Wow...

Haha....I'm hoping to get a decent amount in today, but this could not go unnoticed, and had to be posted immediately.

Regarding todays Victory Parade for the Phillies:

"This is a bright and shining moment," Mayor Michael Nutter said. "We're going to have a great time."

But he cautioned against the scattered vandalism that marred the postgame revelry late Wednesday and early Thursday. Police reported 76 arrests and several vandalized businesses; they are also examining photos and video of the crowds to identify and arrest additional offenders.

"You can be joyous; you cannot be a jackass," Nutter said. "That kind of idiotic, destructive behavior will not be accepted in the city of Philadelphia."

There goes any chance this guy had at re-election. He must have no idea where the hell he's at...

2008: The Year of the Douchebag Fan.

A subdued congrats goes out to the Philadelphia Phillies, for finally getting the citys first Sports championship since the 83 Sixers. It's sad that the choking streak won't continue, and it's also sad that there are some very likeable guys on the Phillies roster. So while I congratulate them as a team, I don't congratulate the city. If nothing else, hopefully this will take the edge off for at least a year or two. The Rays played a spectacular season, coming from nowhere to make the World Series, and giving a little bit of hope to the long suffering fans of teams like the Royals and our Pirates.

The Phillies World Championship unfortunately solidifies 2008 as the year of the douchebag fans. I really have no problem with Detroit hockey fans, so I'll exclude the Red Wings from this analysis…but consider the cities and fan bases of the champions from each of the other major sports leagues. Boston wins the NBA title, New York wins the Super Bowl, and now Philadelphia wins the World Series. Here's hoping for a better outcome in 2009.

NBA Preview is on hold, on account that my links got deleted. Operator error at best. Instead we'll try to get back into some Power Rankings, and a full preview of this Monday's Steelers - Redskins game. Picks should be up this weekend as well.

Shame that the biggest game of the season for us DC area Steeler fans has also turned out to be a very busy week for me personally. Updates have been sporatic, but we're workin on it!

The Jon and the Terrible, horrible, No Good, Very bad weekend

T'was a very bad weekend for the Steel City sports squadrons.

The Penguins allowed 2 goals in the third period, including one in the final seconds before falling to the hated Rangers 3-2 in a shootout.

The #17 Pitt Panthers dropped another home game as heavy favorites. Not only did they lose, they got demolished, 54-34. Rutgers QB Mike Teel threw for 6 touchdowns. Coming into the game he had thrown for 3 ALL SEASON. In addition, Pitt QB Bill Stull was carted off the field. Word is that he'll be fine, but suffered a concussion.

And the beloved Steelers let one slip away as well. A 21-14 loss to the Giants, combined with wins by the Browns and Ravens tightens things up a bit in the division. Luckily, the Ravens and Browns play each other this week, but the Steelers have no cupcake, as they hit the road to play the 6-2 Redskins at FedEx Field on Monday Night.

The common factor amongst all? The vicious bite of the injury bug. I know it's no excuse, but there's no denying the big part that injuries played over the course of the weekend.
With the Penguins, they have been, and will continue to be without their top two defensemen at least until the calendar shifts into 09. The young guns filling in have done so admirably, but hopefully Saturday nights collapse won't be the beginning of things to come. We mentioned Stull's injury, but at the same time, the performance of the Panther defense was one we havent seen since the Navy game last season. In a word, terrible. Theres no reason that a quarterback should be allowed to throw twice as many TD passes in one game then he had the previous 7 combined. More on the Steelers infirmary below.

Here are my observations on the Steelers - Giants game:

1. The offensive line did not play as everyone wants to say they did. The difference is this. The Giants came in with a game plan to combat the Steelers zone blitz scheme. Quick hitters, screens, dump offs, etc. The Steelers did not. Ben continued to hold on to the ball entirely too long, and they did not effectively run quick patterns to offset the Giants pass rush. Not having Santonio Holmes hurt, as it was well documented that it would. At no time was that more evident then on a slant pass that went off the hands of Nate Washington, and was intercepted by the Giants. One of 4 picks by Roethlisberger on the day.

2. The injuries to Greg Warren and Mitch Berger. It's true that you never hear about a long snapper until they screw up. Or in this case, get injured. Warren tore his ACL and is now done for the year. Berger strained a leg muscle early on in the game, and while remaining effective throughout the game, his injury impacted some of the coaches decisions to go for it on 4th downs, and his free kick following the safety suffered as well. The playcalling leading up to the errant long snap which caused the safety should not be overlooked. The holding penalty on Willie Colon that nullified what would have been Nate Washington's 2nd touchdown catch of the day can't be overlooked. And the fact that the Giants had a better scheme than the Steelers did as a whole, can't be overlooked.

We all know that it's pretty tough to get outcoached by Kevin Gilbride, but Bruce Arians, you achieved that yesterday.

We all know that the key to beating the Giants is to pressure the hell out of Eli Manning. The Steelers, despite being having the number one ranked defense, and leading the leage in sacks coming in, did not sack Eli once. Chalk that up to great offensive line play by the Giants, and good play calling allowing for short drops and getting the ball out quickly.

Long story short, there is still plenty of room for improvement for the Steelers moving forward, but there is also plenty to be excited about. They 'should have' beaten the defending Super Bowl champions despite the following:

1. Losing their #2 receiver after the game plan had already been devised and implemented.

2. Not having their top Defensive lineman or Strong Safety practice all week.

3. Injuries. They played the game without starters Willie Parker, Kendall Simmons, Marvel Smith, Daniel Sepulveda, or Bryant McFadden, and lost Ryan Clark and Greg Warren during the game.

I don't mean to make excuses. The Giants made the plays that needed to be made for them to win, so I give them credit. But at the same time, the Steelers turned the ball over 5 times. The defense continued to play brilliantly despite being back up in their own end for a better part of the game. They stifiled Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward (84 yards on 31 carries) but were not able to pressure Eli to the point that he became frazzled. It's a shame too, because the game started off so well, with the Steelers forcing New York into a 3 and out, then marching down the field and scoring on Mewelde Moore's 32 yard run. But the Giants regrouped, hung around, and then essentially dominated the 4th quarter.

It bothered me that during the last drive, the middle of the field was WIDE open, and the Steelers never once tried to run a route there. They had enough time, and a time out remaining to try to run some short to mid range middle routes, but Arians was so intent on getting to the sidelines, which the Giants had blanketed, that they had no chance.

All things considered, 5-2 at this point is solid. And hey, they have yet to lose outside of the state of Pennsylvania. Unless the Redskisn play a much improved game than they have the past 3 weeks, then I like the Steelers chances to rebound strong a week from today.

PICKS RECAP:

The Jon comes into Monday Night with a moderate 6-6-1 showing. The Virus may well have rather had a virus than review his 3-9-1 showing. They share differeing opinions on tonights game as well, so we'll see if The Jon can build on this inaugural week lead, or if the Virus can save a little bit of face moving forward.

TOMORROW:

A little NBA for you.

NFL Picks - Week 8 - Challenge us Both!

There was a little bit of consistancy this past week in the NFL. The top teams for the most part won, Dallas continued to unravel, and the picture is starting to become a little bit clearer moving forward. One thing there was no consistency in was the spreads that the Virus had as opposed to my own in generating last weeks picks. We've gotten that all cleared up for this week, so the challenge is on. I'll be in black, the Virus in the Garnet (thats right).

Tampa Bay (+2.5) over DALLAS: Just too much going on in big D right now. This is a huge game in the NFC, as both teams are in dog fights (sorry...would it be better to say battles?) in their respective divisions. The Cowboys secondary is still decimated, and the more work that Jeff Garcia and Antonio Bryant get in with each other, the more formidable a tandem they become. Former Panther Bryant has put up significantly better numbers with Garcia as quarterback, and with the injuries around the Cowboys defensive backfield, I think that will continue. DeMarcus Ware could set a record in this game. With a sack, he'll have posted at least one sack in 11 straight games. Also of note, Cadillac Williams practiced with the Bucs this week, for the first time since suffering what some thought might be a career threatening knee injury. Not that he'll be a factor in this game, or even this season, but nice to see him fight back and look to be successful. Anyway, I like the Bucs D to keep constant pressure on Brad Johnson, and the O to be able to put up enough points to bring home the W and keep pace in the NFC South.

Tampa Bay (+2.5) over Dallas:

"Cuz I'm freeeeee. Freeee faaaaallin." Suddenly, 4-12 doesn't look that unreasonable.

Washington (-7.5) over DETROIT: Well, the Rams came in to DC a few weeks ago looking like the worst team in football and beat the Skins. Sorry Detroit, no such luck for the Lions this week. The Roy Williams trade now allows defenses to key on Calvin Johnson, and the Rudi Johnson/Kevin Smith duo just ins't getting it done. Dan Orlovsky will be pressured early and often, even with a hobbled Jason Taylor. Portis may run for 250 against Detroit, who rank dead last in team defense, allowing an average of 418 yards per game. The sputtering Skins offense should get back on track this week, and cruise easily past the 7.5 spread, gearing up for their big game next Monday when the Steelers pay a visit.

