A Couple Lower-Profile NFL Midseason Awards

We’re about to embark in week 10 of the NFL season … but we’re not there yet! So in my mind, it’s still the midseason.

And instead of letting you know who I think is the NFL MVP (as long as the Colts stay undefeated, it’s Peyton Manning), Rookie of the Year (Percy Harvin. I’m probably going to be wrong on that one) or fantasy’s MVP (Some like Aaron Rodgers, but I’ d say Matt Schaub because he has very comparable stats and was drafted at least a few rounds later. Oh, and I have Schaub on my team, so yeah, I’m slightly biased there).

You’ve already heard all that. There’s no reason for me to pile on.

But there were two categories that didn’t seem to get the press they deserved and while I’m not exactly NFL.com, I would like to point them out.

BEST HIT

Quick Fantasy Reaction From Bears-49ers

That's how his fantasy owners looked like on Thursday

I’ve been trying to find a way, but hey, here’s a good way to make my periodic posts on the week’s NFL action shorter: Play one game each day. That would really help me out. I can do one game per day during the week. Then on Sunday, we’d only have about 10 games? Cake.

Maybe more bye weeks would help as well.

Here’s what I took away from Thursday’s game:

Quick Fantasy Reactions From Week 9 in the NFL

I just traded for him. That season-ending schdule is too good to miss out on

With nine weeks in the books, it’s really time to start working the phones (or the AIMs, Facebook messaging, Twitters, etc.). With only two teams left to serve their bye, depth isn’t as important any more. If you have a surplus in one area, do what you can to get rid of it and make good use of it in another area. Those extra quality players can’t help you much when they are sitting on your bench.

But also, if you know that you are going to make your league’s playoffs, start planning for the season’s last few weeks. When you are making trades, you need to put some importance on the players’ schedule in weeks 14-17. Yesterday, I made a deal in my league, trading Jay Cutler and the Giants’ Steve Smith for Kurt Warner and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. On the surface, it may look like I gave up too much when you consider what a disappointment Housh has been this season. But look at Warner’s late-season schedule. You can’t pass that up.

That pun is unintended.

Check out this link for all of your remaining strength of schedule needs. It does make a difference.

Lastly, make sure you know when your league’s trade deadline is. For my league, it’s Friday, so I really needed to get that deal done now. There are some leagues that have a deadline in a few weeks. There are some others that don’t have a deadline at all, which I think is totally unfair and can lead to late-season fire-selling among eliminated teams. Next year, make the right move. Please get a deadline in there.

From my customary seat at local sports bar, here is what I saw this past Sunday.

Falcons 31, Redskins 17

Wrapping Up The Yankees’ 27th Title With Some Reflection

Champions! Chris Rose is ready to get catch Derek Jeter's dating table scraps

I told you I would be back.

I didn’t think it would be almost 24 hours later, but it was a long night. And then an early morning.

I had a good time celebrating with my father at a local sports bar. Last night and today has been one of those times when I don’t think there are enough editions of SportsCenter. Every replay makes this championship feel brand new again. But in the live moment, I didn’t know what to feel as a Yankees fan.

Running Blog for Game 6 of the 2009 World Series

Pedro Martinez

Andy Pettitte

Which old goat will get it done tonight in Game 6?

Running Blog for Game 5 of the 2009 World Series

Can Cliff Lee do it again?

In the past couple of days, I’ve seen about two innings combined in the games 3 and 4 of the World Series. As a Yankees fan, I find this somewhat inexcusable, but I had no choice.

I got back from my trip to San Antonio late last night. During game 3, I was too busy watching Manu Ginobili slaughter a bat and “celebrating” Halloween. I got to see the first inning of game 4 before I had to get on my departure flight. But I have no regrets. It was a tremendous trip.

Now that I am back home in Long Beach, Calif., I thought I’d post another running blog. Thanks for following along!!

4:49 p.m. Nothing makes me feels more patriotic than hearing the Star-Spangled Banner sung by Alanis Morissette.

4:50 p.m. So much for my Phillies in 6 prediction. But as far as tonight goes, I feel very confident in saying that this series will go at least six games. With the Phillies in a must-win situation in front of their home fans and with Cliff Lee on the mound, I see Philadelphia winning this one easily.

4:51 p.m. A.J. Burnett has good numbers in his career on three days rest, but he hasn’t done that this season. And I just feel that this is the type of game that the Yankees will have that “Whatever” attitude.

4:56 p.m. Plus it doesn’t help that the Yankees are sending out a lineup with Jose Molina and Brett Gardner. And Nick Swisher is batting fifth.

4:59 p.m. We are underway with a fastball low from Lee to Jeter.

Running Blog for Game 2 of the 2009 World Series

So I was able to leave my friend’s house a little earlier than I expected today, so now I am back home and locked in for game 2.

Two things I am wishing for tonight: A Yankees win (if I can be unbiased for a second) and the WordPress server to not crash, like it did last night around 8:15 last night.

