To the surprise of many, including yours truly, the Detroit Lions finished up the 2018 season with an impressive win, throttling Green Bay, in Green Bay, to the tune of 31-0. But was it really that impressive? I'll get back to that.
Problem was, and almost always is, the season had long been a lost cause for the Honolulu blue and silver puddy-tats.
It quickly became apparent in Week One, when they were throttled at home by the lowly New York Jets. 48-17 is a beat-down, no matter how you slice it or dice it.
Getting whupped by the equally bad San Fran 49ers the following week was an exclamation point to the phrase, "you ain't no good, again".
Then something very strange happened, the sort of thing that always drives the bookies crazy when it comes to the Lions. In Week Three, they handily dispatched Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. How the HELL did THAT happen? A confounding enigma for the ages.
Once again, the Detroit sappies had the ever-elusive "hope". Suckers.
As the season went on, the Lions would, no surprise, lose more than they won. A final record of 6-10 doesn't lie.
And one of those wins was of the miracle variety against the above-mentioned Packers. Green Bay's long-time and ever-reliable place-kicker Mason Crosby apparently went temporarily brain dead or spastic against the Lions. How else to explain him missing three "chip-shot" field goals and an extra point? That's ten points the Packers should have had. The Lions won by eight. Thing is, Lions fans always take the good breaks in stride, like they were supposed to happen. But they'll scream bloody murder when the shoe is on the other foot and something goes against them. NOT FAIR!!! Hmm. Sound familiar from a certain politician? Ahem.
Hey, you can't lose to gawd-awful teams like the Jets, 49ers, and later on the Buffalo Bills, unless you're pretty bad yourself.
Getting back to the Packers, that proud franchise appears to be in free-fall. More chaos than what's going on in DC.
First of all, what could they POSSIBLY have been thinking when they let long-time star receiver Jordy Nelson go back in March? No trade, just released him. Bang, you're outta here. For one thing, he was only 33 years old. Not exactly a young pup any more but hardly a geezer either. Plus, he'd been quarterback Aaron Rodgers' favorite target during his ten years with the Packers, putting up impressive numbers every year. Steady as they come.
Rodgers himself appears to be in decline, but the team around him, both offensively and defensively, has hugely regressed as well.
And to cap it all off, they fired long-time head coach Mike McCarthy in the middle of the season, only to bring in another retread with a different system? It was a recipe for disaster, and that's exactly what happened.
So maybe the Lions victory in Lambeau wasn't so impressive after all. Neither team had anything to play for at that point, but the Packers had already been coming apart at the seams all year long. They were just going through the proverbial motions, and in a dysfunctional way at that.
Yet it's just like the Lions to do this to their ever-gullible fans.
They won't remember how horrible the team was for the majority of the 2018 season.
Nosirree. They're back on their own special version of "cloud nine" savoring the 31-0 thumping they gave the Packers.
And they'll be chomping at the bit to get behind their heroes when the 2019 campaign kicks off next summer/fall. No matter who or what the Lions take in the NFL draft, the team will claim it a huge success, every one of those bodies is a can't-miss stud, they got everybody they wanted to -- and the fans will buy it hook, line, and stinker again. Did I mention suckers?
But guess what? It was hardly a surprise the Lions stunk it up in 2018. And they won't be any good next year either. Or the year after that. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Like Calvin Megatron Johnson, who played a full decade and never tasted a single playoff victory, then got out of the madness of Detroit with his mind and body intact, and plenty of dough in the bank, it's quite likely quarterback Matthew Stafford will never win a playoff game either. And BTW, is there a more ridiculously overpaid athlete on the planet than Detroit's Georgia Peach? The dude's making $30 million a year, has a career record of about ten games UNDER .500, and has never won a playoff game? What kind of insanity is this?
The answer, of course, is it's insanity, Detroit/Ford ownership style. Has been for over a half century.
It is worth noting that when the late William Clay Ford closed the deal on buying the team, it was on the exact same day John F. Kennedy took quite a fateful ride in Dallas.
That right there should have been an omen, a very bad one. But of course nobody noticed some auto company heir purchasing an NFL team with all the mayhem following those gunshots in Big D.
In sum, it's just another year for the Lions. 6-10? Business as usual.
And yes, they are, and remain the.....same.....old.....Lions.
Would any sane person expect anything else of them?
Yawn.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Saturday, December 29, 2018
College football playoffs
To nobody's great surprise, except maybe the usual punch-drunky leprechauns of Notre Dame, Clemson blistered them in a national semi-final game. The Tigers are the real deal. The Fighting Irish were WAY over their heads tangling with those guys.
But this is what happens when so many pundits always have Notre Dame as some sort of sentimental favorite. Win one for the Gipper, Rudy, and all that nonsense. ND stubbornly refuses to join a conference, and why should they? They have their own mega cha-ching TV deal, and get to pick who they want to play. Notice on the rare occasions they play a "ranked" team, it's always at home. And during any season, they'll load up on patsies along the way. But when it comes time to tee it up against the "big boys", as in Clemson, they're typically get embarrassed. Getting beat by 30 points (and it could and should have been much worse) on national television at a neutral site is what they had coming.
As noted in this space before, what's with the name Fighting Irish anyway? The real Notre Dame is a cathedral in Paris. Well OK, the Fighting French wouldn't have the same ring to it, but can't they even get their countries right?
On the other side of the equation was the Oklahoma/Alabama semi-final. The #1 ranked Crimson Tide were a two touchdown favorite going in. The only surprise was that they didn't "cover". After jumping out to a 28-0 nothing lead, maybe they just got bored.
As good as Alabama is though, the thing about that game was Oklahoma showed the Tide was vulnerable, particularly on defense, as the game wore on. While Bama remains a scoring machine, they also give up a lot of big plays to an offense that knows how to exploit their weaknesses.
And the above-mentioned Clemson plays fast, has depth, and a ton of offensive weapons they'll no doubt have ready to go in the national championship game next week.
After the two semi-final games, few would dispute the best two teams in the country will be duking it out for all the marbles.
It should be the proverbial dandy. Pretty sure Bama will be favored, but not by much. The same two teams have flip-flopped national titles the last three years.
Bring it on.
But this is what happens when so many pundits always have Notre Dame as some sort of sentimental favorite. Win one for the Gipper, Rudy, and all that nonsense. ND stubbornly refuses to join a conference, and why should they? They have their own mega cha-ching TV deal, and get to pick who they want to play. Notice on the rare occasions they play a "ranked" team, it's always at home. And during any season, they'll load up on patsies along the way. But when it comes time to tee it up against the "big boys", as in Clemson, they're typically get embarrassed. Getting beat by 30 points (and it could and should have been much worse) on national television at a neutral site is what they had coming.
As noted in this space before, what's with the name Fighting Irish anyway? The real Notre Dame is a cathedral in Paris. Well OK, the Fighting French wouldn't have the same ring to it, but can't they even get their countries right?
On the other side of the equation was the Oklahoma/Alabama semi-final. The #1 ranked Crimson Tide were a two touchdown favorite going in. The only surprise was that they didn't "cover". After jumping out to a 28-0 nothing lead, maybe they just got bored.
