Browns Defense as they let the Titans march down the field and score on their 2nd drive. Kerry Collins and the Titans "O" made adjustments after a Three and Out to start the game and the Browns "D" couldn't keep up. But they did make some GREAT plays! They had a Pick 6, a couple forced fumbles including one that ended what should have been a Touchdown drive by Vince Young. As great as it was to get that fumble recovery as Vince tried to get to the Endzone, there were too many mental lapses during that Tennessee drive.
3. Will the Browns stop committing STUPID penalties?
They damn well better! There were numerous flags thrown on Saturday night and a couple of them hurt the Browns pretty bad. First, there was Derek Anderson and Phil Dawson standing WELL outside of the "Players Box" on the sideline. An official ran into Anderson, fell and threw a flag for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Should have been thrown for Aggravated Stupidity. You know where players should be? In the "Players Box!" Another great kick return by Josh Cribbs was negated as well. I can't remember if any took place during the game against Green Bay but this is the 2nd week in a row that I witnessed a great return brought back due to laundry on the field. NFL players should know the proper and illegal ways to block someone. Guess which you should be doing? The proper one! I guarantee there is a worn out circle around the Browns' practice field from all the laps Mangini has these guys running.
4. Who will be the starting Running Back for the Browns?
This question initially seems to have a pretty clear cut answer: Jamal Lewis. Not so fast Cleveland fans! Have you watched a lick of the pre-season? James Davis is quickly establishing himself as the man in the backfield. I have seen him make cuts like a young...Jamal Lewis. This kid has the quickness, the ability to cut and the breakaway speed you need to be a successful back in the NFL. In my opinion, and I think I've stated it before, Jamal Lewis needs to be a 2nd & 3, 3rd &2, Goal Line guy. I think James Davis is the best option right now. He's been getting a lot of reps with the first team and he's taking full advantage of them.
So there you have it. Four questions the Browns MUST find answers to if they are going to have a good 2009-10 season. It can happen, and with Eric Mangini at the helm I have full faith that it WILL happen!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Cleveland Browns Season Preview: Part III
Alright, the Bye (Day) Week is over and we head into Week 10 with the Browns sitting at 3-5. Let's see how the last half of the season looks.
Week 10 - Baltimore invades Lake Erie for a game between the old Browns and the very, very new Browns. I like the Browns to put up a much better fight in this contest then they did earlier in the season. Unfortunately, Baltimore is just too good and this is not the Browns comeback year that everyone was hoping for. This game stays close but the Ravens take the Browns down. - 3-6
Week 11 - Next, the Browns hit the road for Detroit. I wonder if we'll be facing a winless Detroit team at this time. Either way, the Browns are better than the Lions. There is no way that this Browns team loses this game. They will come out quick, just like they did in the pre-season contest, and lay the smack down on the Lions building a little confidence for the next game. - 4-6
Week 12 - Another road game in the Queen (of crap) City. A trip to "The Nasty" is anything but as the Browns put another whooping on the Bengals, sweeping the season series against the NFL's version of "The Longest Yard" prison team. Mangini has his guys conditioned to be able to play 100% the entire season, and it shows in this game. - 5-6
Week 13 - Back home we go for a game against Phillip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson and the rest of the San Diego Chargers. It's December 6th and the Browns aren't completely out of the playoff race but their chances are fading and will most likely be gone with a loss in this game. The Browns fight hard for every inch of field in this game but the Chargers are just too much with a great duel threat; Tomlinson's legs and Rivers' arm. No playoffs in Mangini's first year at the helm. - 5-7
Week 14 - Finally...Pittsburgh on our home turf. This is it. This is the game that turns the tide in the rivalry. Enough losing to this team. Mangini sends his team a very clear message in the locker room before the game. Everyone is out for blood and the emotions are running high. Brady Quinn is hungry for a "W" over the Squealers and he wills this team to a victory which ends with a touchdown by Brian Robiskie as the clock counts down to 00:00. FINALLY!!! We can hold our heads high around Pittsburgh fans! - 6-7
Week 15 - A trip to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs is next on the schedule. I am really torn on this game. Is Matt Cassell everything he's hyped up to be? Something is telling me "no." He played decent behind an amazing Patriots Offensive Line but his throws were often erratic and he never really gained all the composure needed to be a great quarterback. I think that somehow, someway, the Browns pull this one out. - 7-7
Week 16 - The Brownies head back home for a game against (In my best Chris Berman voice) "Da Raidas." Oakland has been rebuilding every year since their Super Bowl loss. What happened to this team? Mangini has made sure all season that the Browns beat the teams they are supposed to. That doesn't change here. The Browns contain all aspects of the Raiders game plan and take them down, guaranteeing at LEAST a .500 season. 8-7
Week 17 - The Browns finish the season off with the Jaguars at home. I want to say that the Browns will win this game and have a season that no one expected...but I just can't. No, you know what? I changed my mind. Who remembers the bottle throwing incident? In 2001 the Browns were about to end their losing streak and get right back in the playoff picture. Not so much. This time, the refs screw the Jags and the Browns win, at home, to end a season that no one saw coming. - 9-7
So there it is, no playoffs this year but a VERY successful season with a lot of surprises along the way. The Browns are back everyone, and the 2010-11 season will only get better! What do you say? How many wins will the Browns have in your opinion? Let's hear it!