Detroit (+7.5) over Washington:

The Redskins don't make it easy on their fans. Portis and Shaun Alexander (yeah that's right) may set the record for most rushing yards in a game, but the Redskins haven't been able to blow out an opponent yet and I see no reason why this week should be any different, even if they're playing the Lions.

Buffalo (-1.5) over MIAMI: Since Marsha Brady has been in the news lately, lets give her a quasi shoutout in relation to this game...Marshawn, Marshawn, Marshawn!! The Buffalo O has come together a bit lately, to compliment their defense, who have been stellar all year. The league is slowly catching up to the wildcat, and the Bills defense is fast and athletic, which should help them counter those tricks. I dont think that the Dolphins have enough standard plays to be able to hang. I like Lee Evans in this game as well.

Buffalo (-1.5) over Miami:

Mine and Jon's picks aren't that fun this week yet considering we're on the same page about the first 3 games we've picked. Frankly I'm stunned that Buffalo's only giving 1.5. The Ravens murdered the Wildcat last week and are facing 27 consecutive life sentences. And speaking of murderers, we all know who used to be Running Back for the Bills. All these signs can't be ignored and the Dolphins are going to lose again, unfortunately for the viewers who find the wildcat irresistable.

NEW ENGLAND (-7.5) over St. Louis: So maybe not all hope is lost for the Rams. They have won 2 in a row over NFC East beasts, and now travel to the east coast to take on one of the AFC's finest. To say the Pats season has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement. Brady goes down, Cassel comes in and performs well, then terrible, then brilliantly...so who knows what's to come next. The running back matchup this week features Steven Jackson agains BenJarvis Green-Ellis. Wow. Despite that, now that they've been able to open up the playbook a little bit, the Pats may hit their stride. I think they have a lot of margin for error this week against the Rams, so I see no reason why they shouldnt be able to win by more than 7.5.

New England (-7.5) over St. Louis

Here's a statistic I heard on the radio yesterday. Bill Belichick has played against the NFC West 14 times in his career. Of those times, he is 7-7 against the spread. And by 7-7, I mean 14-0. When Belichick plays the west, you take the Patriots.

NEW ORLEANS (-3) over San Diego (@ Wembley Stadium, London, England): I hate to call this a home game for the Saints, as the NFL does...but oh well. We know Reggie Bush is out. We know the NFL is investigating 3 Saints players for illegal substances, 2 of which are starters. But look at what San Diego does on the road. Especially when coming East. They thought they couldnt come farther East than New York, then the NFL sends them to England. England thinks they're gonna see Shawne Merriman and LaDanian Tomlinson, and they get just L.T. at about 75% at best. The Chargers may get Chris Chambers back for this one, but won't know til gametime. I still like Brees and compnay to fight through the turmoil, and rebound big after last weeks embarrassing loss. They'll need to to keep up with the Bucs, Panthers, and Falcons.

San Diego (+3) over New Orleans

Finally, some dissent among the ranks. Too many distractions going on in New Orleans, and the Saints don't seem to be doing their part to take advantage of the season Brees is having. Meanwhile, Phillip "Anger Management" Rivers is also making his case for MVP, and it seems that the Chargers are healthier and less distracted than the Saints. The only losers here are those poor Brits who got the Giants and the Dolphins last year and are getting a depleted Saints - Chargers game this year. The NFL is trying too hard to be the good ex-boyfriend. America won the Revolutionary War AND the War of 1812, leave those Brits alone and stop extending the Olive Branch. No one wins when the NFL does this

Kansas City (+13.5) over NY JETS: Sorry, I'm not picking a team that lost to the Raiders to beat anyone by 2 touchdowns.

New York Jets (-13.5) over Kansas City:

Let's have some fun in the "You Play To Win The Game" Bowl. The Jets are such an enigma this year that it wouldn't surprise me if Pinnochio Favre threw for SEVEN touchdowns this week.

Atlanta (+9) over PHILADELPHIA: It rarely happens that the Iggles are overshadowed in their hometown, but with the Phillies coming home for the middle 3 games of the World Series, this is one of those times. Since I dont expect there to be many Falcons fans in the stands, the Philly faithful will resort to fighting each other over parking spaces between leaving the Linc and getting into Citizens Bank for game 4. So if game 4 isn't sold out, you know why. Need tickets? Check the Philadelphia emergency rooms for tickets. You may miss the first few innings, but hey, no one will be the wiser. Anyway, in this game I'd like to say I expect the Eagels D to bring the same pressure they brought on to Roethlisberger, but they havent been able to match that since then. I like the Eagles to win, but 9 is a lot against a still improving Atlanta team. Brian Westbrook should be back, whoich should directly correlate into more points for the Eagles, but I think Michael Turner, Matt Ryan, and Roddy White will have their opportunities as well.

Philadelphia (-9) over Atlanta:

At first I was ready to pick the Falcons, in shock that they were GETTING 9. But then I thought about it some more and decided to change my mind. I just don't fully believe in the Falcons yet. If they win this game, they'll have my support.

CAROLINA (-4) over Arizona: As was reaffirmed last week, home records vs. road records is a pretty valid stat. The Redbirds aren't too swift on the road, and Carolina is lights out at home. The Panthers stifled a strong New Orleans offense last week, so I like them to do the same against Arizona. The Cardinals may get Anquan Boldin back for this one, much sooner than expected, but I dont know that he'll be a huge upgrade over what Steve Breaston has done in his absence. I like Arizona, I really do...but after last weeks display, I can't pick against the Cats at home.

Carolina (-4) over Arizona:

Most complete team in the NFC?

BALTIMORE (-7) over Oakland: Stover vs. Janikowski. Unless Sebas can hit from 77, or whatever it was, I dont know that the Raiders will be able to score.

Baltimore (-7) over Oakland:

I picked up Flacco this week cuz Aaron Rogers is on a bye. If they can't throw up more than 7 over Oakland, they should be contracted. They stifled Miami in Baltimore, and Miami looks like the September through Early November 2007 Patriots compared to the Raiders. Thus begins the battle of the douchebag fan bases.

Cleveland (+7) over JACKSONVILLE: Eh, I'm not really too fond of this pick, but it seems like every time we get close to Brady Quinn time, D.A. has a big game. Jones-Drew should put up huge numbers, but I like the Browns to keep it close, and maybe even pull off a road win. Hopefully they wont, but I wouldnt be shocked to see it happen.

Jacksonville (-7) over Cleveland:

No way does Cleveland get within 7 of Jacksonville. Too much turmoil up in the land of Drew Carey. Meanwhile, Jacksonville's locked in a heated struggle with the Colts for #2 in the AFC South.

HOUSTON (-9) over Cincinnati: I am willing to bet anyone that this is the most that Houston has ever been favored by in franchise history. If anyone can prove me wrong, I'll owe you a coke. Schaub has continued his mini resurgence, and Steve Slaton has continued to run with that chip on his shoulder. The Bengals of course are without Keith Rivers, Carson Palmer may now finally announce that he's done for the year, and there's very VERY little to look at as a positive in jungleland. I might actually take the Texans at double that spread (another set o words that has probably never been muttered!)

Cincinnati (+9) over Houston

Just to dissent with Jon up there. 9 is a lot for an NFL game (and I use the term "NFL" VERY loosely).

PITTSBURGH (-3) over NY Giants: Dammit Santonio...It's not like he got busted before a Bengals game, or some lesser opponent, he waits til the meat of the schedule comes around then fires up some doobies. Even still, I like the Steelers in this game. I know the Giants have a nice pass rush, but I dont think the Steeler O Line will get embarrassed like they did against Philly. (By the way, Darnell Stapleton has filled in brilliantly for Kendall Simmons thus far, didn't I tell you Simmons going down was the biggest improvement the Steeler line could get?) So no Willie Parker, no Santonio Holmes, but I still think the Steelers have enough firepower to put up some points on the G men, and Dick LeBeau will have Woodley, Harrison, Farrior, Timmons, and Foote in Eli's face a lot, someway or another.

New York Giants (+3) over Pittsburgh

I think New York will win this game. Therefore, I obviously think they will cover the spread. I WANT Pittsburgh to win so that the Giants will drop in the NFC East standings and so Pittsburgh will be getting a little too cocky when they roll into Raljon next Monday Night, but I honestly don't see it happening. Sorry Jon, sorry self.

San Francisco (-5) over Seattle: Mike Singletary, meet Jim Haslett. The 9ers have talent, but a fresh approach on the coaching staff I think will help. Frank Gore will respond from last weeks abysmal game to run rampant over the Seahawks. Just cant help but continue to feel bad for Seattle's sports output in the past year.

San Francisco (-5) over Seattle:

Gore's doing some nice work in the land of the Grateful Dead. The Seahawk is STILL not a real bird. This one's a no-brainer

Indianapolis (+4) over TENNESSEE: Tennessee aint goin 16-0. While the Colts have only shown up in spots, they tend to play well in big games, and on national television. Tennessee isn't quite ready for their close up. Sure they have beaten up on inferior opponents, but now that the Colts come to town, I think the decline begins. I think Tennessee will definitely be a force throughout the year and into January, but their winning streak comes to an end on Monday night. Mercury Morris, get the champagne on ice.