As good as Alabama is though, the thing about that game was Oklahoma showed the Tide was vulnerable, particularly on defense, as the game wore on. While Bama remains a scoring machine, they also give up a lot of big plays to an offense that knows how to exploit their weaknesses.
And the above-mentioned Clemson plays fast, has depth, and a ton of offensive weapons they'll no doubt have ready to go in the national championship game next week.
After the two semi-final games, few would dispute the best two teams in the country will be duking it out for all the marbles.
It should be the proverbial dandy. Pretty sure Bama will be favored, but not by much. The same two teams have flip-flopped national titles the last three years.
Bring it on.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
The Golden State Warriors' problem
Of late, many talking heads and other pundits, in their never-ending zeal to create a story if a real one isn't available, have been asking --- what's wrong with the Golden State Warriors?
Of course, this intensified when they were blown out on their own court by Lebron James and the LA Lakers on Christmas. I'll get back to that.
But what's really ailing the Dubs?
Two things. The most obvious is their best player, one Steph Curry, has been rehabbing an injury lately. Take Tom Brady away from the Patriots and how good do you think they'd be?
Yet the other is much more subtle.
I would submit they're just bored, merely going through the motions, for now.
They're fresh off another world championship, had their parade, got their rings, etc. After a few months of R & R, what's to look forward to?
Just another long season. Eighty two games worth, with all the practices, meetings, film sessions, and a bazillion miles of air travel along the way to stay in hotels far away from home and play in front of hostile crowds. It's gotta get old, regardless of how much money they make -- which is ridiculous -- but that's a story for another day.
But wait a second. What do they mean they're "underachieving"?
Aren't they comfortably leading their division almost half way through the 2018 season? And BTW, last time I looked they had the best record in the entire Western Conference of the NBA.
Some have claimed that a team can't have a magical "switch" to turn on and off whenever they feel like it, making the difference between stellar play and just mediocre.
Yours truly would disagree, and so did Warrior Draymond Green in a recent Sports Illustrated article. They indeed appear to possess that switch.
Let's not forget that last year, in the semi-finals of the playoffs, going up against the Houston Rockets for the Western Conference conference title and another trip to the Finals, the Dubs found themselves down 3-1 in that series. With two of the remaining three games to be played in Houston. We all know what happened They flipped the switch at the last second, came roaring back to eliminate the Rockets and blistered the above mentioned James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. Skunked them.
So basically, the Dubs have nothing to prove, especially during the regular season. Lose games they likely could have won? No big deal. No sane person would doubt they're going to make the playoffs again. They could do that almost blindfolded. So why should they go the proverbial "balls to the wall" with their hair on fire until the games really matter?
Relax, scribes and yappy heads. These guys will be just fine when the heat gets turned up again in another four months or so. They KNOW they can do it. Been there, done that.
Conversely, as mentioned above, James and the Lakers have something to prove, every game. That they can be competitive. So they're playing their tails off, night in and night out. That would easily explain how they dominated the Warriors in a game most (especially the Warriors) will forget about in a few days, if they haven't forgotten already.
Yet will the Lakers be gassed when the playoffs roll around, if they continue to play all-out the entire regular season? Maybe. We'll see. But even if they make the playoffs, no given despite their current pretty good record, no way in hell would they compete with the Dubs in a playoff series, when the switch has officially been turned to the "on" position again.
Bottom line, methinks the Dubs are just bored, for now.
But barring a slew of injuries, look out when June rolls around. It's still the same cast of characters.
Of course, this intensified when they were blown out on their own court by Lebron James and the LA Lakers on Christmas. I'll get back to that.
But what's really ailing the Dubs?
Two things. The most obvious is their best player, one Steph Curry, has been rehabbing an injury lately. Take Tom Brady away from the Patriots and how good do you think they'd be?
Yet the other is much more subtle.
I would submit they're just bored, merely going through the motions, for now.
They're fresh off another world championship, had their parade, got their rings, etc. After a few months of R & R, what's to look forward to?
Just another long season. Eighty two games worth, with all the practices, meetings, film sessions, and a bazillion miles of air travel along the way to stay in hotels far away from home and play in front of hostile crowds. It's gotta get old, regardless of how much money they make -- which is ridiculous -- but that's a story for another day.
But wait a second. What do they mean they're "underachieving"?
Aren't they comfortably leading their division almost half way through the 2018 season? And BTW, last time I looked they had the best record in the entire Western Conference of the NBA.
Some have claimed that a team can't have a magical "switch" to turn on and off whenever they feel like it, making the difference between stellar play and just mediocre.
Yours truly would disagree, and so did Warrior Draymond Green in a recent Sports Illustrated article. They indeed appear to possess that switch.
Let's not forget that last year, in the semi-finals of the playoffs, going up against the Houston Rockets for the Western Conference conference title and another trip to the Finals, the Dubs found themselves down 3-1 in that series. With two of the remaining three games to be played in Houston. We all know what happened They flipped the switch at the last second, came roaring back to eliminate the Rockets and blistered the above mentioned James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. Skunked them.
So basically, the Dubs have nothing to prove, especially during the regular season. Lose games they likely could have won? No big deal. No sane person would doubt they're going to make the playoffs again. They could do that almost blindfolded. So why should they go the proverbial "balls to the wall" with their hair on fire until the games really matter?
Relax, scribes and yappy heads. These guys will be just fine when the heat gets turned up again in another four months or so. They KNOW they can do it. Been there, done that.
Conversely, as mentioned above, James and the Lakers have something to prove, every game. That they can be competitive. So they're playing their tails off, night in and night out. That would easily explain how they dominated the Warriors in a game most (especially the Warriors) will forget about in a few days, if they haven't forgotten already.
Yet will the Lakers be gassed when the playoffs roll around, if they continue to play all-out the entire regular season? Maybe. We'll see. But even if they make the playoffs, no given despite their current pretty good record, no way in hell would they compete with the Dubs in a playoff series, when the switch has officially been turned to the "on" position again.
Bottom line, methinks the Dubs are just bored, for now.
But barring a slew of injuries, look out when June rolls around. It's still the same cast of characters.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
More dumb things. Grrr
Spouted by one Tony Dunge in the prelude to Sunday night's game between the KC Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks. While reviewing the league, he had the utter gall, and yes stupidity, to say, "Without question, the Philadelphia Eagles are Carson Wentz's team".
Really? I've got a lot of questions about that. Isn't Wentz the same guy that's been stinking it up all year as the losses mounted for the defending Super Bowl champions?
And hasn't he proven he can't stay healthy for an entire season? He's out again, just like last year.
And oh, BTW, wasn't it Nick Foles that led those same Eagles to the Super Bowl less than a year ago, won it, and was MVP of same?
Foles just threw for 471 yards against the Houston Texans, leading "his" team to a comeback win against the Houston Texans. All-time single-game franchise record -- while your boy Carson was still out rehabbing somewhere.
So I would ask the questions -- where do these networks get clueless clowns like Tony Dunge as on-air personalities? Is that the best they can do?