Week 10 - Baltimore invades Lake Erie for a game between the old Browns and the very, very new Browns. I like the Browns to put up a much better fight in this contest then they did earlier in the season. Unfortunately, Baltimore is just too good and this is not the Browns comeback year that everyone was hoping for. This game stays close but the Ravens take the Browns down. - 3-6
Week 11 - Next, the Browns hit the road for Detroit. I wonder if we'll be facing a winless Detroit team at this time. Either way, the Browns are better than the Lions. There is no way that this Browns team loses this game. They will come out quick, just like they did in the pre-season contest, and lay the smack down on the Lions building a little confidence for the next game. - 4-6
Week 12 - Another road game in the Queen (of crap) City. A trip to "The Nasty" is anything but as the Browns put another whooping on the Bengals, sweeping the season series against the NFL's version of "The Longest Yard" prison team. Mangini has his guys conditioned to be able to play 100% the entire season, and it shows in this game. - 5-6
Week 13 - Back home we go for a game against Phillip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson and the rest of the San Diego Chargers. It's December 6th and the Browns aren't completely out of the playoff race but their chances are fading and will most likely be gone with a loss in this game. The Browns fight hard for every inch of field in this game but the Chargers are just too much with a great duel threat; Tomlinson's legs and Rivers' arm. No playoffs in Mangini's first year at the helm. - 5-7
Week 14 - Finally...Pittsburgh on our home turf. This is it. This is the game that turns the tide in the rivalry. Enough losing to this team. Mangini sends his team a very clear message in the locker room before the game. Everyone is out for blood and the emotions are running high. Brady Quinn is hungry for a "W" over the Squealers and he wills this team to a victory which ends with a touchdown by Brian Robiskie as the clock counts down to 00:00. FINALLY!!! We can hold our heads high around Pittsburgh fans! - 6-7
Week 15 - A trip to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs is next on the schedule. I am really torn on this game. Is Matt Cassell everything he's hyped up to be? Something is telling me "no." He played decent behind an amazing Patriots Offensive Line but his throws were often erratic and he never really gained all the composure needed to be a great quarterback. I think that somehow, someway, the Browns pull this one out. - 7-7
Week 16 - The Brownies head back home for a game against (In my best Chris Berman voice) "Da Raidas." Oakland has been rebuilding every year since their Super Bowl loss. What happened to this team? Mangini has made sure all season that the Browns beat the teams they are supposed to. That doesn't change here. The Browns contain all aspects of the Raiders game plan and take them down, guaranteeing at LEAST a .500 season. 8-7
Week 17 - The Browns finish the season off with the Jaguars at home. I want to say that the Browns will win this game and have a season that no one expected...but I just can't. No, you know what? I changed my mind. Who remembers the bottle throwing incident? In 2001 the Browns were about to end their losing streak and get right back in the playoff picture. Not so much. This time, the refs screw the Jags and the Browns win, at home, to end a season that no one saw coming. - 9-7
So there it is, no playoffs this year but a VERY successful season with a lot of surprises along the way. The Browns are back everyone, and the 2010-11 season will only get better! What do you say? How many wins will the Browns have in your opinion? Let's hear it!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Cleveland Browns Season Preview: Part II
Yesterday I gave an overview of the team and how I think they will perform. Now, I will take a game-by-game look at the Browns 16-game season. And away we go...
Week 1 - The Browns have started every single season, since returning to the League in 1999, at home. This year is no different. I think it's the NFL's way of saying "Uh, we royally screwed up when we let Art Modell take the Browns out of Cleveland." Brett Favre and the Vikings are coming to town to help the Browns kickoff the festivities for this season. The way I look at it, this is one of the few teams in the NFL that has more questions than the Browns. The Browns do the unthinkable, and start the season with a "W." - 1-0
Week 2 - A trip to Denver where their QB situation is U-G-L-Y. Kyle Orton has been very inconsistent in the preseason thus far. In Denver's first pre-season game against the 49ers, he threw three picks. Just one in the second pre-season game. I am really torn on this game. I want to think that the Browns can win it but I just don't see them breaking the Mile High Curse. In a close game, I think the Browns lose. - 1-1
Week 3 - The second of two road games gets the Browns their first AFC North opponent of the season. Baltimore is a good team, year in and year out, and this year should be no different. Baltimore is going to have a great running tandem of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee and their defense will be what it always is: Dominant. - 1-2
Week 4 - The Browns return home for their first Divisional home game. The most dysfunctional team in the AFC North comes in and the Browns have to take advantage of that. The Browns secondary must contain Chad OchoCinco to have a chance. Who knows when Carson Palmer will be 100% and it may not even be by week 4. Cleveland will win this game behind the grit and conditioning that Coach Mangini has worked towards all pre-season. - 2-2
Week 5 - The Browns hit the road again for two games. The first stop is in Buffalo where T.O. and Trent Edwards (surprisingly!) haven't killed each other yet. Mangini spent the last couple years in the AFC East and should know the Bills pretty well by now. I have a strong feeling that the Browns can, and will win this game. But to do so, they Browns will have to shut down Marshawn Lynch. - 3-2
Week 6 - Pittsburgh. The Browns have to start beating Pittsburgh for this "rivalry" to really be a rivalry. Mangini knows this, but he also knows that winning at the big ketchup bottle is going to be nearly impossible. I'm thinking we're going to be waiting until later in the season to see the Browns get back in the win column in this series. - 3-3
Week 7 - Cleveland comes back to their home turf and welcomes Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in for this mid-season matchup. This will be a much different team then what the Packers saw in the pre-season. One full of fight and determination. That being said, the result will most likely be the same as it was in the pre-season when the Packers took down the Browns at Lambeau. - 3-4
Week 8 - Jay Cutler and the Bears welcome the Brownies into Soldier field for Cleveland's third of four games with the NFC North. From the looks of it, Cutler is worth way more than the Bears gave up to get him. I have a feeling that Cutler is going to throw all over the field and Matt Forte will help keep the Browns defense off balance. - 3-5
Week 9 - I GUARANTEE that the Browns will not lose this week...it's a Bye week. And I think this is going to be the end of Part II. Look for Part III, which will chronicle the Browns last eight games, on Thursday!