Tennessee (-4) over Indianapolis

This is the first big test for a young Titans team (with the exception of Kerry Collins), featuring YOUR next President of the United States of America/NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Mr. Albert Haynesworth vs a battle-tested but aging and struggling Colts team. The balance of power in the AFC is shifting and Tennessee seems poised to take the reigns from their big brothers in the AFC South.

Steelers vs. NFL Collection Agents

More news regarding fines, or lack thereof, for the Steelers. Apparantley Ray Anderson, NFL's executive Vice President of Football Operations, took some time out to pay a personal visit to the Steelers facilities yesterday to discuss some of the questionable fines some of the players have received recently, comments made by Troy Polamalu about the NFL becoming a 'pansy league', and to discuss the block that Hines Ward put on Bengals LB Keith Rivers that broke Rivers' jaw and put him out for the season. I applaud the league for making the gesture. Again, it wont change the way that the Steelers play, but it was a good, borderline necessary move to get everyone on the same page.

All sides seemed to have a better understanding of each other at the conclusion of the meeting. When asked why players were fined for plays that were not even penalized on the field, Anderson stated the following:

"It is not a requirement that, in fact, a flag be thrown before a person can be fined for a foul," said Anderson, who said there were 139 fines distributed so far leading into last week's games. "What we explained to the players is about 40 percent of our fines are assessed against plays that are actually not flagged on the field."

139 fines and we're moving into week 8. Yikes. Now I'm no math major, but lets do some numbers here:

139 fines divided by 7 weeks: 19.85 fines per WEEK. Meaning on average, every game you watch, someone will be fined for something that either happens in the game, or is said about the game afterwards. And more often than not, unless they happen to your team, you'll never know about 40% of them. I wish they also specified a monetary value of those 139 fines, so that we could get an average amount per fine.

In researching this, here is a listing of infractions that, if caught (and oh, you WILL be caught) will reserve players a nice NFL letterhead delivered by FedEx on Wednesday morning.

Fines listed are minimums unless otherwise specified. Other forms of discipline, including higher fines, suspension and banishment may also be imposed, based on the circumstances of the particular violation. Players who were fined for violations in 2007 and whose fines were either partially or fully upheld, will be considered second and/or repeat offenders under this policy. Rescission of fines for first offenders shall not be automatic.

Offense Against Game Official:

Physical Contact with Official:

First Offense: $25,000

Second Offense: $50,000

Verbal or other Non-Physical Offense Against Official:

First Offense: $20,000

Second Offense: $40,000

Flagrant Personal Foul:

Suspension or fine; severity to be determined by degree of violation; the fine may be $10,000 or higher for first offense.

Fighting:

Fighting:

First Offense: $10,000

Second Offense: $25,000

Unnecessarily Entering Fight Area (active involvement):

First Offense: $5,000

Second Offense: $10,000

Unnecessarily Entering Fight Area (no active involvement):

First Offense: $2,500

Second Offense: $7,500

Sportsmanship:

Excessive Profanity; other Unsportsmanlike Conduct (e.g., toward opponent(s), game personnel, fans, etc.):

First Offense: $10,000

Second Offense: $20,000

Taunting:

First Offense: $7,500

Second Offense: $10,000

Football Into Stands:

First Offense: $5,000

Second Offense: $10,000

Uniform:

Foreign Substances on Body/Uniform:

First Offense: $10,000

Second Offense: $15,000

Personal Messages:

First Offense: $5,000

Second Offense: $10,000

Chin Straps:

First Offense: $7,500

Second Offense: $10,000(Additional fines may be imposed on team management and coaching staffs for condoning, permitting, etc., violations in this area)

Other Uniform/Equipment Violation:

First Offense: $5,000

Second Offense: $10,000

On Field Logo Violation:

Preseason and Regular Season

First Offense: $10,000

Second Offense: $20,000

Playoffs (Including Pro Bowl)First Offense: $50,000

Second Offense: $75,000

Super Bowl$100,000

Gang Signing:

Considered conduct detrimental to the League; suspension or fine; severity to be determined in accordance with provisions of the Personal Conduct Policy.

The thing I actually take most from this is the 5 G's for tossing a ball into the stands. Hines does that after every touchdown, and it appears to me that Fast Willie did it after each of his three in the opener as well. That's in addition to the fines that Hines would receive for "Unnecessary Roughness" agains the Ravens.

Does the $5,000 fine also apply to those who keep the ball after they score a touchdown? I knew there was a charge for the balls that people kept or tossed up into the stands, but 5 G's. Damn!

Finally on this topic, they also discussed this apparant bounty that is on Hines Ward for the rematch against the Ravens on December 14. Again, opponents have been trying to get shots in at Hines his whole career, with very little success. If FrankenBerry (T-Sizzle), Ray Ray and mini me (Bart Scott) want to try again then so be it. Mr. Anderson did say that the league would look into the same bounty that Suggs admitted that the Ravens put on Ward and Mendenhall in their first meeting, and take appropriate action, if necessary. I don't really know what else there is to look into, the guy admitted they did it...but we'll see what happens. I have another clip for Mr. Anderson and the league offices. Of course ESPN miked up Ray Lewis for the Monday Nighter at Heinz. Go to the clip they showed of him huddling the defense up before kickoff. I dont remember the exact quote, but it was something like "EVERY TIME SOMEONE TOUCHES THE BALL, THEYRE GETTIN KNOCKED OUT, LETS GO!!!" No doubt, something commonly said amongst defensive captains league wide, but when paired with admission of a bounty on specific players, can be rather incriminating.

How dumb is it to admit that your team went out with the intent to injure players? I guess Ray Ray already knows he's above the law, given his status as a free man. As for Suggs...well, you ask him to draw you a picture of stupid and he'd eat his crayon.

More later, friends.

Things I learned last night

Pretty good battle last night in St. Pete, as the Phillies took Game 1 of the World Series 3-2 over the Rays. The game mostly consisted of each team getting into, then out of, big jams. There could have been a lot more run out put. Some might say it was nerves, but that would take away from the excellent performances by Scott Kazmir and Cole Hamels. Hamels moves to 4-0 this postseason, and the Phils take one on the road. My prediction of J-Roll for MVP hasnt gotten off to such a good start though (0-5, 2 K's). Chase Utley hit a first inning home run, and the Phils added another in the 4th. Hamels made sure that stood up, despite some tough situations, then handed the ball over the Madson and Lidge, who slammed the door. Good game overall in my opinion.

I noticed two lookalikes in this game that I'd like to bring to your attention. Am I way off? Check out the pictures and be the judge.

Phillies Right Fielder Jayson Werth, and the WWE's Rated R Superstar Edge. Werth's hair has grown a bit since this photo, so maybe that's what tipped me off while watching last night, but I thought that it was pretty valid.

Now this one, I was very surprised by, but man..to me, Rays 2B Akinori Iwamura looks a LOT like our own Opening Day starter Ian Snell. I never thought I'd see the day where I'd say that a Japanese man looks like an African American, but look if you put a Pirates jersey over that Japan one, I dont think I'd be able to tell a difference right off the bat...

More to come later today. World Series game 2 tonight!

2008 WORLD SERIES - PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS

The 2008 World Series begins tonight, and features two teams who have one World Series Championship between them (1980 Phillies). The Tampa Bay Rays were probably right up there with the Pirates in the preseason odds to win the pennant (The Rays were 200-1), and the Phillies, while viewed as a strong contender, were viewed as being susceptible to the same choke jobs than have hampered Philadelphia sports teams since the Flyers Broad Street Bullies were hanging multiple Stanley Cup Banners in the 70's (with a few exceptions here and there).

Philadelphia hasn't won a major sports championship since 1983, despite those that may point you in the direction of the Philadelphia Soul's 2008 Arena Bowl victory, or the Phantoms 98 and 05 Calder Cups. Tampa Bay has had 2 in the past 6 years, with the Buccaneers winning Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003 and the Lightning winning the Stanley Cup in 2004.

What's the similarity in these Tampa Bay championships? In both situations, the Tampa Bay team defeated the Philadelphia team in order to earn the right to play for the title. The Bucs went to Veterans Stadium in 2003 and beat the Eagles 27-10 to advance to Super Bowl XXXVII. to add heartbreak to the Philladelphia faithful, that was also the last game ever played at the Vet. The Lightning outlasted the Flyers in a brutal 7 game series in 2004 to advance to the Stanley Cup finals. In both cases, the Tampa Bay representatives were the eventual champions of the league. Can the Rays continue the Tampa Bay roll over Philly? How bout a position by position breakdown.