Speaking of the Seahawks, head coach Pete Carroll makes me wince every time I see him on TV. Here's a tip. Never trust a dude with little bitty teeth that's constantly chewing gum on fast-forward and talks a non-stop line of sh*t. It's like the proverbial shyster used-car salesman. He'd con his own mother and/or kids if he thought there was something good in it for him. Isn't this the same guy that ran a crooked program at Southern Cal, got caught, but flew the coop north to Seattle for mega-bucks, leaving USC on the hook for years of various NCAA sanctions and penalties?
And of course, there's always the sad-sack Detroit Lions. To absolutely no one's surprise, they just got blistered, at home, by the Minnesota Vikings. Another year down the toilet with no apparent help in sight.
Next week, the Detroit puddy-tats will limp into Green Bay to finish off the regular season. And you know what? It would be just like them to defeat the Packers. Never mind, Aaron Rodgers and Co. have stumbling badly this year as well. Badly enough to get long-time head coach Mike McCarthy fired mid-season. Unlike Detroit, they won't put up with a bad team for very long. Somebody's gotta go.
But if the Lions won, it would give their long-time sappies the same old thing they've trumpeted for decades. The ever-elusive "hope". Hey didya see that win at Green Bay? Wait until next year.
Right. How many times did Lucy have to pull the football away at the last minute before Charley Brown caught on that he was being duped?
He never did, you say?
Well then. I give you your average hard-core Detroit Lions' fan. Pretty much the same thing.
Alas. As dumb and obvious as some things are, there will always be those that fall for them.
P.T. Barnum was absolutely right. There's one born every minute.
Sigh.
Really? I've got a lot of questions about that. Isn't Wentz the same guy that's been stinking it up all year as the losses mounted for the defending Super Bowl champions?
And hasn't he proven he can't stay healthy for an entire season? He's out again, just like last year.
And oh, BTW, wasn't it Nick Foles that led those same Eagles to the Super Bowl less than a year ago, won it, and was MVP of same?
Foles just threw for 471 yards against the Houston Texans, leading "his" team to a comeback win against the Houston Texans. All-time single-game franchise record -- while your boy Carson was still out rehabbing somewhere.
So I would ask the questions -- where do these networks get clueless clowns like Tony Dunge as on-air personalities? Is that the best they can do?
Speaking of the Seahawks, head coach Pete Carroll makes me wince every time I see him on TV. Here's a tip. Never trust a dude with little bitty teeth that's constantly chewing gum on fast-forward and talks a non-stop line of sh*t. It's like the proverbial shyster used-car salesman. He'd con his own mother and/or kids if he thought there was something good in it for him. Isn't this the same guy that ran a crooked program at Southern Cal, got caught, but flew the coop north to Seattle for mega-bucks, leaving USC on the hook for years of various NCAA sanctions and penalties?
And of course, there's always the sad-sack Detroit Lions. To absolutely no one's surprise, they just got blistered, at home, by the Minnesota Vikings. Another year down the toilet with no apparent help in sight.
Next week, the Detroit puddy-tats will limp into Green Bay to finish off the regular season. And you know what? It would be just like them to defeat the Packers. Never mind, Aaron Rodgers and Co. have stumbling badly this year as well. Badly enough to get long-time head coach Mike McCarthy fired mid-season. Unlike Detroit, they won't put up with a bad team for very long. Somebody's gotta go.
But if the Lions won, it would give their long-time sappies the same old thing they've trumpeted for decades. The ever-elusive "hope". Hey didya see that win at Green Bay? Wait until next year.
Right. How many times did Lucy have to pull the football away at the last minute before Charley Brown caught on that he was being duped?
He never did, you say?
Well then. I give you your average hard-core Detroit Lions' fan. Pretty much the same thing.
Alas. As dumb and obvious as some things are, there will always be those that fall for them.
P.T. Barnum was absolutely right. There's one born every minute.
Sigh.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Josh Gordon. Going, going.....
And we know what the unsaid last word in the title of this post usually is. Such would seem to be the case with one Josh Gordon, a wonderfully gifted receiver that appears unable to overcome those pesky "substances" the NFL says thou shalt not use.
Full disclosure. Has yours truly ever smoked weed? Sure. I went to college for four years and I'd wager less than 5% of the students didn't try it at one time or another. Thing is, I never much liked how it made me feel. So I don't partake now, and haven't for several decades. That's just me. To each their own.
Do I think it should be legalized across the board? Absolutely. And it will be eventually. One by one, the states are bowing to the will of the people, and even the feds will have to give the ridiculous "war" trying to stop it in time. Hey, it's everywhere, and has been for a long time. I don't have any serious connections", but I also have no doubt I could walk out my door any day of the week and score a bag within 30 minutes. Who's kidding who?
Thing is, when your employer says "don't do it", because we don't approve and we'll be testing for it, you have a choice. Either give it up, or keep on and start looking for a new job. Because, legal or not, you're going to get busted -- it's just a matter of time.
Josh Gordon, of course, knew this. And I, for one, aren't buying any of this "came from a rough childhood" nonsense. It's totally irrelevant, even insulting to semi-intelligent people. Gordon's a walking, talking, adult human being with a mind that appears quite functional.
[Idle thought. I just saw a few minutes of "The Wizard Of Oz" again for the umpteenth time. Nobody doubts this movie was one of the all-time classics. But a question. How did the Tin Man get all rusted up in the first place when tin doesn't corrode/oxidize? Maybe they should have called him the Iron Man instead. Oh wait. Back in those days (1939), Lou Gehrig already had that title. Never mind.]
Back to Gordon. Even JG himself has admitted he used a lot of stuff over the years. Not just pot, but coke and a few others as well. No problem here. Do what ya gotta do and whatever turns ya on. But if you keep getting zapped by your employer, (and the NFL, in tandem with the Players' Union has a lot more lenient policy towards such things than many employers), with suspensions and the like, you just might want to rethink your priorities. Is continuing to get high really worth forfeiting millions of bucks?
Gordon has also copped to having consumer alcohol or smoked pot before most every game in his entire career. No doubt that statement reverberated in a lot of places. And not in a good way.
Nevertheless, Josh Gordon is still only 27 years old. He should be in the prime of his NFL career, instead of on indefinite suspension again, with his chances of ever getting another "shot" dismal at best.
It seems such a waste.
But who knows? Maybe he's saved up enough dough from prior years to let him live the life of semi-luxury while enjoying the "smoke" he evidently enjoys so much.
If so, more power to him. As Mr. Spock of Star Trek fame was famous for saying -- live long and prosper.
Yet somehow, yours truly thinks this is going to end badly, one way or the other.
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he never sees 40. Maybe even less.
All that talent, fame, and money -- poof -- down the tubes. Gone.
And that would be so very sad.
Alas.
Full disclosure. Has yours truly ever smoked weed? Sure. I went to college for four years and I'd wager less than 5% of the students didn't try it at one time or another. Thing is, I never much liked how it made me feel. So I don't partake now, and haven't for several decades. That's just me. To each their own.