Week 1 - The Browns have started every single season, since returning to the League in 1999, at home. This year is no different. I think it's the NFL's way of saying "Uh, we royally screwed up when we let Art Modell take the Browns out of Cleveland." Brett Favre and the Vikings are coming to town to help the Browns kickoff the festivities for this season. The way I look at it, this is one of the few teams in the NFL that has more questions than the Browns. The Browns do the unthinkable, and start the season with a "W." - 1-0
Week 2 - A trip to Denver where their QB situation is U-G-L-Y. Kyle Orton has been very inconsistent in the preseason thus far. In Denver's first pre-season game against the 49ers, he threw three picks. Just one in the second pre-season game. I am really torn on this game. I want to think that the Browns can win it but I just don't see them breaking the Mile High Curse. In a close game, I think the Browns lose. - 1-1
Week 3 - The second of two road games gets the Browns their first AFC North opponent of the season. Baltimore is a good team, year in and year out, and this year should be no different. Baltimore is going to have a great running tandem of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee and their defense will be what it always is: Dominant. - 1-2
Week 4 - The Browns return home for their first Divisional home game. The most dysfunctional team in the AFC North comes in and the Browns have to take advantage of that. The Browns secondary must contain Chad OchoCinco to have a chance. Who knows when Carson Palmer will be 100% and it may not even be by week 4. Cleveland will win this game behind the grit and conditioning that Coach Mangini has worked towards all pre-season. - 2-2
Week 5 - The Browns hit the road again for two games. The first stop is in Buffalo where T.O. and Trent Edwards (surprisingly!) haven't killed each other yet. Mangini spent the last couple years in the AFC East and should know the Bills pretty well by now. I have a strong feeling that the Browns can, and will win this game. But to do so, they Browns will have to shut down Marshawn Lynch. - 3-2
Week 6 - Pittsburgh. The Browns have to start beating Pittsburgh for this "rivalry" to really be a rivalry. Mangini knows this, but he also knows that winning at the big ketchup bottle is going to be nearly impossible. I'm thinking we're going to be waiting until later in the season to see the Browns get back in the win column in this series. - 3-3
Week 7 - Cleveland comes back to their home turf and welcomes Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in for this mid-season matchup. This will be a much different team then what the Packers saw in the pre-season. One full of fight and determination. That being said, the result will most likely be the same as it was in the pre-season when the Packers took down the Browns at Lambeau. - 3-4
Week 8 - Jay Cutler and the Bears welcome the Brownies into Soldier field for Cleveland's third of four games with the NFC North. From the looks of it, Cutler is worth way more than the Bears gave up to get him. I have a feeling that Cutler is going to throw all over the field and Matt Forte will help keep the Browns defense off balance. - 3-5
Week 9 - I GUARANTEE that the Browns will not lose this week...it's a Bye week. And I think this is going to be the end of Part II. Look for Part III, which will chronicle the Browns last eight games, on Thursday!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Cleveland Browns Season Preview: Part I
Seems like I'm getting into the world of 2-part posts. This is Part I of my Cleveland Browns 2009-10 Season Preview. Part II will be posted either tomorrow or Wednesday.
The Cleveland Browns enter the 2009-10 season looking to silence many, many critics, including me. A new coaching regime will have to prove that it was a smart move in rushing to hire a head coach who was just fired from the same position with another team. Eric Mangini comes in and inherits a team that has been filled with dysfunction since it's return to the League in 1999. Only twice have the Browns finished with a winning record since that year and only once have they made the playoffs. Mangini has already shown that he is a much better leader than Romeo Crennel by being a much more assertive person than Romeo ever was. He doesn't take crap from people, he punishes mistakes and he rewards positives. He's not afraid to get rid of someone who could be a cancer to the team (I'm looking at YOU, Shaun Smith).
The biggest question heading into the season is "Who will be the starting Quarterback?" Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn have both shown signs of brilliance in the first two pre-season games, but neither one has thrown a touchdown and both have thrown interceptions. To be fair, if Braylon could catch, Brady would have a touchdown throw and no interceptions. But for some reason, he seems to only remember how to catch when Anderson is throwing to him. On Saturday, I was able to attend the Browns meeting with the Lions for the Great Lakes Cup (Never has a game that meant so little, meant so much) and saw Derek Anderson illustrate a textbook drive down the field, ending with a touchdown run by Jamal Lewis, the Browns' first touchdown since November 10th (week 12) of last season. I know, I know, it's just pre-season, but it's a start. Baby steps, people, baby steps. Unfortunately for Quinn, he was sacked on his very first play from scrimmage, to start the second quarter.
Who is going to spell Jamal Lewis? Well, James Davis made his case Saturday night, busting an 80+ yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put the Lions away for good. I like this kid from Clemson and to me, he should be competing with Jerome Harrison (who is hurt right now) for the starting spot. Jamal Lewis needs to realize he's got almost 2400 runs in his legs already and he needs to be the bowling ball that Pittsburgh had the last few years of Jerome Bettis' career. These should be his spots; 3rd and Short, 4th and Inches, two yards out from the endzone. The Endzone at the Browns' practice facility has "FINISH" painted in it. That's what Jamal Lewis will be good for.
The Browns receiving corps look to be ready to deal with Donte "I need to rethink my Tweets" Stallworth not being around. Rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi seem to be picking up the playbook very, very well. Both of these guys have made great catches in the Browns first two pre-season games. As I said before, Braylon seems to have taken his head out of his posterior cavity and remembered how to catch. He even made a fairly acrobatic catch on Saturday evening, but he was out of bounds when he came down. I like the look of Josh Cribbs getting in as a receiver as well. He made one catch on the night and it was for 20 yards, and if I remember correctly, he caught it only a few yards past the line of scrimmage and got most of the yards after the catch. Dude is dangerous.
More proof of that point; Cribbs took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house, before it was called back for holding and then returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown, all part of a 20-point 1st quarter for the Brownies. Cribbs didn't handle anymore punt returns on the night as Gerard Lawson tried his hand at the return duties for pretty much the rest of the night. Honestly, I'd be shocked if Cribbs isn't back there at the goal line for the first game of the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kamerion Wimbley has to have a bounce back year with somewhere around 12 or 13 sacks for him to be considered a defensive threat for this team. Each year since his rookie campaign has seen a drop in sacks, mostly due to the inability of those around him to get him open looks at the QB. Mangini has this defense focused though and quarterback penetration is one of the key elements of the defense. No sacks on Saturday night, but hopefully we'll keep seeing what this defense is capable of as the preseason goes on, and turns into the regular season. Most impressing on Saturday night was rookie Linebacker, Kaluka Maiava. Maiava had six tackles, all solo, in the game against Detroit.
It looks like the Mangini/Kokinis draft era is off to a great start. Each one of the players we took in the 2009 Draft will be ones that can contribute immediately, and already are. Again, Robiskie and Massaquoi are looking great and Alex Mack is picking things up very quickly. I really like the way this season is heading. Where is that, you ask? I will tell you in Part II!