First Base: Philadelphia's Ryan Howard vs. Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena: For the most part, these two are very similar players. Both are above average size, but play the position well. Howard obviously has a little more pop, as he again led the National League in Home Runs. Averages for each hovered right around .250 for the season, though Howard seemed to pick it up later in the year. Pena, while experiencing quite a resurgence since signing with the Rays, doesn’t quite bring what Ryan Howard does, even with Howard's power outage thus far in the postseason. Advantage: Phillies

Second Base: Philadelphia's Chase Utley vs. Tampa Bay's Akinori Iwamura: No brainer. Iwamura is a nice player, and proved very selfless when he moved from third to second to allow Evan Longoria to come in and take over the hot corner for years to come in Tampa Bay. Iwamura may have the advantage in speed, but that’s about it. Utley is arguably the best 2nd basemen in the league, let along this series. Advantage: Phillies

Shortstop: Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins vs. Tampa Bay's Jason Bartlett: Again, a no brainer. Bartlett is a nice player, and has been a bit of a spark plug for the Rays all season long, but Jimmy Rollins, though not matching the production he showed last season, is still the reigning NL MVP. I look for him to shine brighter in this series as well. Advantage: Phillies

Third Base: Philadelphia's Pedro Feliz vs. Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria: We knew the Rays would get in there sooner or later. Longoria has been everything the Rays expected of him and more. He's come in and become the face of the franchise, their MVP, the leagues Rookie of the Year (it's not official yet, but cmon…) and has shown no ill effects in adjusting to the postseason spotlight either, as he hit home runs in his first two at bats, and 6 over the course of the postseason thus far. He's shined in the spotlight. Feliz is essentially a journeyman third baseman. Servicable, above average glove, but not the game changer Longoria can be. Greg Dobbs is also sure to factor in, as he brings a better bat than Feliz, but still nothing close to what Longoria can provide. Advantage: Rays

Left Field: Philadelphia's Pat Burrell vs. Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford: Nice matchup here. Interestingly enough, both left fielders are the longest tenured members of their respective teams. Both have had disappointing seasons over the course of their careers, but Crawfords has been this year, thus I'll lean towards Burrell. With their powers combined, they would be a huge force. Burrell's power combined with Crawfords speed and average (up until this season). But, Crawford's average has dipped, he's never head the power numbers typically expected of a corner outfielder, but he can make things happen on the basepaths. Again, a slight edge goes to Burrell because he's been more consistant over the 08 season. Advantage: Phillies

Center Field: Philadelphia's Shane Victorino vs. Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton: Another good one. It can be argued that both these guys have been their teams MVP's over the course of the playoffs. Victorino has been everywhere. Timely hitting, splendid baserunning, excellent defense, even a little bit of controversey, but always 100% hustle. Upton has overcome a somewhat disappointing regular season by doing nothing short of mashing in October. Upton, the number two overall pick in the 2002 draft (Ugh…The Pirates chose Bryan Bullington number one that year, in case you needed to be reminded), has always been viewed as a 5 tool guy, and he has been for the most part. Even still, this postseason has been his coming out party. Advantage: Rays

Right Field: Philadelphia's Jayson Werth vs. Tampa Bay's Gabe Gross: Werth has had a very solid season after being a platoon player for most of his career. He, like Victorino, is known for being gritty and hard nosed. He's got a little speed to him as well. He can be a factor hitting behind the big guns at the top of the lineup. Gross, who came to the Rays from the Brewers earlier this year, helped get the Rays into October, but has done very little since. Look for fan favorite Rocco Baldelli to get more time in right over the course of the series, as his body permits. Advantage: Phillies

Catcher: Philadelphia's Carlos Ruiz vs. Tampa Bay's Dioner Navarro: I personally don’t see why Ruiz has gotten the bulk of the starts over Chris Coste. Maybe he calls a better game, or has a better arm…not too sure. Coste has the better bat by far though. It will be interesting to see how Charlie Manuel works Coste into the lineup. Navarro emerged this season as an All Star for the Rays, has a crazy arm, throwing out 38% of base stealers this season (yes, that’s good), and possesses a good bat. He can show some pop every now and then too, but he's been more a gap to gap guy rather than a home run threat. Advantage: Rays

Rotation: Philadelphia's Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, and Joe Blanton vs. Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza, and Andy Sonnanstine: Outside of Hamels, who has been a stud all season long, you're not too sure about what you're gonna get from any of the Phillies starters. Myers has had a strong second half, but has struggled a bit in the playoffs, sporting an ERA over 5. That said, Jamie Moyer's playoff ERA nearly triples that, coming in at 13.50. Blanton is an arm, and can eat some innings, but I don’t see a dominating performance coming from him by any means. The Rays staff is solid top to bottom, though Garza has been their best lately. He threw two gems against the Red Sox to help catapult the Rays into the World Series. Kazmir overcame a rough start in game 2 of the ALCS and has been what you would expect from him outside of that start. Shields has had some rough patches in some of the games, but his playoff ERA is still 3.72, and has been the victim of low run support as well. Sonnanstine is a great choice for a Game 4 starter. He's battled all season and posted 13 wins on the board. Granted, he's no ace, but I'd take him over Blanton in a heartbeat. Advantage: Rays

Bullpen: The Phillies bullpen has been a strength all season long. Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin have controlled the middle innings when needed. They've been rocky at some points, but that’s kind of par for the course regarding middle relievers. Scott Eyre, J.C. Romero, and Ryan Madson have been damn near dominant (outside of some spotty control issues) in holding Phillie leads prior to handing the ball over to Brad Lidge, who hasn't blown a save ALL SEASON. We keep waiting for a Pujols-esqe walk off that will damage Lidge's psyche, but no ones been able to pull one off as of yet. The Rays pen is a little less standardized. Most of their guys can be put in in any situation. With a lead in the 7th, they usually start with J.P. Howell, moving into Grant Balfour, and then Dan Wheeler, who took the closer spot due to Troy Percival's injury. This offseason though, Manager Joe Maddon has interchanged roles, playing matchups, and showing no fear for tomorrow when throwing guys in there. In addition to the combo above, Trever Miller and Chad Bradford have been thrown in, and performed well, in difficult situations. Edwin Jackson moves to the pen for this series, as he can provide a lot of innings if necessary. A big question revolves around top prospect David Price. What will his role be in the World Series? Will he be a matchup guy? A set up man? Closer? He used his 98 MPH fastball and ridiculous curve to perfection against the Red Sox, and got the save in Game 7, so he's already been put in about as big a pressure situation as you can be put into. Both pens should be solid throughout the series, but I think I have to give the Phightins another slight edge here. Advantage: Phillies

So tally that up, and you have Phillies 6, Rays 4. Unfortunately I can't deviate from these rankings and pick against them. A rule of thumb is, when in doubt, go with pitching. However, I'm not sure that over 9 innings, the Rays pitching is THAT much better than the Phillies. Since they have a few more bats, I'll side with them. I give the managerial edge to Joe Maddon over Chuck Manuel, but not by much. Though, reasonbly so, that is overshadowed by the Phanatic's mascoterial dominance over Raymond.

Top to bottom, these should all be very competitive games, and a very fun series to watch. As I've mentioned, I like some of the players that the Phillies have, but I would definitely not enjoy seeing those obnoxious Philadelphia fans have reason to celebrate. Trust me, I would love nothing more than to see anohter Mitch Williams moment, but I just think Philadelphia extracts a little bit of vengeance on the Tampa area for the aforementioned Bucs and Lightning victories, and brings home the 2008 World Series Championship in 6 games. MVP: Jimmy Rollins.

"Fines" Ward?

Still lots on the horizon today, and we're hoping to get a few different posts in today, but we'll start with this:

Hines Ward will not be fined for the block he put on Bengals LB Keith Rivers in Sunday's game. The block was viewed as brilliant by some, dirty by others. But the important thing is that Hines was not penalized, nor was he fined, nor should he have been for either. The NFL got it right this time.

For some insight on this, we found the following from "Ask Vic" on Jaguars.com, so it's a perspective from outside the division, that shouldn't be biased one way or another. Here goes:

Kevin from Orange Park, FL
What’s your reaction to Hines Ward breaking rookie LB Keith Rivers’ jaw? I, for one, think Hines Ward is a dirty player. Seems to me most games he purposely stirs up trouble and takes cheap hits.
Vic: I’ve watched the hit up close and in slow motion several times. I’ve even stopped the action at the point of impact. The block is clearly made with his right shoulder and there are no signs of using the helmet as a weapon. Ward’s feet are on the ground and he is in no way guilty of launching. At first I thought the block might be unnecessary but, on further review, it clearly springs the ball-carrier around the corner and denies Rivers the ability to make the tackle. Dirty? What’s dirty about it? There was no flag thrown. Fine him? They should pin a medal on him. In my time covering this game, I have seen head-hunting defensive backs try to cripple defenseless receivers. I saw Jack Tatum and George Atkinson target Lynn Swann; head-shot him repeatedly and even attack him from behind and karate chop him in the back of the neck. I saw Tatum cripple Daryl Stingley for life in a preseason game. I saw Thom Darden hit a receiver over the middle so hard I thought the guy was dead. I remember seeing Jaguars cornerback Dave Thomas crush Jerry Rice in a preseason game and celebrate as though it was the play that won the Super Bowl. In the preseason? How about the launch job on Anquan Boldin a few weeks ago? Well, finally, a wide receiver has come along who has decided to hit back. Ward is striking a blow for all the defenseless receivers over the years who’ve been targeted by defensive players with an intent to punish. All of a sudden, the hunters have become the hunted. I think everyone in the league is waiting to see what the league does about the Rivers hit. It’s going to define what the game has become and where it’s going.