Do I think it should be legalized across the board? Absolutely. And it will be eventually. One by one, the states are bowing to the will of the people, and even the feds will have to give the ridiculous "war" trying to stop it in time. Hey, it's everywhere, and has been for a long time. I don't have any serious connections", but I also have no doubt I could walk out my door any day of the week and score a bag within 30 minutes. Who's kidding who?
Thing is, when your employer says "don't do it", because we don't approve and we'll be testing for it, you have a choice. Either give it up, or keep on and start looking for a new job. Because, legal or not, you're going to get busted -- it's just a matter of time.
Josh Gordon, of course, knew this. And I, for one, aren't buying any of this "came from a rough childhood" nonsense. It's totally irrelevant, even insulting to semi-intelligent people. Gordon's a walking, talking, adult human being with a mind that appears quite functional.
[Idle thought. I just saw a few minutes of "The Wizard Of Oz" again for the umpteenth time. Nobody doubts this movie was one of the all-time classics. But a question. How did the Tin Man get all rusted up in the first place when tin doesn't corrode/oxidize? Maybe they should have called him the Iron Man instead. Oh wait. Back in those days (1939), Lou Gehrig already had that title. Never mind.]
Back to Gordon. Even JG himself has admitted he used a lot of stuff over the years. Not just pot, but coke and a few others as well. No problem here. Do what ya gotta do and whatever turns ya on. But if you keep getting zapped by your employer, (and the NFL, in tandem with the Players' Union has a lot more lenient policy towards such things than many employers), with suspensions and the like, you just might want to rethink your priorities. Is continuing to get high really worth forfeiting millions of bucks?
Gordon has also copped to having consumer alcohol or smoked pot before most every game in his entire career. No doubt that statement reverberated in a lot of places. And not in a good way.
Nevertheless, Josh Gordon is still only 27 years old. He should be in the prime of his NFL career, instead of on indefinite suspension again, with his chances of ever getting another "shot" dismal at best.
It seems such a waste.
But who knows? Maybe he's saved up enough dough from prior years to let him live the life of semi-luxury while enjoying the "smoke" he evidently enjoys so much.
If so, more power to him. As Mr. Spock of Star Trek fame was famous for saying -- live long and prosper.
Yet somehow, yours truly thinks this is going to end badly, one way or the other.
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he never sees 40. Maybe even less.
All that talent, fame, and money -- poof -- down the tubes. Gone.
And that would be so very sad.
Alas.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Darius Slay, Pro-Bowler LOL
Fortunately, or more probably not, the NFL has a rule whereby all teams must be represented at the Pro Bowl.
Some of the really good teams -- see KC Chiefs, LA Chargers, etc. -- might have half a dozen players worthy of such an honor.
Conversely, some of the really bad teams -- see Detroit Lions -- don't have a single player on their roster that remotely qualifies as a "star". They're...just...that...bad.
That includes quarterback Matthew Stafford. Here's a guy that's been in the league ten years, has a career record of ten games UNDER .500, and hasn't won a single playoff game. And the Lions are paying THAT $30 million a year? Really? Only in Detroit could such lunacy happen.
Nonetheless, the "voters" had to choose somebody on the Lions for the post-season honor. So they likely held their noses and came up with ----
Cornerback Darius Slay. LOL
DS proudly refers to himself as "big play Slay".
That he is, in a perverse sort of way. The problem being, he gives up a lot of big plays to the opponents rather than preventing them.
In any typical Lions game, you can pretty well count on Slay getting torched by an opposing receiver for a long gainer at least once.
And he seems to have this nasty penchant for holding as well, which often times enables the other team to keep a drive going. On any given pass play, watching Slay closely reveals he's holding a receiver one way or the other. As often as he gets flagged for it, it's a miracle there aren't even MORE yellow hankies thrown in his direction.
It could certainly be argued that Slay is an overall negative, not a positive, for his team
And now THIS guy will be celebrated at season's end playing basically an exhibition game with the best of the best around the NFL, with a big cha-ching bonus for having made the Pro-Bowl as well?
It's insanity.
All the while, because Slay made the team due to some retarded league-mandated quota, some other worthy player elsewhere doesn't make the cut?
Darius Slay. Pro-Bowler.
LOL
Some of the really good teams -- see KC Chiefs, LA Chargers, etc. -- might have half a dozen players worthy of such an honor.
Conversely, some of the really bad teams -- see Detroit Lions -- don't have a single player on their roster that remotely qualifies as a "star". They're...just...that...bad.
That includes quarterback Matthew Stafford. Here's a guy that's been in the league ten years, has a career record of ten games UNDER .500, and hasn't won a single playoff game. And the Lions are paying THAT $30 million a year? Really? Only in Detroit could such lunacy happen.
Nonetheless, the "voters" had to choose somebody on the Lions for the post-season honor. So they likely held their noses and came up with ----
Cornerback Darius Slay. LOL
DS proudly refers to himself as "big play Slay".
That he is, in a perverse sort of way. The problem being, he gives up a lot of big plays to the opponents rather than preventing them.
In any typical Lions game, you can pretty well count on Slay getting torched by an opposing receiver for a long gainer at least once.
And he seems to have this nasty penchant for holding as well, which often times enables the other team to keep a drive going. On any given pass play, watching Slay closely reveals he's holding a receiver one way or the other. As often as he gets flagged for it, it's a miracle there aren't even MORE yellow hankies thrown in his direction.
It could certainly be argued that Slay is an overall negative, not a positive, for his team
And now THIS guy will be celebrated at season's end playing basically an exhibition game with the best of the best around the NFL, with a big cha-ching bonus for having made the Pro-Bowl as well?
It's insanity.
All the while, because Slay made the team due to some retarded league-mandated quota, some other worthy player elsewhere doesn't make the cut?
Darius Slay. Pro-Bowler.
LOL
Sunday, December 16, 2018
The Nick Foles magic. Again?
Sure, many would scoff at the notion of Nick Foles being any sort of great quarterback. Hes knocked around the league for several years now and can't seem to even hold down a starting position.
But this is the same guy that stepped in for the Philadelphia Eagles last year and wound up leading them to a Super Bowl championship. The MVP of same, no less.
He probably never would have seen the field of play had not Eagles starter Carson Wentz gone down with a blown out knee last year. So ya gotta give credit where it's due. Foles stepped in, the Eagles took off and, presto, Lombardi trophy when it was all said and done.
This year, be it a Super Bowl hangover or whatever, the Eagles, with Wentz back, have floundered. They were a not-so-good 6 -7 heading into the Sunday night match-up against the LA Rams. Their playoff chances were iffy, at best.
Yet like last year, Wentz is out again. This time with a small fracture in his back. Will he be back this year? Nobody knows for sure.
A look around the NFC East, the division the Eagles belong to, doesn't exactly show a murderer's row.
The Washington Redskins, not that good to start with, were down to their third-string quarterback at last look, pretty much out of the picture.
The NY Giants are just gawd-awful.
The Dallas Cowboys had been showing a little life of late, then WHAM, they just got skunked by the Indianapolis Colts 23-0.
Enter NIck Foles again. He just led the Eagles to a victory over the (sorta) high-flying Rams -- in LA, no less.
So the Eagles are now 7-7, usually considered mundane, but also very much in the playoff picture.