The Cleveland Browns enter the 2009-10 season looking to silence many, many critics, including me. A new coaching regime will have to prove that it was a smart move in rushing to hire a head coach who was just fired from the same position with another team. Eric Mangini comes in and inherits a team that has been filled with dysfunction since it's return to the League in 1999. Only twice have the Browns finished with a winning record since that year and only once have they made the playoffs. Mangini has already shown that he is a much better leader than Romeo Crennel by being a much more assertive person than Romeo ever was. He doesn't take crap from people, he punishes mistakes and he rewards positives. He's not afraid to get rid of someone who could be a cancer to the team (I'm looking at YOU, Shaun Smith).
The biggest question heading into the season is "Who will be the starting Quarterback?" Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn have both shown signs of brilliance in the first two pre-season games, but neither one has thrown a touchdown and both have thrown interceptions. To be fair, if Braylon could catch, Brady would have a touchdown throw and no interceptions. But for some reason, he seems to only remember how to catch when Anderson is throwing to him. On Saturday, I was able to attend the Browns meeting with the Lions for the Great Lakes Cup (Never has a game that meant so little, meant so much) and saw Derek Anderson illustrate a textbook drive down the field, ending with a touchdown run by Jamal Lewis, the Browns' first touchdown since November 10th (week 12) of last season. I know, I know, it's just pre-season, but it's a start. Baby steps, people, baby steps. Unfortunately for Quinn, he was sacked on his very first play from scrimmage, to start the second quarter.
Who is going to spell Jamal Lewis? Well, James Davis made his case Saturday night, busting an 80+ yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put the Lions away for good. I like this kid from Clemson and to me, he should be competing with Jerome Harrison (who is hurt right now) for the starting spot. Jamal Lewis needs to realize he's got almost 2400 runs in his legs already and he needs to be the bowling ball that Pittsburgh had the last few years of Jerome Bettis' career. These should be his spots; 3rd and Short, 4th and Inches, two yards out from the endzone. The Endzone at the Browns' practice facility has "FINISH" painted in it. That's what Jamal Lewis will be good for.
The Browns receiving corps look to be ready to deal with Donte "I need to rethink my Tweets" Stallworth not being around. Rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi seem to be picking up the playbook very, very well. Both of these guys have made great catches in the Browns first two pre-season games. As I said before, Braylon seems to have taken his head out of his posterior cavity and remembered how to catch. He even made a fairly acrobatic catch on Saturday evening, but he was out of bounds when he came down. I like the look of Josh Cribbs getting in as a receiver as well. He made one catch on the night and it was for 20 yards, and if I remember correctly, he caught it only a few yards past the line of scrimmage and got most of the yards after the catch. Dude is dangerous.
More proof of that point; Cribbs took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house, before it was called back for holding and then returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown, all part of a 20-point 1st quarter for the Brownies. Cribbs didn't handle anymore punt returns on the night as Gerard Lawson tried his hand at the return duties for pretty much the rest of the night. Honestly, I'd be shocked if Cribbs isn't back there at the goal line for the first game of the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kamerion Wimbley has to have a bounce back year with somewhere around 12 or 13 sacks for him to be considered a defensive threat for this team. Each year since his rookie campaign has seen a drop in sacks, mostly due to the inability of those around him to get him open looks at the QB. Mangini has this defense focused though and quarterback penetration is one of the key elements of the defense. No sacks on Saturday night, but hopefully we'll keep seeing what this defense is capable of as the preseason goes on, and turns into the regular season. Most impressing on Saturday night was rookie Linebacker, Kaluka Maiava. Maiava had six tackles, all solo, in the game against Detroit.
It looks like the Mangini/Kokinis draft era is off to a great start. Each one of the players we took in the 2009 Draft will be ones that can contribute immediately, and already are. Again, Robiskie and Massaquoi are looking great and Alex Mack is picking things up very quickly. I really like the way this season is heading. Where is that, you ask? I will tell you in Part II!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Falcon Preview Part II...The MAC Schedule
Yesterday, I gave a little team overview of what I expect from the Falcons this season. I also gave my predictions for the first four games of the season, predicting that the Falcons will go 2-2 in their Out Of Conference schedule. Today I will look at the MAC portion of the Falcons' schedule. This could end up being a great year for the Falcons!!!
The start of October is also the start of the first step to a MAC Championship! Ohio University is the Homecoming opponent this year (even though we are AT HOME against Boise State a week earlier???) and I feel that the Brown and Orange will handle their home turf well on this day. All-time, BG holds a 36-22-2 advantage over the Bobcats and this year should add a 37th win to that total. I don't see OU putting up much of a fight in this one. Dave Clawson won't let them. - 3-2 (1-0)
Next is a trip to the ever down-trodden Kent, which BG has beaten in 54 of their 76 meetings. In the past, the Falcons have failed to beat the teams they should and I do NOT see that trend continuing with the new coaching regime. Kent is a foe that should, and will be beaten by the Falcons giving BG the strong start in MAC play that we, as fans, should expect. BG wins big. - 4-2 (2-0)
The third MAC game is a trip to the new power of the MAC, Ball State. (Must....resist....jokes about school's name.) BG holds a 19 to 8 advantage in the standings against Ball State but this team is no cupcake. They have been playing very tough the last two seasons and were a bad game away from having an undefeated season last year. But Nate Davis is gone as the Cardinals QB and from the looks of it, no one has really declared themselves as the man who will lead this team. That being said, this is a tough road test and brings the Falcons their first Conference loss of the season. - 4-3 (2-1)
Next up for the Falcons, another MAC West opponent in perennial power, Central Michigan. I think Dave Clawson knows about our Family Weekend woes over the past few years and will want to put on a show for the families that attend this game. This will also help Bowling Green establish themselves as a MAC contender. - 5-3 (3-1)
The Falcons hit the road for two tough games in a row, starting with a trip to up and coming...(Matt, they won the MAC Championship last year.)...up and HERE, Buffalo. This team is very strong. They will provide a great test for the Falcons, who lost to the Bulls in heart-breaking fashion last year, leading to the eventual firing of Gregg Brandon. Those kinds of things will NOT happen anymore and Bowling Green takes another step towards their first MAC Championship in WAAAAAAY too long. - 6-3 (4-1)
Now, Dave Clawson ends the "Miami Whammy." In his first trip to Oxford to play J. Crew U, this team will put themselves head and shoulders above the MAC by sticking it to the RedHawks and starting the "BG Blues" for Miami. Bowling Green plays very strong in this game and we see what we're going to get for years to come. - 7-3 (5-1)
BG has to wait another year to play their first game at the new InfoCision Stadium as Akron travels to the Doyt this year. We aren't good hosts. We beat them, badly and continue to roll towards a MAC Championship. Dave Clawson and his team are a hungry bunch and will prevail in 2009. - 8-3 (6-1)
Finally, Clawson gets his first match against Toledo and their first year coach, who happens to be a BG grad. Another home game, and home field advantage is completely restored at the Doyt. Bowling Green finishes strong and wins against their biggest rival on their home turf. Now, we just sit back and wait to see the WEST figure itself out. BG has an East Division crown, and a peace pipe, in hand. - 9-3 (7-1)
So there it is. Dave Clawson has a very successful year in his first one at the helm of the Brown and Orange. One year, One Bowl Game. You've got to love that!