The word out of New york that Hines will not be fined is great news in my opinion. Vic is absolutely right. So much of the fun has been taken out of the game already (Fines for TD celebrations, fines for mismatched socks, nixing tributes on peoples shoes, etc.) that the last thing they need to do is start taking the hitting out of the game as well. If you want to fine somebody, fine Terrell Suggs (A.K.A. Terrible Sucks) and Ray "Double Murder" Lewis for admitting that they put a bounty out on Ward and Rashard Mendenhall in the September 29th game. Injuries are one thing, full out intent is another. Fuck you Ravens.

Nice Spread.

Lots to get to today, after another busy weekend.

Let's begin with the weekly NFL picks. We'll have to call the results in the initial JonJon - Virus challenge as inconclusive. The varying spreads in multiple games made it such, and for that I apologize. Next week we'll make sure we have the same spread source. Anyway, with the Patriots demolition of the Broncos last night, the way I had it was 6-6 for myself, and 6-6 for the virus, with 3 being impacted by a rather large difference in the spread (Cle @ Was, Det @ Hou, and Sea @ TB). By no means a stellar week for either of us, but still. We'll call this one our preseason, and get to the real challenge this week, espn spreads be damned!

The Steelers let Cincinnati hang around a bit towards the end of the first half, then had enough as they essentially dominated the 2nd half to defeat the Bengals 38-10 to move to 5-1. Ben Roethlisberger is now 10-0 in professional games played in his home state of Ohio. Mewelde Moore had a career high 3 Touchdwons, 2 rushing and one receiving. Hines Ward and Nate Washington accounted for the other Steeler touchdowns. The defense was, well, what we've come to expect from our Steeler D. 10 points allowed, not a lot to be had by the Bengals rushing attack, and 7 sacks of poor, poor Ryan Fitzpatrick. There is a bit of a buzz around the league concerning a tremendous hit that Hines Ward put on Bengals rookie linebacker Keith Rivers. Everyone you ask seems to have a differing opinion on it though. The hit ocurred on a Roethlisberger to Matt Spaeth pass. Spaeth is running down the sidelines, as Rivers is coming across from the middle of the field to help make the tackle. Hines breaks off his route to come back and stick his shoulder (yes, shoulder) right into the chest of Mr. Rivers. Rivers, who is 3 inches taller and weight 45-50 pounds more than Ward flies about 3 yards backwards and lands hard on his neck/back. There may have been some helmet to helmet contact, but theres no way that it was intentional, no matter how you look at the tape. Anyway, there was no penalty called on the play, but Keith Rivers left the game and did not return. (NOTE: The photo to the right was not from the play in question. This is from years ago during a battle I believe against Madieu Williams.) We discovered today that his jaw was broken on that play and he will be out, possibly for the season. Some Bengals called it a crackback block, or unnecessarily vicious, others say it was a clean hit, and if given the opportunity, they would have done the same thing. Others still say that if Rivers were a QB or RB, Hines would have been thrown out of the game for that kind of hit. All I see is a crazy hit from a tough player who is known for delivering such hits, against a rookie who wasn’t aware of everyone surrounding him. I grant you that it's upsetting that his jaw is broken and he'll be out for a substatial amount of time, but all the haters who want to make more out of it than that are ridiculous. It was a legal hit, one that Hines is good for probably at least once a game, and if these guys want to cry vengeance or place bounties for their next game, so be it. People have been trying to get good shots at Hines for 10 years now, and haven't had a ton of success. How the Cincy defense, or Chinedum Ndukwe, more specifically, expects to do so, will be comedic to see. Excellent write up by Ron Cook in todays Post-Gazette detailing the Bengals reaction compared to the Steelers, and Mr. Ward's himself (including some interesting retrospect to some of the comments and/or threats made by defenders over the years).

On a similar subject, some of the retribution that the Bengals are seeking might have been shown by Cedric Benson, who lowered his helmet into Troy Polamalu's on a run late in the game. However, no one seems to be making a huge deal out of that. Different situation, yes, but from my view there was a hell of a lot more intent to get a helmet shot in there than there was on Ward's block. Polamalu left the game, didn't return, and his status for next week is up in the air. He'll be a big factor in trying to contain Brandon Jacobs, Plaxico Burress, and the Giants offense, but given his history of concussions, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be pronounced out for this week.

As much as it pains me to credit him, Bob Smizik of the Post-Gazette made a nice analogy of the Steelers upcoming schedule. Two pieces of toast (@ Bengals week 7, vs. Bengals week 12) filled with an array of meaty games against the Giants this weekend, then @ Washington on Monday night, then home games against the Colts and Chargers. This stretch will definitely tell us more about the Steelers as more than just AFC North contenders. The Giants have looked a bit more beatable over the past two weeks, the Redskins as well, and the Colts and Chargers have been wildly inconsistant. Having three of the next four at home helps as well. The best thing about a 5-1 start is that even if the Steelers play .500 ball the rest of the way, they would be 10-6, which looks like it should be enough to win the AFC North. You know the Giants will come in blitzing, doing all they can to get to Ben, so it will be interesting to see what Bruce Arians and co. have in store to ensure we don't have a repeat performance of week 3 in Philly.

We still have a lot to cover throughout the remainder of the week. We'll get your World Series Preview and Predictions later today, also a little bit of NHL and NBA coverage for you. And your Power Rankings and NFL picks as always.

NFL PICKS - Week 7

Based on the Virus' stellar showing last weekend, 10-4 against the spread, we will continue to go with what works. The Virus returns with his picks and justifications for week 7, and he's gotten substantially more vulgar this week. Be forewarned. I guess I can understand his frustration after seeing his Redskins squander an opportunity to take over 1st place in their division...

However, instead of totally deferring to the Virus this week, I will make my own picks as well. Let's see who will bring home the bragging rights for week 7. Now, lets bring in the Virus:


Greetings folks,
Some random notes before I get to my picks this week:

-I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that Troy "Mmmmm Jerry Jones, it tastes so good" Aikman said the words "Antrel Rolle continuously continues to miss tackles" last sunday.

-Everyone thought that the whole "The 4th place team in the NFC South always wins the division the next year" thing was over before this year except me. I put up the link last week...but Atlanta has more karma built up than the Dalai Lama after saving a crashing airplane full of blind orphans, simply because of this.

-I never played a sport in high school. But I'd imagine that...maybe not on the FIRST day...but at least during the first WEEK of JV football practice before your 9th grade starts, you learn that if you're an offensive lineman and a pass is tipped, heading in your direction, you BAT THE FUCKING BALL DOWN! And THEN he said "I was afraid if I did that, they'd call it a fumble." Wow...

-The Cowboys wasted a golden opportunity to gain some points with me and do something creative with their Roy Williamses. For shame, pussies. For shame.

-I traded Tony Romo, Miles Austin, and Thomas Jones for Plaxico Burress and Larry Johnson. The day the trade went through, Romo was ruled out for a month. I was ecstatic. Then Larry Johnson has to go and "hit" some woman in the face. And now Romo might actually play. Good one, God. Good one...

Ok, so onto the picks:

San Diego (PK) over Buffalo:

The Chargers are looking good. That was an utter beat down on Sunday night and I couldn't've been happier. The Bills are 2-0 at home but I like the Chargers to get on kind of a roll here. The Broncos are a house of cards with that defense, and the Chargers have an MVP candidate lining up under center. Granted, he's a raging dickhead frat boy whose two favorite artists are probably OAR and Kanye West, who never beat Maryland in college (come on...how sad is that), and they're coach by Norv "I guess I just never thought to tell Gus NOT to do that" Turner, but I just trust a 3-3 Chargers team more than a 4-1 Toronto team. That's just me though.

The Jon says: Chargers. I think Arizona may have exposed the Bills a bit.

Chicago (-1.5) over Minnesota:

Minnesota barely beat a team whose Quarterback ran out of the endzone and thought the play was still going on. And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

The Jon says: Bears. Kyle Orton may actually be the lesser of two evils this week.

Pittsburgh (-8) over Cincinnati

Sorry, dad. If this was one week ago and the Steelers didn't just have a bye after gaining a huge win, I'd say this game could be Week 7's edition of the letdown game. BUT, Pittsburgh just had an extra week of planning and the Bengals are STILL in the running for winning the title of "Worst Bengals Team of the Last 15 Years."

The Jon says: Steelers. Liks I said in the power rankings, you dont let you guard down on the road within the division.

Kansas City (+8) over Tennessee:

Tennessee is looking nice. And generally speaking, I'll throw my support behind a drunken alcoholic for a Quarterback. But I'm just not sure the Titans can score 8 points. Gunther Cunningham is still KC's defensive coordinator, right?