Next week they go home to the "City of Brotherly Love", the ultimate misnomer, to take on the sometimes really good, sometimes not-so-good Houston Texans.
And then off to DC to face the Skins in the regular season finale.
Both games are definitely winnable.
If the Eagles can pull that off and wind up 9-7, even if the Cowboys sew up the division, they could sneak into the playoffs as a wild card.
And then -- who knows? Wild cards have gone on to win the Super Bowl before.
Could Foles and the Eagles -- gasp -- pull THAT off?
Probably not. After all, even if they make the post-season, their playoff road would involve going into Chicago against a resurgent and very good Bears team (especially defensively), down to the Big Easy to face Drew Brees and the high-flying Saints, maybe right back in LA for another go-round against those same Rams, or some combination of the above. And that WOULD be a murderer's row.
That's not even to mention who will survive the blood-bath in the AFC playoffs. The KC Chiefs, Brady and the Pats, under the radar but outstanding LA Chargers? And don't sleep on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ya never know about those guys.
But wouldn't it be something if Nick Foles could pull off the "impossible" again?
Hey, nobody thought he and the Eagles could beat the Patriots in last year's Super Bowl either.
How did that turn out?
Carson who?
But this is the same guy that stepped in for the Philadelphia Eagles last year and wound up leading them to a Super Bowl championship. The MVP of same, no less.
He probably never would have seen the field of play had not Eagles starter Carson Wentz gone down with a blown out knee last year. So ya gotta give credit where it's due. Foles stepped in, the Eagles took off and, presto, Lombardi trophy when it was all said and done.
This year, be it a Super Bowl hangover or whatever, the Eagles, with Wentz back, have floundered. They were a not-so-good 6 -7 heading into the Sunday night match-up against the LA Rams. Their playoff chances were iffy, at best.
Yet like last year, Wentz is out again. This time with a small fracture in his back. Will he be back this year? Nobody knows for sure.
A look around the NFC East, the division the Eagles belong to, doesn't exactly show a murderer's row.
The Washington Redskins, not that good to start with, were down to their third-string quarterback at last look, pretty much out of the picture.
The NY Giants are just gawd-awful.
The Dallas Cowboys had been showing a little life of late, then WHAM, they just got skunked by the Indianapolis Colts 23-0.
Enter NIck Foles again. He just led the Eagles to a victory over the (sorta) high-flying Rams -- in LA, no less.
So the Eagles are now 7-7, usually considered mundane, but also very much in the playoff picture.
Next week they go home to the "City of Brotherly Love", the ultimate misnomer, to take on the sometimes really good, sometimes not-so-good Houston Texans.
And then off to DC to face the Skins in the regular season finale.
Both games are definitely winnable.
If the Eagles can pull that off and wind up 9-7, even if the Cowboys sew up the division, they could sneak into the playoffs as a wild card.
And then -- who knows? Wild cards have gone on to win the Super Bowl before.
Could Foles and the Eagles -- gasp -- pull THAT off?
Probably not. After all, even if they make the post-season, their playoff road would involve going into Chicago against a resurgent and very good Bears team (especially defensively), down to the Big Easy to face Drew Brees and the high-flying Saints, maybe right back in LA for another go-round against those same Rams, or some combination of the above. And that WOULD be a murderer's row.
That's not even to mention who will survive the blood-bath in the AFC playoffs. The KC Chiefs, Brady and the Pats, under the radar but outstanding LA Chargers? And don't sleep on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ya never know about those guys.
But wouldn't it be something if Nick Foles could pull off the "impossible" again?
Hey, nobody thought he and the Eagles could beat the Patriots in last year's Super Bowl either.
How did that turn out?
Carson who?
Thursday, December 13, 2018
The almost KC Chiefs story
So there I was, all set to write another brilliant -- OK, maybe stupid -- post about the Kansas City Chiefs rolling into the playoffs with home-field advantage throughout after knocking off the LA Chargers.
I mean, c'mon. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead, and led 28-14 with under four minutes to go. At home. What could go wrong?
Turns out, plenty. Philip Rivers and Co. roared back for two late touchdowns, including having the cajones to go for a two-point game-winning conversion as time was expiring -- and made it.
Final score -- LA Chargers 29, KC Chiefs 28.
Yep, yours truly was ready to point out that KC had only lost two games so far this season, both on the road, against really good teams. A 43-40 nail-biter at New England way back on Oct. 14, and "whoever gets the ball last" 54-51 shoot-out loss at the LA Rams. The latter team is considered by many to be the best in the league. No shame in either of these losses.
For sure, KC was going to win over the Chargers and go to 12-2 on the season. True, they have a tough game in Seattle next week against a Seahawk team that lately thinks of themselves as contenders, then a mercy killing back home to finish off the regular season against the gawd-awful Oakland Raiders.
Arguably, Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs, is the toughest venue for any visiting team to play in. It's crazy loud.
Losing @ New England and @ the LA Rams was one thing, but who was going to knock off the Chiefs at home once the playoffs started?
What's that? They've lost 11 of their last 12 playoff games, including the last 6 in a row at home?
Hah. Ignore it. A mere anomaly. This year is different. Fake news! Witch hunt! No collusion! Oops, those are somebody else's lines. Ahem..
Shoo-in Rookie of the Year and leading MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes will quarterback these guys to greatness this year. Already has and it's going to get even better. You just wait and see.
Yessirree, I was on the KC bandwagon and would root them on to the Super Bowl.
And then they blew that late 14 point lead, at home, which pretty much totally torpedoed my original idea.
Hmmm.
Never mind.
I mean, c'mon. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead, and led 28-14 with under four minutes to go. At home. What could go wrong?
Turns out, plenty. Philip Rivers and Co. roared back for two late touchdowns, including having the cajones to go for a two-point game-winning conversion as time was expiring -- and made it.
Final score -- LA Chargers 29, KC Chiefs 28.
Yep, yours truly was ready to point out that KC had only lost two games so far this season, both on the road, against really good teams. A 43-40 nail-biter at New England way back on Oct. 14, and "whoever gets the ball last" 54-51 shoot-out loss at the LA Rams. The latter team is considered by many to be the best in the league. No shame in either of these losses.
For sure, KC was going to win over the Chargers and go to 12-2 on the season. True, they have a tough game in Seattle next week against a Seahawk team that lately thinks of themselves as contenders, then a mercy killing back home to finish off the regular season against the gawd-awful Oakland Raiders.
Arguably, Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs, is the toughest venue for any visiting team to play in. It's crazy loud.
Losing @ New England and @ the LA Rams was one thing, but who was going to knock off the Chiefs at home once the playoffs started?
What's that? They've lost 11 of their last 12 playoff games, including the last 6 in a row at home?
Hah. Ignore it. A mere anomaly. This year is different. Fake news! Witch hunt! No collusion! Oops, those are somebody else's lines. Ahem..
Shoo-in Rookie of the Year and leading MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes will quarterback these guys to greatness this year. Already has and it's going to get even better. You just wait and see.
Yessirree, I was on the KC bandwagon and would root them on to the Super Bowl.
And then they blew that late 14 point lead, at home, which pretty much totally torpedoed my original idea.