The start of October is also the start of the first step to a MAC Championship! Ohio University is the Homecoming opponent this year (even though we are AT HOME against Boise State a week earlier???) and I feel that the Brown and Orange will handle their home turf well on this day. All-time, BG holds a 36-22-2 advantage over the Bobcats and this year should add a 37th win to that total. I don't see OU putting up much of a fight in this one. Dave Clawson won't let them. - 3-2 (1-0)
Next is a trip to the ever down-trodden Kent, which BG has beaten in 54 of their 76 meetings. In the past, the Falcons have failed to beat the teams they should and I do NOT see that trend continuing with the new coaching regime. Kent is a foe that should, and will be beaten by the Falcons giving BG the strong start in MAC play that we, as fans, should expect. BG wins big. - 4-2 (2-0)
The third MAC game is a trip to the new power of the MAC, Ball State. (Must....resist....jokes about school's name.) BG holds a 19 to 8 advantage in the standings against Ball State but this team is no cupcake. They have been playing very tough the last two seasons and were a bad game away from having an undefeated season last year. But Nate Davis is gone as the Cardinals QB and from the looks of it, no one has really declared themselves as the man who will lead this team. That being said, this is a tough road test and brings the Falcons their first Conference loss of the season. - 4-3 (2-1)
Next up for the Falcons, another MAC West opponent in perennial power, Central Michigan. I think Dave Clawson knows about our Family Weekend woes over the past few years and will want to put on a show for the families that attend this game. This will also help Bowling Green establish themselves as a MAC contender. - 5-3 (3-1)
The Falcons hit the road for two tough games in a row, starting with a trip to up and coming...(Matt, they won the MAC Championship last year.)...up and HERE, Buffalo. This team is very strong. They will provide a great test for the Falcons, who lost to the Bulls in heart-breaking fashion last year, leading to the eventual firing of Gregg Brandon. Those kinds of things will NOT happen anymore and Bowling Green takes another step towards their first MAC Championship in WAAAAAAY too long. - 6-3 (4-1)
Now, Dave Clawson ends the "Miami Whammy." In his first trip to Oxford to play J. Crew U, this team will put themselves head and shoulders above the MAC by sticking it to the RedHawks and starting the "BG Blues" for Miami. Bowling Green plays very strong in this game and we see what we're going to get for years to come. - 7-3 (5-1)
BG has to wait another year to play their first game at the new InfoCision Stadium as Akron travels to the Doyt this year. We aren't good hosts. We beat them, badly and continue to roll towards a MAC Championship. Dave Clawson and his team are a hungry bunch and will prevail in 2009. - 8-3 (6-1)
Finally, Clawson gets his first match against Toledo and their first year coach, who happens to be a BG grad. Another home game, and home field advantage is completely restored at the Doyt. Bowling Green finishes strong and wins against their biggest rival on their home turf. Now, we just sit back and wait to see the WEST figure itself out. BG has an East Division crown, and a peace pipe, in hand. - 9-3 (7-1)
So there it is. Dave Clawson has a very successful year in his first one at the helm of the Brown and Orange. One year, One Bowl Game. You've got to love that!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The 2009 Falcon Football Season Part I
Welcome to my first annual season preview for the Bowling Green State University Falcons. I've never done anything like this before so I hope it's ok and I hope my research has been done well enough to not make all of you think I am a complete moron. Part I is here today with the team outlook and the out of conference schedule. Part II will examine the MAC portion of the Falcons Schedule.
This season will be a season of changes for the Falcons. Bowling Green welcomes their new coach, Dave Clawson, to the nest. Last year, Clawson was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers and did not have a lot of success getting his offense implemented into the SEC. Before that though, he turned around the Div. I-AA Fordham team around and helped turn around the Richmond team that won the Div. I-AA Championship last year. Clawson brings discipline and work ethic that were missing during Greg Brandon's final couple seasons at BG.
On the offensive side of the ball, Bowling Green will return seven players, including starting Quarterback, Tyler Sheehan. Sheehan has been named to the Manning Award Watch list, along with 37 other Quarterbacks from around the nation. One thing that is a positive is that the Orange and Brown did not lose a single starter at the running back position. Chris Bullock and Willie Geter will be a good 1-2 punch for the Falcons, as long as they can hold on to the ball. As for the receivers that Sheehan will throw to, Freddie Barnes will have to step up and be a leader to a group that lost it's #1 receiver in Corey Partridge. Tyrone Pronty will be the guy to watch this year in my opinion. He showed some flashes of brilliance last year and will hopefully be able to continue growing and maturing his game. Senior Tight End Jimmy Scheidler should be able to help open up the Falcon offense as well as he declared himself a legitimate threat scoring seven Touchdowns a year ago.
Defensively, the Falcons will have a ton of work to do as they lost each of their four starters on the front line. Defensive End Angelo Magnone is going to be the guy to watch down in the trenches this year. In his playing time last season, Magnone made 27 total tackles, 2 of which went for a loss. The secondary is loaded with experience as Senior Safties P.J. Mahone and Jahmal Brown come back for a defensive backfield which was one of the best in the MAC. Mahone and Brown were 1st and 3rd, respectively, on the team in tackles with 95 and 83 tackles. Mahone had three interceptions last year and started all 12 games. Jerett Sanderson and Cody Basler will be the leaders of the linebacker core and will have to play great ball to help out a fairly inexperienced line.