The Jon says: Titans. Arrowhead is tough, as the Chiefs proved when Denver waltzed in, but the Chiefs have trouble scoring against weak defenses, what can they do against Tennessee? The Titans D may cover 8 on their own

Dallas (-6.5) over St. Louis

Lightning isn't gonna strike twice for either me or St. Louis. Plus, the Cowboys have a great (read: horrendously overrated/"Wow. Really? 3 draft picks???") two-way player in Roy Williams. They're hurting, but there's no way St. Louis can put up only 4 FGs on offense and win again, or even come close. Sadly, I gotta go with the Cowboys on this one. Unless the Rams sign 4 WRs named Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde who can now run freely around the entire playing area.

The Jon says: Dallas. No need to elaborate.

Miami (-2.5) over Baltimore:

New coach, same patheticism for Baltimore. Joey "Unibrow" Flacco isn't looking too good anymore, and unfortunately, Ray Lewis won't be able to touch the ball carrier 3 seconds after the play has been blown dead in order to be granted a "tackle" after Ronnie Brown is dancing in the endzone right in his face. Danny Kleinman brought up this point a few years ago, and Bill Simmons addressed it last week:

Q: Doesn't Ray Lewis have to lead the league in my new stat: "Last Man to Dive in on an Already Made Tackle?" As the play is dying, he comes flying in, diving, rolling, jumping up, slapping the helmet, shouting, doing that crazy electric-boogaloo dance that makes my eyes bleed out before my head explodes. Having added nothing to the play other than his half-seizure, he's all of a sudden the center of attention for these nitwit announcers. -- Robert, Fort Worth, Texas

SG: I demand that "Last Man to Dive in on an Already Made Tackle" become an official Football Outsiders stat starting this week. The real shame is we'll never know who had more career LMDAMTs -- Lewis or Junior Seau, who had 650 of them last season alone. It's kind of like how we'll never know who has the sack record. We just have to wonder.

One of these days, Ray Lewis will be doing his stupid Fred Sanford dance (right up Charlie Murphy's alley, if you get my drift), and it really will be the big one, Elizabeth.

The Jon says: Ravens. I don't know what it is, but I'm thinking a little bounce back is in order. They'll be motivated by their old friend Joey Porter to put up a good fight.

New York Giants (-6) over San Francisco:

Definitely see no reason why the Giants won't rebound at home over a Mike Nolan-coached team. I'm still bitter because the last time the Redskins won the division (1999), we had one of the top offenses in the league, and something like the 30th ranked defense, "coordinated" by Nolan. But, to quote Hannibal Lecter..."Love the suit."

The Jon says: Giants. I wish I knew where our buddy gets his spreads, but I picked the Giants even when they were laying 10.5, so this is a slam dunk.

Carolina (PK) over New Orleans:

Carolina is playing at home, where they're 3-0. New Orleans is playing on the road, where they're 0-2. Carolina has a better record than New Orleans. As Homer Simpson said, "That's a pretty big lock."

The Jon says: Saints. Carolina's D, while still good, aint great. Brees is on a record pace, and gets his top WR and TE back. Good enough for me.

Houston (-5) over Detroit:

Again. Detroit's QB ran out of bounds and didn't even realize it. Remember a couple years ago when Ethan Albright's awareness rating in Madden was a 59?

"It’s also pretty wonderful that my awareness rating was 59. You make it sound like I wake up in the morning, helplessly shit and piss myself, then lose three of my teeth before I discover that I am trying to eat a rock for breakfast."

If I download my Madden roster update and Dan "The Nincompoopic Norseman" Orlovsky and he isn't a 58 at best, I wouldn't wanna be in EA's shoes because man...they will be receiving one HARSHLY-WORDED e-mail.

(Side Note: I spent quite some time trying to come up with a nickname for Orlovsky. Other contendors:

Dan "My ancestors pounded their fist on a keyboard once to come up with my last name" Orlovsky.

Dan "In soccer, if the balls is on the out-of-bounds line, it's still in play" Orlovsky.

Dan "I wish I was on the 1996 Broncos" Orlovsky (Look at the first pic in the second row).

and Dan "Man...fuck..." Orlovsky)

I think the Texans are a better team than what their record shows. So bet on them.

The Jon says: Again, a discrepancy in spread. I have the Lions getting 9.5, which I took. If it is indeed 9.5, I like Detroit to cover. If not, then....aw hell, lets still go with the Lions. Whatever. P.S. - If you're a fantasy player in need of a Wide Receiver moving forward, it may behoove you to look into Shaun McDonald, who should slide into the spot vacated by Roy Williams.

New York Jets (-4.5) over Oakland

If the Jets are wearing those blue uniforms again, then this is a done deal. If they're wearing their regular uniforms and they happen to be playing any of the following teams:

St. Louis

Houston

Cincinnati

Detroit

Oakland

then it's a done deal. They're playing Oakland. Therefore, it's a done deal.

The Jon says: Jets. Although, I hear Darren McFadden is watching Dolphins games and urging to implement some wildcat stuff into the Raiders O. Seriously. Still, I prefer to spend as little time as possible talking about the horrendous Raiders...

Indianapolis (-2) over Green Bay

I think the Colts are back to normal, while the Packers are fading fast. I also heard Marvin Harrison opened up a night club in Green Bay. What else do you need to hear? Oh...and whatever the Over is, for the love of God, take it.

The Jon says: Colts. I think my new favorite non Steeler is Melvin Bullitt.

Washington (-2.5) over Cleveland

The Redskins have outscored their opponents by a total of 9 points this season. This spread is a LOT more acceptable than the one last week. While the Redskins have a depleted secondary, I'm pretty confident that they're gonna come back with a vengeance this week. They made the mistake of thinking that 4-1 is the same as 7-1. They won't make that mistake twice.

The Jon says: This is getting ridicurous...I have 7.5 as the spread. For the future we'll get our sources straight. This time, if it's 7.5, give me Brownies. If it's 2.5, I'm taking the Skins.

Tampa Bay (-8.5) over Seattle:

The NFC West is a joke, the NFC South is looking nice. Even though it's a night game, Seattle isn't flying across the country and beating Tampa Bay in Tampa. Oh and just to satisfy my obligatory Mike Holmgren joke: "You like the mail, Mr. Kramer?"

The Jon says: Seahawks. Don't ask. Even I have no clue why...

New England (+2.5) over Denver:

Breaking News: Denver has no defense. Belichick will be angry, he'll whip out the tapes, and he'll find a way to stop Cutlter and Terrell Davis version 11.0 or whatever this year's Denver Running Back is named. Hopefully the Devil Rays will have taken the wind out of the Patriots fans' sails though.

The Jon says: I'm taking the Broncos, despite my stance that they are highly overrated. My only hope for this game is that Matt Cassel doesn't shit himself the way he did last week. Some TD's to Welker would be a bonus as well.

The Virus: Last week (10-4).

"Join Me or Die. Could you do any less?"

-M. Sparkle

The Jon: Last week: (N/A)
"What a brave corporate logo, I accept the challenge of Mr. Sparkle" (too easy)
- Lucy Liu's girls.

THE 9-9-9 CHALLENGE

Date: Saturday, October 11, 2008.
Time: 8:07 PM
Game: ALCS Game 2: Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Contestants: Kevin F., Cyrus, Kevin L., Danny, Derrick, Matt (Dewey), Raph, Zach, and your faithful leader (who will be referred to as Page for the duration of this entry).

Olfactory senses in Clarksburg, MD were tickled with the delightful scent of over a hundred grilled frankfurters on the evening of Saturday, October 11, 2008, as grillmaster Zach prepared to host the inaugural 9-9-9 challenge. All comers were welcomed into the beautiful new home of Zach and Crystal to compete. The rules were simple. Consume 9 hot dogs (with bun) and 9 beers over the span of a 9 inning baseball game. The date, chosen months in advance, featured game two of the 2008 American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Contestants arrived with empty stomachs, but full aspirations.

As the dogs were distributed amongst the competitors, early discussion ensued. Who was the favorite? Who would even be able to complete the challenge? Should we have waited for a National League game, which are typically prone to more pitching changes, pinch hitters, and other stoppages in play which would extend the game, and the 9-9-9 challenge competitors chances at success? And, what would a competition be without a little action on the side? The 9-9-9 pool was initiated. Competitors and observers were invited to pitch in $5, and write down who they thought would successfully complete the challenge. One point was awarded for a successful completion, one point docked if you selected someone who was unable to finish. Tiebreaker was who would complete the challenge the fastest. People looked, discussed, and pondered. Among the things heard during the selection process were "The Kevin's are a lock, there's money involved", "Zach's got the home field advantage", "Cyrus? Really?", "Page? Didn't he just have food poisoning just yesterday? He's got no shot", and "Will Raph and Dewey kill each other before they have an opportunity to finish?". The chips were down, would the dogs and beers stay down with them?