Hmmm.
Never mind.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Stupid QB contracts
Somebody please enlighten yours truly as to why one Kirk Cousins, currently the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, was given such an outrageous, see stupid, contract? The dude's been merely "average" for his whole career. This would include his college days at Michigan State, where he was WAY overhyped.
In the NFL, after being the same "average" for the Washington Redskins, the Vikings, normally a prudent team, signed this clown to a multi-year deal that will pay him $26,000,000 this year, $28,000,000 in 2019, and a whopping $30,000,000 in 2020?
This for a guy with a career record of 32-36? Oops, the Vikes just went down in Seattle on Monday Night Football. Make that 32-37.
What kind of insanity in going on here?
Not to be outdone, the Detroit Lions (granted, widely perceived as being somewhat of a retarded franchise over the decades -- and rightfully so), recently lost whatever little mind they ever had and gave QB Matthew Stafford a long-term deal?
One that will pay him, wait for it, $26,000,000, $29,000,000, $31,000,000, $30,000,000, and $23,0000,000 for the next five years?
This, for a guy that's been playing for a decade and never won a single playoff game? And has a history of choking at critical moments? His local press stooges have dubbed him "Captain Comeback" for sometimes pulling off improbable wins late in games. OK, but if he hadn't played so terribly for the first three quarters of said games, hence the Lions so often falling behind, this wouldn't be an issue.
All those mega-million lottery winner numbers for a guy who's record is 65-76?
Say what?
Sure, Mattie S, his lovely wife, and twin young-uns are happy. They'll have a bazillion dollars guaranteed coming in for the next several years.
But what could the Lions' "brain trust" -- and I use that term in the loosest way possible -- have possibly been thinking? They painted themselves into a salary cap financial corner just to lock this loser up until he's too old to play anymore? Huh?
Though now in his "prime", Stafford seems to be regressing. He's getting worse instead of better.
Even if the Lions' front office emerged from their collective coma, they couldn't trade him. No other team is going to touch that mega-contract for a career C- quarterback. So they're stuck with him. As are the Motown gridiron fans. A local scribe recently wrote Stafford could throw several interceptions every game, including a few "pick-sixes", lose them all -- and he'd STILL start for the Lions. That speaks volumes for them not having a young guy in the wings, supposedly learning, that can take over, which will have to happen eventually anyway.
It's not only short-sighted, but yes, incredibly stupid on the team's part.
Finally, there's the stupidity of some football pundits. They're already talking about Russell Wilson, currently the QB of the Seattle Seahawks, as a "lock" for the Hall of Fame?
Shut up. He's been pretty good, is mobile, and has a halfway decent arm. And yep, he's even won a Super Bowl.
But he also choked another Super Bowl win away in the waning seconds by attempting an incredibly bone-headed pass giving Tom Brady and the New England Patriots a(nother) gift Vince Lombardi trophy. The Pats didn't win that game. Wilson and the S-Hawks snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory.
True, a QB can't win a Super Bowl, or any other game, single-handedly. But Wilson has always had a lot of help. An unheralded but really good offensive line to protect him. A feature running back or two. Excellent receivers to throw to. And let's not forget about the "Legion of Boom" on the Seattle defense that so limited opponents. At least until recently, when it broke up for various reasons.
Let's have the Russell Wilson with a bust in Canton conversation maybe five years from now, depending on how he plays during that time. If he even stays healthy -- never a given.
But he's nowhere near Hall-worthy just yet.
So there you have Kirk, Matthew, and Russell. Not exactly on a par with Abraham, Martin, and John (at least one of which was a great American hero, the other two -- maybe not so much as things have turned out), as once famously crooned by Dion -- but the former are making a whole lot more money via.....
Refer to title above.
In the NFL, after being the same "average" for the Washington Redskins, the Vikings, normally a prudent team, signed this clown to a multi-year deal that will pay him $26,000,000 this year, $28,000,000 in 2019, and a whopping $30,000,000 in 2020?
This for a guy with a career record of 32-36? Oops, the Vikes just went down in Seattle on Monday Night Football. Make that 32-37.
What kind of insanity in going on here?
Not to be outdone, the Detroit Lions (granted, widely perceived as being somewhat of a retarded franchise over the decades -- and rightfully so), recently lost whatever little mind they ever had and gave QB Matthew Stafford a long-term deal?
One that will pay him, wait for it, $26,000,000, $29,000,000, $31,000,000, $30,000,000, and $23,0000,000 for the next five years?
This, for a guy that's been playing for a decade and never won a single playoff game? And has a history of choking at critical moments? His local press stooges have dubbed him "Captain Comeback" for sometimes pulling off improbable wins late in games. OK, but if he hadn't played so terribly for the first three quarters of said games, hence the Lions so often falling behind, this wouldn't be an issue.
All those mega-million lottery winner numbers for a guy who's record is 65-76?
Say what?
Sure, Mattie S, his lovely wife, and twin young-uns are happy. They'll have a bazillion dollars guaranteed coming in for the next several years.
But what could the Lions' "brain trust" -- and I use that term in the loosest way possible -- have possibly been thinking? They painted themselves into a salary cap financial corner just to lock this loser up until he's too old to play anymore? Huh?
Though now in his "prime", Stafford seems to be regressing. He's getting worse instead of better.
Even if the Lions' front office emerged from their collective coma, they couldn't trade him. No other team is going to touch that mega-contract for a career C- quarterback. So they're stuck with him. As are the Motown gridiron fans. A local scribe recently wrote Stafford could throw several interceptions every game, including a few "pick-sixes", lose them all -- and he'd STILL start for the Lions. That speaks volumes for them not having a young guy in the wings, supposedly learning, that can take over, which will have to happen eventually anyway.
It's not only short-sighted, but yes, incredibly stupid on the team's part.
Finally, there's the stupidity of some football pundits. They're already talking about Russell Wilson, currently the QB of the Seattle Seahawks, as a "lock" for the Hall of Fame?
Shut up. He's been pretty good, is mobile, and has a halfway decent arm. And yep, he's even won a Super Bowl.
But he also choked another Super Bowl win away in the waning seconds by attempting an incredibly bone-headed pass giving Tom Brady and the New England Patriots a(nother) gift Vince Lombardi trophy. The Pats didn't win that game. Wilson and the S-Hawks snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory.
True, a QB can't win a Super Bowl, or any other game, single-handedly. But Wilson has always had a lot of help. An unheralded but really good offensive line to protect him. A feature running back or two. Excellent receivers to throw to. And let's not forget about the "Legion of Boom" on the Seattle defense that so limited opponents. At least until recently, when it broke up for various reasons.
Let's have the Russell Wilson with a bust in Canton conversation maybe five years from now, depending on how he plays during that time. If he even stays healthy -- never a given.
But he's nowhere near Hall-worthy just yet.
So there you have Kirk, Matthew, and Russell. Not exactly on a par with Abraham, Martin, and John (at least one of which was a great American hero, the other two -- maybe not so much as things have turned out), as once famously crooned by Dion -- but the former are making a whole lot more money via.....