Nick Iovinelli will return for his third and final season as the Falcons punter. Last year, Iovinelli averaged just over 40 yards per punt with 12 landing inside the 20 and seven going 50 or more yards. A true freshman will be the team's place kicker, Jerry Phillips.
Now, for the schedule, and boy is it a doozy! All of the Falcons out of conference games will be pretty tough as they host Troy and Boise State and travel to Missouri and Marshall. When the Falcons open the season against the Trojans on September 3rd, it will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. This will be a good first test for the Falcons. They will come out with a LOT of emotion but will have to make sure to not let too much emotion get to them. Troy is a very good team but I see the Falcons starting off the Dave Clawson era with a big "W." - 1-0
Next, a trip to Missouri to face the Tigers, a team the Falcons have beat three out of the four times they've played them. With a tough road crowd though, and a Missouri team that will come out feeling like they have something to prove, I don't know if the Falcons will be able to start 2-0. I'm going to have to predict a close, hard fought game but an "L" in the standings. - 1-1
One more road game before coming back home. Marshall, the former member of the MAC gets a visit from their old foe, Bowling Green. All time, BG has taken Marshall down 20 times and only lost seven times. I see this trend continuing. The Brown and Orange love to beat down on the Thundering Herd and BG will want to come home strong for their last out of conference game. BG wins big on the road, establishing themselves as a team to keep your eyes on. - 2-1
Next, one of only two 2009 opponents who BG has a losing record against, all-time, Boise State. The Broncos have hosted the Falcons twice and laid the smack down both times. Boise wasn't supposed to make a trip to the Doyt this year but was a late addition to the schedule. Boise State has been a perennial BCS Buster but will be doing a little bit of rebuilding this year. Boise does have a very good young Quarterback but they don't have a clear #1 to run the ball. This game could really go either way but I honestly feel like the Broncos might be a bit too much for the Falcons to handle. - 2-2
Tune in tomorrow for Part II!
This season will be a season of changes for the Falcons. Bowling Green welcomes their new coach, Dave Clawson, to the nest. Last year, Clawson was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers and did not have a lot of success getting his offense implemented into the SEC. Before that though, he turned around the Div. I-AA Fordham team around and helped turn around the Richmond team that won the Div. I-AA Championship last year. Clawson brings discipline and work ethic that were missing during Greg Brandon's final couple seasons at BG.
On the offensive side of the ball, Bowling Green will return seven players, including starting Quarterback, Tyler Sheehan. Sheehan has been named to the Manning Award Watch list, along with 37 other Quarterbacks from around the nation. One thing that is a positive is that the Orange and Brown did not lose a single starter at the running back position. Chris Bullock and Willie Geter will be a good 1-2 punch for the Falcons, as long as they can hold on to the ball. As for the receivers that Sheehan will throw to, Freddie Barnes will have to step up and be a leader to a group that lost it's #1 receiver in Corey Partridge. Tyrone Pronty will be the guy to watch this year in my opinion. He showed some flashes of brilliance last year and will hopefully be able to continue growing and maturing his game. Senior Tight End Jimmy Scheidler should be able to help open up the Falcon offense as well as he declared himself a legitimate threat scoring seven Touchdowns a year ago.
Defensively, the Falcons will have a ton of work to do as they lost each of their four starters on the front line. Defensive End Angelo Magnone is going to be the guy to watch down in the trenches this year. In his playing time last season, Magnone made 27 total tackles, 2 of which went for a loss. The secondary is loaded with experience as Senior Safties P.J. Mahone and Jahmal Brown come back for a defensive backfield which was one of the best in the MAC. Mahone and Brown were 1st and 3rd, respectively, on the team in tackles with 95 and 83 tackles. Mahone had three interceptions last year and started all 12 games. Jerett Sanderson and Cody Basler will be the leaders of the linebacker core and will have to play great ball to help out a fairly inexperienced line.
Nick Iovinelli will return for his third and final season as the Falcons punter. Last year, Iovinelli averaged just over 40 yards per punt with 12 landing inside the 20 and seven going 50 or more yards. A true freshman will be the team's place kicker, Jerry Phillips.
Now, for the schedule, and boy is it a doozy! All of the Falcons out of conference games will be pretty tough as they host Troy and Boise State and travel to Missouri and Marshall. When the Falcons open the season against the Trojans on September 3rd, it will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. This will be a good first test for the Falcons. They will come out with a LOT of emotion but will have to make sure to not let too much emotion get to them. Troy is a very good team but I see the Falcons starting off the Dave Clawson era with a big "W." - 1-0
Next, a trip to Missouri to face the Tigers, a team the Falcons have beat three out of the four times they've played them. With a tough road crowd though, and a Missouri team that will come out feeling like they have something to prove, I don't know if the Falcons will be able to start 2-0. I'm going to have to predict a close, hard fought game but an "L" in the standings. - 1-1
One more road game before coming back home. Marshall, the former member of the MAC gets a visit from their old foe, Bowling Green. All time, BG has taken Marshall down 20 times and only lost seven times. I see this trend continuing. The Brown and Orange love to beat down on the Thundering Herd and BG will want to come home strong for their last out of conference game. BG wins big on the road, establishing themselves as a team to keep your eyes on. - 2-1
Next, one of only two 2009 opponents who BG has a losing record against, all-time, Boise State. The Broncos have hosted the Falcons twice and laid the smack down both times. Boise wasn't supposed to make a trip to the Doyt this year but was a late addition to the schedule. Boise State has been a perennial BCS Buster but will be doing a little bit of rebuilding this year. Boise does have a very good young Quarterback but they don't have a clear #1 to run the ball. This game could really go either way but I honestly feel like the Broncos might be a bit too much for the Falcons to handle. - 2-2
Tune in tomorrow for Part II!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Quick Hits II
Browns Wide Receiver Donte Stallworth was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. It almost seemed like Stallworth was surprised by this news. Officially, he was suspended for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy and the substance abuse policy. Really? It's not for drunkenly killing a man? I would rather see them give this as the reason for the suspension.