The pitching matchup looked to be an unfavorable one for the teams on the field, and the men in Clarksburg. Josh Beckett vs. Scott Kazmir. Not only do neither tend to give up an abundance of hits or runs, but both also are not the type to spend a lot of time meandering around the mound between pitches. As first pitch drew near, our 9-9-9 contestants discussed strategy, technique, and expectations. Beers first or dogs first? Quick start or strong finish? Same beer throughout, or change it up at some point? Condiments…diversion from the taste of that 7th or 8th dog, or occupant of valuable stomach space? As Fox seamlessly transitioned from Jeanie Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy to Chip Carey, Ron Darling, and Buck Martinez, the Rays took the field and the 9-9-9 contestants took their seats. First pitch was minutes away. With it came a complete and utter disregard for the human body and digestive tract for the evening.

Timeline, 8:07 PM. The Rays Scott Kazmir delivers the first pitch to Red Sox Centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, and the 9-9-9 challenge gets underway. As soon as the game began, we had a disqualification, as the shocking revelation was uncovered that Cyrus had concealed 9 cocktail weenies into 2 buns, and brought 7.5 oz. Budweiser ponies as his competition beverage. Being that this is a clear and concise violation of official 9-9-9 challenge rules, Cyrus was disqualified, and a collective groan was heard throughout the gambling community.

Subsequent to our first elimination, the rest of the 9-9-9 challengers went to work. Raph had the theory that he would drink good, heavy beer first, to increase the intoxication level early, which would then allow him to finish more dogs in the mid to late innings. Raph was heavily questioned when his first Boddington's was poured, to which he responded with a typical series of expletives that only Raph can so eloquently deliver. Most of the other challengers loaded 4 dogs on their plate, and cracked beers as needed. Zach had a different approach. He polished off 7 dogs in the early going, then switched to the brews. Would one strategy succeed over another?

On the field, the game got off to a fast start as well. The Bo Sox put up 2 runs in the first, both coming after 2 quick outs. With 2 outs, David Ortiz walked, Kevin Youkilis singled, and our old friend Jason Bay doubled to put the 2 Sox runs on the board. The challengers cheered the walks, hits, and runs, not because they had a particular rooting interest in the game (other than Dewey), but because each baserunner extended the inning, and the opportunity at completing the 9-9-9 challenge. The Rays answered with 2 of their own in the bottom half of the first, again, much to the delight of all involved. An excruciating total of 58 pitches were thrown in the first inning, and the number of hot dogs polished off by our 9-9-9ers may have closely rivaled that number. With an inning in the books, the opening jitters dissolved, and hopes were high for completion.

The hit parade on the field continued throughout the first 5 innings, as through 5, Tampa led 8-6, a total of 7 home runs had been hit by the two teams, including two by Dustin Pedroia, and both starters had been knocked out of the game. As play on the field settled down, so did our challengers. Raph could be seen doing stomach crunches throughout the early innings, no doubt an effort to crunch everything down and create maximum space. Derrick took his usual spot face down on the floor periodically, to ensure he had enough fuel to finish the race. Page endlessly paced the basement, knowing that sitting down for an extended period of time would assuredly spell doom. Danny opted to walk outside, feeling as though the fresh air would be cleansing and nullify the negative effects that the gluttonous consumption of hot dogs and beers was bringing forth. The Kevins and Dewey took the leisurely approach, camping out on the sofas and recliners, watching the game while attempting to keep pace. Significant others and friends who were in attendance as bystanders slowly became more and more concerned and/or appalled with the challengers status with each bite or sip.

Our first voluntary white flag of the evening was waived by Kevin F. However, in waving the flag, he neglected to notice that it was only the 5th inning at the time, and there was still plenty of time to finish. When asked about his decision, Kevin responded "Yeah, I know there's time, I'm just not gonna do this to my body anymore." Eventually, Kevin's pride took over and he jumped back into the challenge. Was this a ploy to throw other challengers off? Would the break in the action disrupt his momentum? Whatever the motivation, Kevin was back, and was determined to make his presence felt. It was right around this point that Kevin L. had opted for the Kobayashi method, removing the hot dog from the bun, smashing the bun up, dunking it, and eating it. Only difference being that Kobayashi dunks his bun in water. Kevin decided that it would be wise to dunk his in his beer. Negative results ensued.

Into the 7th inning we travel, where Boston had pulled to within 8-7, but the 9th inning was slowly creeping up on the 9-9-9 participants. The field had benefitted from the fact that the game was about at the 3 hour point, with 3 full innings yet to play. Things were looking good for most, questionable for some, but not out of reach for any. At 11:12 PM, 3 hours and 5 minutes after first pitch, our winner was crowned. Not necessarily an underdog, but by no means a favorite, the house cheered the efforts of Raph, who takes home the crown for the first 9-9-9 challenge. Had the game gone at a normal pace, he may have been the only finisher in the group. Luckily for the rest of us, there was still plenty of time. Slowly but surely, our challengers goals were met. Danny followed Raph's finish, then Kevin F., even with his temporary withdrawal. Page had joined Derrick on the floor, but were they out of commission, or merely resting for a big finish? By this time, most of the bystanders had vacated the basement, as they could no longer bear witness to the excessive consumption of the 9-9-9 challengers.

Those remaining cheered a wild pitch by Dan Wheeler, allowing Dustin Pedroia to score the tying run in the top of the 8th, and again when the Rays were held scoreless in the bottom half. If nothing else, it bought the contenders precious minutes to finish, seeing as the tie score guaranteed that a bottom of the 9th would be played. Eventually, Zach, Dewey, and Kevin L. finished, and the Red Sox went quietly in the top of the 9th. As the Rays came to bat, Page and Derrick feverishly tried to finish what they needed to become 9-9-9 all stars. Page was down to 3/4 of a hot dog, and Derrick had about 1/2 a dog and 1/2 a beer. It wasn't until a slightly intoxicated Page was reminded that a walk off could end the game at any time, that the dog disappeared, and his challenge was successful. Meaning that all that was standing between a 100% success rate (sans Cyrus) was another bite of hot dog and sip of Coors Light belonging to Derrick. Derrick completed this with a batter remaining, meaning that all eligible contestants had successfully completed the 9-9-9 challenge. The question now was….at what cost?

Raph and Danny could be found on the floors of various rooms around the house following their completion. The Kevins departed not long after the 9th inning was completed, not sticking around for the completion of the game. As Erin collected the pool money for correctly choosing the most challengers to finish, a makeshift tent was built around Derrick, who hadn't moved from his comfortable spot on the basement floor since finishing the challenge. This tent, comprised of folding chairs and blankets, served its purpose, as it kept Derrick safe from hungry canines or other intruders, including yours truly.

The 9th inning had ended, but the game continued on. The race was on for the 9-9-9 challengers to keep everything down, as rules specify that no vomiting can occur until at least an hour after completion of the challenge. To this reporters knowledge, all challengers met this requirement as well, although Kevin L. didn't last much longer after that initial hour (Photo not for the squeamish). It's my understanding that he was the only one to rid himself of 9 beers and 9 dogs that night.

For me personally, Sunday was a long day. Though it could have been worse had the hangover been. After finishing the 9 beers, I switched straight to water, trying to fight off any potential lingering morning effects. For the most part it worked. The worst thing about Sunday morning was the taste in my mouth. You know how when you have a cigar, then next day your mouth tastes like shit? Well, it was essentially the same as that, only it tasted like day old hot dogs….repeatedly….for hours. 100 times worst than the morning after cigar taste. I guess it could have been worse, I could have been a Redskins fan and had to watch them lose to the Rams. It being the Steelers bye week was probably the best possible scenario for me, as I didn’t need to have an overly vested interest in what was going on.

Anyway, I'd like to offer a heartfelt congratulations to all the gentlemen who successfully became 9-9-9 All Stars this past Saturday. Additionally, our appreciation to Zach and Crystal for hosting and providing the dogs, despite the likelihood of potentially bad things happening to their new house. Luckily no damage was rendered. And finally, our appreciation and condolences to friends, wives, and girlfriends who undoubtedly lost a ton of respect for all of us over the course of the night. Thanks for driving our disgusting asses home afterwards.

Now that we've become all stars, I'm not sure that the 9-9-9 challenge is on any of our short lists of things we ever want to do again in our lives.

Oh, by the way, the Rays won 9-8 on a B.J. Upton sac fly in the bottom of the 11th to tie the series at 1. As we stand today, the Rays are now up 3-1 with game 5 in progress tonight in Boston.

NFL WEEKEND WRAP

This is why we love sports, right?

For the first time in the HISTORY of the NFL, thats right, the HISTORY...5 games were decided within the last 10 seconds of regulation or in overtime. There were upsets all over the place, last second drama, things that happened in the first quarter that affected the outcome of games, etc. What a day it was. It actually made me glad that the Steelers had a bye so I could take in as many of the other games and highlights as possible. I just hope the Steelers took notice, as they waltz their way into one of these proverbial potential let down games coming up Sunday in Cincinnati.

Let's do a quick wrap around, starting with the 5 last second games, starting with the one I actually watched in full. I highly recommend watching the NFL Network higlight clips for each.