Refer to title above.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Detroit Lions and Arizona Cards. zzzzzz
I have an alternate theory as to why Rip Van Winkle slept for twenty years. Back in the day, he happened to catch the Lions and Cardinals playing each other. Watching those two teams play is about enough to put anybody into a deep sleep..
How boring are they? They could cause the sun to wink out.
One is left to wonder -- how in the world does either one of these teams ever beat anybody else?
Could it be that such other teams, upon taking the field with the Lions or Cards, and seeing the action, or more properly lack of same, become so bored as to lapse into comas?
Quick, drug check the announcers for this game. The only way they could find things to refer to as "exciting" would be if they were seriously high on something. Then again, folks of their ilk would likely rant and rave watching grass grow, paint dry, blue haired old women playing canasta -- well -- you get my drift.
The NFL says it's always striving for parity. Well then. Maybe the best thing they could do is pare sorry teams like the Lions and Cardinals right out of the league. Or at least not televise them. What's that? Even the Lions and Cardinals draw decent on-air ratings? That's probably because once people at home tune in, they're sound asleep after a few minutes, and hence can't grab the clicker and change the channel. Poor devils are put under faster than a submarine with a screen door.
And now a word from our sponsors.
You've probably seen that truck commercial. I think it's for GM products. The young man just surprised his significant other by buying his and her new pick-ups. A black one for him and a red one for her. Whatta guy.
So what does she do? Runs to the black one (his) and says, "I love it". By the time he tries to feebly protest she's already inside it saying, "I love it" again. Grabby little thing.
Any REAL man would say the following -- "Love it? Great, but guess what? You can't have it. That's one's mine. The red one is yours. And if that's not good enough for ya, I'll send it back and get you a used Yugo or Pinto instead. And you'll be happy. So either you get your butt out of MY truck or I'm heading back inside to nix the deal.":
Women. I'm telling ya.
Not as boring as a Lions/Cards game to be sure, but there's something about that "maintenance" thing that goes horribly wrong at times.
Or -- I could just be kidding.
About the fairer sex, of course.
I'll stand on my Lions/Cards take.
Whatta snooze-a-thon.
Who won the game? Beats me. Who cares? Somehow I'd managed to stumble outside for some fresh air to wake up before the sandman swept me under. When I got back in, I immediately clicked it good-bye.
How boring are they? They could cause the sun to wink out.
One is left to wonder -- how in the world does either one of these teams ever beat anybody else?
Could it be that such other teams, upon taking the field with the Lions or Cards, and seeing the action, or more properly lack of same, become so bored as to lapse into comas?
Quick, drug check the announcers for this game. The only way they could find things to refer to as "exciting" would be if they were seriously high on something. Then again, folks of their ilk would likely rant and rave watching grass grow, paint dry, blue haired old women playing canasta -- well -- you get my drift.
The NFL says it's always striving for parity. Well then. Maybe the best thing they could do is pare sorry teams like the Lions and Cardinals right out of the league. Or at least not televise them. What's that? Even the Lions and Cardinals draw decent on-air ratings? That's probably because once people at home tune in, they're sound asleep after a few minutes, and hence can't grab the clicker and change the channel. Poor devils are put under faster than a submarine with a screen door.
And now a word from our sponsors.
You've probably seen that truck commercial. I think it's for GM products. The young man just surprised his significant other by buying his and her new pick-ups. A black one for him and a red one for her. Whatta guy.
So what does she do? Runs to the black one (his) and says, "I love it". By the time he tries to feebly protest she's already inside it saying, "I love it" again. Grabby little thing.
Any REAL man would say the following -- "Love it? Great, but guess what? You can't have it. That's one's mine. The red one is yours. And if that's not good enough for ya, I'll send it back and get you a used Yugo or Pinto instead. And you'll be happy. So either you get your butt out of MY truck or I'm heading back inside to nix the deal.":
Women. I'm telling ya.
Not as boring as a Lions/Cards game to be sure, but there's something about that "maintenance" thing that goes horribly wrong at times.
Or -- I could just be kidding.
About the fairer sex, of course.
I'll stand on my Lions/Cards take.
Whatta snooze-a-thon.
Who won the game? Beats me. Who cares? Somehow I'd managed to stumble outside for some fresh air to wake up before the sandman swept me under. When I got back in, I immediately clicked it good-bye.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Around the NFL -- and Eldrick Tont
Long tenured head coach Mike McCarthy got canned in Green Bay. It's also long been rumored he was at odds with one Aaron Rodgers. Of course the latter has been somewhat of a bust himself lately. For a so-called super-star, #12 has sure been stinking it up on the field recently.
But maybe this is what happens when a former great player starts shacking up with one Danica Patrick. Nothing exemplifies loser more so than dear Danica. All those years in NASCAR with nary a win. Many more in the Indy car circuit before that, with one obscure victory in Japan at a race most of the top drivers and teams didn't even show up for. And along the way, she likely wrecked more cars - hers and others -- than one would see in 15-20 demolition derbies. Maybe her losing ways are contagious. Alas, what a waste of sheet metal, millions of dollars, and a once really good quarterback.
Nonetheless, the Packers had been underwhelming this year to say the least. Losing at home to the lowly Arizona Cardinals likely sealed McCarthy's fate. The Cheesers, loyal at they normally are to their own, had likely seen enough. This guy's gotta go.
[Idle thought. If the fans indeed "own" the Packers, then who makes the decisions as to appointing the front office personnel, that hence has the hiring and firing power over head coaches? Do they have a caucus or something?
Worse, it appears fans can invest in the Packers -- buy "shares", but they aren't allowed to sell them. Sort of like the Eagles' oldie Hotel California. You can come, but you can never leave. What kind of fool would invest in a stock that they can't sell when it begins to tank? That's not only stupid, but probably illegal in the financial world.]
But MM gone. Ah, he's got enough dough to last several lifetimes. He'll be just fine.
I've long had a soft spot for the Chicago Bears. Though probably not Super Bowl contenders, it was nice to see them leading the NFC North Division. Then they went on the road to play the woeful NY Giants. Should have been a piece of cake win. But not so.
They needed a semi-miracle just to force overtime. And then something even stupider happened. After the Giants managed a field goal, the Bears got the ball. Match the field goal and the game goes on. Score a touchdown and they win.
On their ensuing possession, quarterback Chase Daniel managed to fumble three --count em -- THREE times. In the shotgun formation, one snap went between his legs. Beat him cleanly in the five hole. Another went through his hands and bounced off his face mask. So of course they lost. It put the "Duh" into Duh Bears.
Interesting how running back Todd Gurley of the LA Rams refused to score with his team already ahead by a touchdown over the Detroit Lions and time running low. He could have walked into the end zone, but chose to be put down at the 2 yard line. The announcers praised his "game management". By doing this, the Rams forced the Lions to burn the rest of their time-outs. And it worked out, cuz the Rams would go on to score a TD and secure the win anyway.
But what if -- they would have fumbled ala Daniel mentioned above? Instead of taking the easy 7 points and stretching their lead to 14 with under a minute remaining, the Lions would have gotten the ball only trailing by 7. Weirder things have happened than a team marching the length of the field in the last minute to score a touchdown. Had THAT occurred, and the Lions went on to somehow pull out another miracle win, Gurley would have been righteously roasted as an idiot. Hey, give me the seven points any time.