The Browns will play their first pre-season game on Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers. We will finally get our first taste of the new-look Browns under new Head Coach, Eric Mangini. We'll also get a look at the battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, and see which QB has the best shot at being the starter this year. Although, who they will be throwing to seems to be the biggest question.
In other football news, Michael Vick has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. I honestly feel like this is a great move for Vick. He will be around one of the cleanest players in the NFL in Donovan McNabb. He will be a great mentor for Vick which is exactly what he needs. Now, he has two strong men, in Tony Dungy and McNabb, helping him through what could be the toughest part of his life, other than the two years he spent in Leavenworth.
The Indians dropped two of three to the Rangers this week. Aaron Laffey pitched a spectacular game in the opener but then the Indians fell apart. Omar Vizquel received a standing ovation in his first trip to the plate and rounds of applause each time he got a hit. What a great coach he would make for the Indians some day! The Tribe is off to Minnesota now for a weekend set with the Twins.
The Cavs have added injured Power Forward Leon Powe to their roster. The three year veteran, who is the same age as LeBron James, will not be ready to play ball until after the All-Star break this coming season, has signed a league minimum contract and will be the backup for LeBron if and when he is healthy. Basically, the Cavs were looking for some playoff insurance for their run at a championship next year.
The PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club teed off yesterday and Tiger Woods jumped out to the 18-hole lead with a First Round 67, 5-under par. Vijay Singh is one stroke back, but is already 16 holes through his second round. Padraig Harrington is also right there at 4-under par. He and Tiger teed off about three minutes ago, if everything is on schedule.
Lastly, the Lake Erie Crushers are holding on to their spot atop the Wild Card standings in the Frontier League and are still three games out of first place in their division. They just finished a series with Southern Illinois, taking two out of three from the Miners. Now, they travel to Evansville to play three games with the Otters. Evansville is the worst team in the Frontier League so this could be a good opportunity for the Crushers to gain a little ground on the Kings of Kalamazoo.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
The Browns will play their first pre-season game on Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers. We will finally get our first taste of the new-look Browns under new Head Coach, Eric Mangini. We'll also get a look at the battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, and see which QB has the best shot at being the starter this year. Although, who they will be throwing to seems to be the biggest question.
In other football news, Michael Vick has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. I honestly feel like this is a great move for Vick. He will be around one of the cleanest players in the NFL in Donovan McNabb. He will be a great mentor for Vick which is exactly what he needs. Now, he has two strong men, in Tony Dungy and McNabb, helping him through what could be the toughest part of his life, other than the two years he spent in Leavenworth.
The Indians dropped two of three to the Rangers this week. Aaron Laffey pitched a spectacular game in the opener but then the Indians fell apart. Omar Vizquel received a standing ovation in his first trip to the plate and rounds of applause each time he got a hit. What a great coach he would make for the Indians some day! The Tribe is off to Minnesota now for a weekend set with the Twins.
The Cavs have added injured Power Forward Leon Powe to their roster. The three year veteran, who is the same age as LeBron James, will not be ready to play ball until after the All-Star break this coming season, has signed a league minimum contract and will be the backup for LeBron if and when he is healthy. Basically, the Cavs were looking for some playoff insurance for their run at a championship next year.
The PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club teed off yesterday and Tiger Woods jumped out to the 18-hole lead with a First Round 67, 5-under par. Vijay Singh is one stroke back, but is already 16 holes through his second round. Padraig Harrington is also right there at 4-under par. He and Tiger teed off about three minutes ago, if everything is on schedule.
Lastly, the Lake Erie Crushers are holding on to their spot atop the Wild Card standings in the Frontier League and are still three games out of first place in their division. They just finished a series with Southern Illinois, taking two out of three from the Miners. Now, they travel to Evansville to play three games with the Otters. Evansville is the worst team in the Frontier League so this could be a good opportunity for the Crushers to gain a little ground on the Kings of Kalamazoo.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tony Dungy: Michael Vick's Savior
Let me start this by saying that what Michael Vick did was completely heinous. Pitting dogs against one another in a fight to the death is completely and utterly reprehensible. With that said, everyone on this planet deserves a second chance. Vick served 23 months, combined, between Federal Prison and house arrest. Over that time he has had time to contemplate just what he did and how wrong it really was. He has given a public apology which, in my opinion, was clearly sincere. Now, he's free and a free agent. As many as five teams are reported to have interest in signing Michael Vick and, in my belief, the only reason is because of his personal advisor since being released from Prison and house arrest: Tony Dungy.
If Michael Vick really listens to Tony Dungy, turns himself around as much as he says he has and lives his life by the book the rest of the way, he will be fine. If he removes himself from the group of "friends" he has always been associated with, the same "friends" that were also linked to dog-fighting, he will be have a much better road ahead of him. But Dungy is the key to all of this. He is the key to Vick staying out of trouble.
Let's look at Tony Dungy's life. The man has been through a number of coaching jobs and turned the Indianapolis Colts into a perennial power. Dungy has six children with his wife, Lauren, one of which committed suicide in December of 2005. He is a devout Christian who has been a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He once considered retirement to take up prison ministries. Since he did retire, after the 2008-09 season, he has stayed involved with football, doing radio shows and, at the request of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, serving as Vick's advisor.
Dungy is a soft-spoken man off the field and many would say that he is a ray of light in a dark world. Basically, he is everything Michael Vick wasn't before his legal troubles. If he can become one bit like Tony Dungy, his life will start going down the right path. Dungy has been so impressed by the changes Vick has made since he started working with him, he has actually recommended Vick to 12 different coaches as a player who might fit well into their system. With Vick's reinstatement to the league, he will be allowed to participate in all team activities and workouts except for games.
According to Dungy, Vick has really changed and realized his mistakes since he started working with him. What we will have to wait and see is how the members of the team that sign Vick react to being around him. He has to be ready for some looks and glares. But if he can get through that, make sure his future teammates know that he is there for the team and not just himself, he will make it. So, Michael, thank your lucky starts for Tony Dungy. He is your key. Remember that, and you'll do just fine.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
If Michael Vick really listens to Tony Dungy, turns himself around as much as he says he has and lives his life by the book the rest of the way, he will be fine. If he removes himself from the group of "friends" he has always been associated with, the same "friends" that were also linked to dog-fighting, he will be have a much better road ahead of him. But Dungy is the key to all of this. He is the key to Vick staying out of trouble.