St. Louis: 19
Washington: 17
Not sure how they could let this happen. Jason Campbell just was in a different place yesterday than he has been over the previous 4 weeks. Balls were tipped, off target, just an off day for #17. It's easy to see the amount of talent that the Rams have on offense, but it was the big plays made by the defense that made the difference here. Maybe Jim Haslett lit a fire that Scott Linehan just couldn't. The Redskins turned the ball over 3 times in their first 4 posessions, after previously not allowing a turnover on offense all season. The big swing came just before halftime, when Campbell threw a pass that was tipped, and then caught by lineman Pete Kendall who tried to muster a few yards. A Ram defender put his helmet right into the ball, and Oshiomogho Atogwe took it 75 yards for a Rams TD. At least a 10 point swing just before the half. The Skins put up 10 points in the 4th quarter, including Clinton Portis' 2nd TD run of the day, to take a 17-16 lead with just under 4 minutes left. St. Louis drove to about mid field, then were faced with a 3rd and 13 at their own 41, with just over a minute to play. Marc Bulger let one fly, and a ridiculous catch was made by rookie Donnie Avery which put the Rams in position to attempt a 34 yard Field Goal. Bulger then took a knee to wind some clock down, but forgot that he played for the Rams, and that someone had to do something stupid to try to ruin the game for them. Today's culprit (and judging by the St. Louis media, he's a repeat offender) was Richie Incognito. Incognito played the role of idiot about as well as one can all game long, and is lucky it didnt cost the Rams their first victory of the year. His Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty on a KNEEL play pushed the game winning field goal attempt from 34 yards to 49. It mattered not, as Josh Brown knocked down the winner and the Rams departed DC with their first victory of the 08 season. Should be a dreary week at the office...

Minnesota: 12
Detroit: 10
So I lied. I DON'T recommend watching the highlight reel of this one. I can't believe how many people predicted the Vikings to be a Super Bowl contender. They have looked anything but. I think they definitely missed Bryant McKinnie's presence in the early going, and now that he's back, it opens up the running game more. Peterson went for over 100 yet again, and the defense did what they were expected to do against the Lions, in only allowing 10 points. The difference in the game actually, was the safety that Lions backup QB Dan Orlovsky essentially took on his own. He dropped back to pass and must have thought he was playing in the CFL, because he showed no bearing of where the back of the end zone was, ran out of bounds, 2 points for the Vikes, who eventually go on to win by those two point. Only you Detroit...Only you.

Houston: 29
Miami: 28
Miami was up to their usual tricks, and carried a lead late into this one. Matt Schaub was booed relentlessly in the early going, as his tendency to throw the ball to the opposite team remained throughout the first half. Give his his dap though, he battled back and brought the Texans back from down 5 with 1:45 to go. He called his own number on the game winning TD play, a QB draw on 4th and goal. Nice work. The Texans joined the Rams in getting their first victory on the season. How bout that Andre Johnson, by the way?

Atlanta: 22
Chicago: 20
This is easily the one I understand the least, yet in my opinion is the most impressive. Matt Ryan, making his 6th career start, torches the vaunted Bears defense for his first 300 yard passing game, including a 26 yard pass with :01 left on the clock, out of bounds, to set up the winning field goal. Incredible. The Bears scored with 17 seconds left in the game to take the lead. 17 seconds! They proceeded to squib the kickoff, allowing the Falcons to return it to about their own 45 with :06 left. Ryan find Michael Jenkins for 26, out of bounds (how on earth were the sidelines not locked down?), Jason Elam comes in to attempt a 48 yard field goal...ballgame. The Falcons move into a tie for first place in the NFC South, which is quietly laying claim to the 2nd best division in football. I would be concerned about Michael Turner though. He's not performing very well on teams that have any kind of defense. Not using this as a barometer, because it's extremely tough to run on the Bears, but over the season, he's fattening up on the lesser teams, and struggling mightily against the decent ones.




And now, everyones favorite:
Cardinals: 30
Cowboys: 24
If I hear one more time about how games at Arizona are like home games for the Cowboys I might shoot myself. Both quarterbacks in this game were beaten, battered, and bruised, but in the end, old man Warner triumphed over Tony Romo and company. It seemed like every other play there was a fumble, especially in the early going. The Cardinlas defense was very impressive. A far cry from their performance agianst the Jets just a few weeks ago. Dallas got some help on their game winning field goal attempt, as Romo hit a long pass to Jason Witten at the Arizona 39 with time quickly running down. As they were scrambling up the field to kill the clock, Cardinals LB Travis LaBoy, injured on the play, was trying to get off the field. He didnt quite make it, and the Cardinals were assessed a 5 yard offsides penalty. This changed a 56 yard FG attempt into a 51 yarder, and they needed evey bit of it. Prior to that though, Ken Whisenhunt channelled his inner Mike Shanahan, and called time out just before the snap. The Cardinals blocked that attempt, which would have ended the game there. The time out was granted, the play was nullified, and when Nick Folk got the chance to attempt the kick for real, he knocked it through. Definitely would not have been good from 56, so the penalty looked to be a huge break for Dallas. Break two came when they won the Overtime coin toss. At that point, they fell victim to T.O. T.O. called the toss correctly, and as the Cowboys were walking back to the sideline, they were all congratulating him and jumping on his back as if he had just caught a Super Bowl winning TD. Looking back, it's as if to say, this is your time now. We're getting you the ball, you're gonna win it for us. I think there was too much emphasis on trying to force the ball to T.O. in overtime. Overtime almost ended on the first play, as Romo, as usual in a tight spot, made a bad play, fumbled, and was lucky to have the ball bounce right back to him. 2nd and 3rd downs were the aforementioned attempts to force the ball to Owens, with no success. Dallas again abandoned the running game in overtime, despite Marion Barber's huge 4th quarter. They tried to go for a quick strike type of drive, rather than anything else. Dallas faced a 4th and 17 at their own 15. As punter Mat McBriar handled the snap, Cardinals special teams captain (and former Steeler) Sean Morey blocked the kick with ridiculous ease, Monty Beisel picked it up on the 3, and walked it into the end zone for the win. Arizona now leads the west by 2 full games. This is a different team at home than on the road. Watch out for Steve Breaston as well. He did a fantastic job filling in for Anquan Boldin, and has already made people forget about the departed Bryant Johnson.

Elsewhere around the league, Drew Brees had another insane day, 26-30, 320 yards, 3 TD's, against the Raiders as New Orleans cruised 34-3. The Colts offense got back on track agains tthe Ravens, crushing them 31-3. Remember when the Ravens were 2-0 and some of the wonderful Baltimore media types were talking playoffs? I hate to be an I told you so.....

Tampa Bay not only defeated Carolina, they made a huge statement. 27-3, as Jeff Garcia made Jon Gruden's upcoming decision tough as to whether or not to stick with Garcia, or go back to Brian Griese once he's healthy. Carolina is tough to figure out. They battle hard each week, but seem to have some critical let downs in big games. There's now a three way tie for first in the NFC South with the Bucs, Panthers, and Falcons at 4-2, and the Saints lurking at 3-3, and about to get their top two receiving threats back.

Theres not much better than to see Bill Belichick looking confused, distraught, angry, etc. as he did on Sunday night. What was even better was to see his offensive coordinater chewing him out on the way to the locker room at halftime because he didnt want to try to put a drive together despite there being 1:30 left before the half. The Chargers came out, well, Charging...and had the Patsies back on their heels from the first play. Philip Rivers threw 3 TD passes and Matt Cassel did anything but shine in his national TV debut. New England stil has talent, don't get me wrong, but wow, they should be looking hard at bringing in another quarterback before Tuesday's trade deadline. They welcome Denver this week, then have their bye, so there is definitely time to get someone else ready, unless they still believe in Cassel to do what they need him to do to stay successful. After seeing him struggle against a San Diego defense who allowed big games by Jake Delhomme, Jay Cutler, and hell, even JaMarcus Russell almost went for 300 on them, I know I sure dont. Just like that, the Chargers are right back in the thick of the AFC West race, as Denver lost at home to the Jaguars 24-17, as again, their defense was demolished. Maurice Jones-Drew ran at will on them, and Jacksonville's D did enough to curtail the Cutler-Marshall connection.

The Eagles got back on track, putting up 40 points on the road without Brian Westbrook. They beat the 49ers 40-26 in a game where the final score looks a lot worse than it was. The Eagles outscore Frisco 23-0 in the 4th quarter, including an interception return for a TD by Juqua Parker to ice the game for Philly. With the Redskins and Cowboys losing, they pull up to within a game of each, and all three will be fans of the Cleveland Browns tonight, as the undefeated Giants will attempt to seperate themselves further from the pack.

In games featuring 2 quaterbacks who have no business starting for NFL teams, The Jets kept the Bengals and Ryan Fitzpatrick winless, 26-14, and the Packers went into Seattle and beat the Charlie Frye led Seahawaks 27-17.

Giants @ Browns tonight. More to come from other weekend events, including a full recap of Saturday night's 9-9-9 challenge, later.