Eldrick Dept.
See the "Hero Challenge" played in the Bahamas. See eighteen of the world's best golfers get together to duke it out on a course that looked hard, but was yielding birdies -- and eagles -- like the average home-owner dishes out candy on Halloween.
See Spaniard Jon Rahm shoot 20 under par and claim the win.
See Eldrick Tont Woods -- sometimes known as Tiger -- flail away and finish one under par. A colossal 19 strokes behind. One stroke out of dead last place. Only Japan's Hidecki Matsuyama had a worse score, by one stroke.
See the TV folks continue in their Tiger, ahem, hero worship. Tiger this. Tiger that. They even had the gall to interview him when the match was over. The as usual shameless Woods gladly put his mug in front of the cameras again, and started yapping away.
Eldrick Tont said he didn't play "clean enough"
That's one way of putting it.
Another would be he stunk it up for 72 holes. You don't finish a whopping 19 strokes behind unless you're doing just about everything wrong. In any normal tournament, he would have, mercifully, been cut before the final two rounds of the weekend. But no, Woods got to play, and even collect a check, for his pitiful performance.
And since when do bottom-feeders get interviews on TV? Shouldn't those be reserved for the players that either won, or at least came close?
Did I mention shameless?
Yes, I get it. Like a certain President, Eldrick has his blind followers, who will remain loyal to him no matter how gawd-awful his results. They want him to win. They NEED him to win.
But guess what?
He ain't gonna win. Stick a fork in him. He had his decade of dominance, but it's been over and done with for another decade.
There's way too many hot shot younger golfers out there these days -- and new ones are popping up like weeds in a garden every year -- for Eldrick to make any sort of "comeback". Though they won't publicly say so, does anybody really think the young guns on tour these days consider Woods any sort of threat?
They just tolerate him, because they have to. But also likely dread being partnered with him in any given tournament because of the media circus and the throngs of idiots that continue to follow him around.
I, for one, can't wait until Eldrick Tont Woods shuffles off to the Geezer Circuit, sometimes known as the Champions Tour.
Pity, unlike McCarthy, there's not a way to fire Tiger too.
But maybe this is what happens when a former great player starts shacking up with one Danica Patrick. Nothing exemplifies loser more so than dear Danica. All those years in NASCAR with nary a win. Many more in the Indy car circuit before that, with one obscure victory in Japan at a race most of the top drivers and teams didn't even show up for. And along the way, she likely wrecked more cars - hers and others -- than one would see in 15-20 demolition derbies. Maybe her losing ways are contagious. Alas, what a waste of sheet metal, millions of dollars, and a once really good quarterback.
Nonetheless, the Packers had been underwhelming this year to say the least. Losing at home to the lowly Arizona Cardinals likely sealed McCarthy's fate. The Cheesers, loyal at they normally are to their own, had likely seen enough. This guy's gotta go.
[Idle thought. If the fans indeed "own" the Packers, then who makes the decisions as to appointing the front office personnel, that hence has the hiring and firing power over head coaches? Do they have a caucus or something?
Worse, it appears fans can invest in the Packers -- buy "shares", but they aren't allowed to sell them. Sort of like the Eagles' oldie Hotel California. You can come, but you can never leave. What kind of fool would invest in a stock that they can't sell when it begins to tank? That's not only stupid, but probably illegal in the financial world.]
But MM gone. Ah, he's got enough dough to last several lifetimes. He'll be just fine.
I've long had a soft spot for the Chicago Bears. Though probably not Super Bowl contenders, it was nice to see them leading the NFC North Division. Then they went on the road to play the woeful NY Giants. Should have been a piece of cake win. But not so.
They needed a semi-miracle just to force overtime. And then something even stupider happened. After the Giants managed a field goal, the Bears got the ball. Match the field goal and the game goes on. Score a touchdown and they win.
On their ensuing possession, quarterback Chase Daniel managed to fumble three --count em -- THREE times. In the shotgun formation, one snap went between his legs. Beat him cleanly in the five hole. Another went through his hands and bounced off his face mask. So of course they lost. It put the "Duh" into Duh Bears.
Interesting how running back Todd Gurley of the LA Rams refused to score with his team already ahead by a touchdown over the Detroit Lions and time running low. He could have walked into the end zone, but chose to be put down at the 2 yard line. The announcers praised his "game management". By doing this, the Rams forced the Lions to burn the rest of their time-outs. And it worked out, cuz the Rams would go on to score a TD and secure the win anyway.
But what if -- they would have fumbled ala Daniel mentioned above? Instead of taking the easy 7 points and stretching their lead to 14 with under a minute remaining, the Lions would have gotten the ball only trailing by 7. Weirder things have happened than a team marching the length of the field in the last minute to score a touchdown. Had THAT occurred, and the Lions went on to somehow pull out another miracle win, Gurley would have been righteously roasted as an idiot. Hey, give me the seven points any time.
Eldrick Dept.
See the "Hero Challenge" played in the Bahamas. See eighteen of the world's best golfers get together to duke it out on a course that looked hard, but was yielding birdies -- and eagles -- like the average home-owner dishes out candy on Halloween.
See Spaniard Jon Rahm shoot 20 under par and claim the win.
See Eldrick Tont Woods -- sometimes known as Tiger -- flail away and finish one under par. A colossal 19 strokes behind. One stroke out of dead last place. Only Japan's Hidecki Matsuyama had a worse score, by one stroke.
See the TV folks continue in their Tiger, ahem, hero worship. Tiger this. Tiger that. They even had the gall to interview him when the match was over. The as usual shameless Woods gladly put his mug in front of the cameras again, and started yapping away.
Eldrick Tont said he didn't play "clean enough"
That's one way of putting it.
Another would be he stunk it up for 72 holes. You don't finish a whopping 19 strokes behind unless you're doing just about everything wrong. In any normal tournament, he would have, mercifully, been cut before the final two rounds of the weekend. But no, Woods got to play, and even collect a check, for his pitiful performance.
And since when do bottom-feeders get interviews on TV? Shouldn't those be reserved for the players that either won, or at least came close?
Did I mention shameless?
Yes, I get it. Like a certain President, Eldrick has his blind followers, who will remain loyal to him no matter how gawd-awful his results. They want him to win. They NEED him to win.
But guess what?
He ain't gonna win. Stick a fork in him. He had his decade of dominance, but it's been over and done with for another decade.
There's way too many hot shot younger golfers out there these days -- and new ones are popping up like weeds in a garden every year -- for Eldrick to make any sort of "comeback". Though they won't publicly say so, does anybody really think the young guns on tour these days consider Woods any sort of threat?
They just tolerate him, because they have to. But also likely dread being partnered with him in any given tournament because of the media circus and the throngs of idiots that continue to follow him around.
I, for one, can't wait until Eldrick Tont Woods shuffles off to the Geezer Circuit, sometimes known as the Champions Tour.
Pity, unlike McCarthy, there's not a way to fire Tiger too.
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