Let's look at Tony Dungy's life. The man has been through a number of coaching jobs and turned the Indianapolis Colts into a perennial power. Dungy has six children with his wife, Lauren, one of which committed suicide in December of 2005. He is a devout Christian who has been a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He once considered retirement to take up prison ministries. Since he did retire, after the 2008-09 season, he has stayed involved with football, doing radio shows and, at the request of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, serving as Vick's advisor.
Dungy is a soft-spoken man off the field and many would say that he is a ray of light in a dark world. Basically, he is everything Michael Vick wasn't before his legal troubles. If he can become one bit like Tony Dungy, his life will start going down the right path. Dungy has been so impressed by the changes Vick has made since he started working with him, he has actually recommended Vick to 12 different coaches as a player who might fit well into their system. With Vick's reinstatement to the league, he will be allowed to participate in all team activities and workouts except for games.
According to Dungy, Vick has really changed and realized his mistakes since he started working with him. What we will have to wait and see is how the members of the team that sign Vick react to being around him. He has to be ready for some looks and glares. But if he can get through that, make sure his future teammates know that he is there for the team and not just himself, he will make it. So, Michael, thank your lucky starts for Tony Dungy. He is your key. Remember that, and you'll do just fine.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Tiga, Tiga Woods Ya'll!
The man is a beast, a machine. (The course looks good, I feel good, I like my chances) Tiger Woods started Sunday 3 strokes behind Paddy Harrington and by the 3rd hole, they were tied. A few holes later, Tiger was 2 strokes ahead of Harrington. Padraig went Par-Par-Par-Par-Par and Tiger went Par-Eagle-Par-Birdie-Birdie through the first 5 holes. The Irishman was doing everything he should have been doing with a 3-stroke lead, but he wasn't doing anything he should have been doing with a 3-stroke lead, over Tiger Woods, on a Sunday, at Firestone. Tiger owns that course. He has won seven tournaments at Firestone, the first player ever to win seven times on the same golf course. Ten percent of his career wins have come at the South Course in Akron.
That's right, Tiger won his 70th tournament yesterday. The man is only 33 years old and has won 70 tournaments. That is unheard of. Tiger is only the 3rd player to reach 70 career victories. The other two are Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus. Snead is the all-time leader with 82 wins and Nicklaus only holds a 3-victory lead on Woods now. I saw yesterday that Snead and Nicklaus didn't get to 70 until they were 40 or older. Tiger should easily take down Snead's record and has a great chance to be the only 100-Tournament Winner ever. He is a dominant force. It almost seems unfair. Woods has the greatest work ethic of any golfer out there. He is out there each weekend for one reason-- To win. He's also won 14 Major championships and should break the record of 18 in a year or two.
Then there are the Indians. They are, once again, building me up just to rip my heart out. They are playing so well right now. They've won 3 series in a row against Central Division opponents and have won something like 11 of their last 16. Who do they think they are? Why couldn't they do this when Cliff and Victor were still here? I know what they're going to do. They'll fight all the way back to .500, give us all hope for a competitive 2010 season and then under perform just like this year. It's a vicious circle this team is in. They are cutting payroll because Larry Dolan is going to lose 16 Million dollars this year. Maybe if he knew how to run a baseball team, he wouldn't be losing money.
The Crushers are leading the Wild Card standings in the Frontier League and are just 4 games out of first. No matter what Lake Erie does, the Kalamazoo Kings just keep holding on to first place. I really hope the Crushers hold on and make it to the playoffs. It's nice that at least one team in the area is performing well.
Eric Mangini is already putting the iron fist down, cutting Shaun Smith from the team after 2 years and 2 sacks. Mangini wasn't happy with the way Smith came into camp--out of shape and with a bad attitude. Coach Mangini will not put up with crap the way that Romeo did. He is going to run the guys when they screw up and applaud them when they do something well, but he will not be kissing their butts they way Romeo did. Crennel was such a pushover and it was reflected on the field. No more of that crap. I think this season will be successful one way or the other.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
That's right, Tiger won his 70th tournament yesterday. The man is only 33 years old and has won 70 tournaments. That is unheard of. Tiger is only the 3rd player to reach 70 career victories. The other two are Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus. Snead is the all-time leader with 82 wins and Nicklaus only holds a 3-victory lead on Woods now. I saw yesterday that Snead and Nicklaus didn't get to 70 until they were 40 or older. Tiger should easily take down Snead's record and has a great chance to be the only 100-Tournament Winner ever. He is a dominant force. It almost seems unfair. Woods has the greatest work ethic of any golfer out there. He is out there each weekend for one reason-- To win. He's also won 14 Major championships and should break the record of 18 in a year or two.
Then there are the Indians. They are, once again, building me up just to rip my heart out. They are playing so well right now. They've won 3 series in a row against Central Division opponents and have won something like 11 of their last 16. Who do they think they are? Why couldn't they do this when Cliff and Victor were still here? I know what they're going to do. They'll fight all the way back to .500, give us all hope for a competitive 2010 season and then under perform just like this year. It's a vicious circle this team is in. They are cutting payroll because Larry Dolan is going to lose 16 Million dollars this year. Maybe if he knew how to run a baseball team, he wouldn't be losing money.
The Crushers are leading the Wild Card standings in the Frontier League and are just 4 games out of first. No matter what Lake Erie does, the Kalamazoo Kings just keep holding on to first place. I really hope the Crushers hold on and make it to the playoffs. It's nice that at least one team in the area is performing well.
Eric Mangini is already putting the iron fist down, cutting Shaun Smith from the team after 2 years and 2 sacks. Mangini wasn't happy with the way Smith came into camp--out of shape and with a bad attitude. Coach Mangini will not put up with crap the way that Romeo did. He is going to run the guys when they screw up and applaud them when they do something well, but he will not be kissing their butts they way Romeo did. Crennel was such a pushover and it was reflected on the field. No more of that crap. I think this season will be successful one way or the other.
Fire Wedge. Fire Shapiro. Get a New Owner.
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