4:44 p.m. Oh, no! Did I miss the Jay-Z performance?? Oh, shucks. I really wanted to see that. Dangit.

4:45 p.m. This game can’t possibly top what Mark Grace just said to Chris Rose: “You lead the league in getting blown off.” Oh, the double entrendre, I love you.

4:46 p.m. Pedro Martinez vs. A.J. Burnett. Eric Karros said it right: This game is going to come down to the bullpens.

4:50 p.m. Couple of lineup changes tonight. The Phillies have put in Matt Stairs at DH. Raul Ibanez will play left field.

Jose Molina, as the Yankees have done often this season, will catch Burnett as the expense of Jorge Posada. And then Jerry Hairston Jr. is in right field for Nick Swisher, who is hitting .114 this postseason.

4:59 p.m. And we are underway with a strike to Jimmy Rollins.

Running Blog for Game 1 of the 2009 World Series

The most famous Game 1 moment in World Series history

Will Nick Swisher or Matt Stairs be the next Kirk Gibson?

No matter how many people picking the Yankees, I think this will be a very, very even series. The lineups are very even. The starting rotations are very even (and the Phillies obviously have more depth there). A lot of people are saying Mariano Rivera gives the Yankees the critical advantage, but the Phillies bullpen has improved during the playoffs.

With both teams matched up so well, I am left to go with my gut and I will choose the Phillies in 6.

Granted, the last time I did a pro sports championship, my Los Angeles Lakers faced the Orlando Magic. Before that series, I took the Magic in 7.

So now, I am choosing against my team again. I am a die-hard Yankees fan. Maybe I just undersell my teams? I am a pretty pessimistic person, actually so maybe there is some truth to that.

Anyway, follow on with this running blog on Game 1 of the World Series.

4:38 p.m. Cliff Lee vs. CC Sabathia. You can’t expect anything less than a pitchers’ duel. I’ll take the Yankees tonight, 4-1. One note. Both teams are very good against left-handed pitchers this season. The Yankees were 40-18 while the Phillies were 31-16.

4:40 p.m. But really, we all know that Game 1 is the least consequential game in a seven-game seven. I think the key to this series will be seen tomorrow. I’ll talk about that then when I do another running blog for Game 2.

4:43 p.m. Ozzie Guillen just took the Phillies in this series. Well, I think he did. It’s hard to hear him through all the mumbling and cuss words.

4:44 p.m. I keep forgetting about Raul Ibanez in that Phillies lineup. Damn, they are stupid deep.

4:52 p.m. Very interesting bunch there for the first pitch. But the booing of Michelle Obama is a little uncalled for. Is the World Series really a stage for that? I digress.

4:56 p.m. I don’t know if it means anything, but … notable Phillies vs. Sabathia: Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino are 3-for-7. Jimmy Rollins is 4-for-11 with a couple of doubles. Raul Ibanez is 11-for-40 with two homers and nine RBIs.

4:58 p.m. OK, this game was scheduled to start at 7:57 p.m. Let’s get this show on the damn road! I am out of pregame stats.

Quick Fantasy Reactions From Week 7 in the NFL

It's been funny for me. Not so much for Panthers fans

There are many good things that come out of all the wretched teams in the NFL right now. Comic relief is tops on that list. I mean, you couldn’t help but laugh while watching the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. You could basically predict when Jake Delhomme was going to throw an interception. In that moment, you feel as if you have a psychic gift.

But for fantasy purposes, these bad teams are more likely to play backups. Specifically, quarterbacks. Vince Young may be replacing Kerry Collins soon. Delhomme could finally be benched. Alex Smith is the new starter in San Fran. Josh Freeman may see time as a rookie. Ryan Fitzpatrick will get another start in place of Trent Edwards.

And somehow through all of this, JaMarcus Russell is still on the field. What’s not to like about Bruce Gradkowski anyway?

But the point is that if you are having problems at QB, there should be at least some starters available in your league who you can use as a bye-week fill-in or short-term bandage. They may not be very good, but in leagues such as mine that start two quarterbacks, every starting quarterback has value.

Here are some quick thoughts I have on every game in week seven.

Packers 31, Browns 3

For the love of God, sell high on Ryan Grant. Take that predictable effort against Cleveland and sell it for all it’s worth. His fantasy playoff schedule is not favorable.

It’s sad, but Greg Jennings just isn’t an every-week starter any longer. He got more looks and catches than Donald Driver against Cleveland, but it was all short stuff.

Tight end Jermichael Finley was starting to become a nice fantasy player, but it looks like he will be out a few weeks.

You don’t want any Browns player in fantasy. And apparently, some in Cleveland don’t want Eric Mangini.

Texans 24, 49ers 21

Ranting About My Alma Mater

I apologize for not posting in quite a while. From Wednesday to Sunday of last week, I returned to Orlando to see some friends, roam my college campus once again and most importantly, go to a college football game.

The University of Central Florida hosted the No. 9 Miami Hurricanes. Sure, the Knights had never beaten a ranked team and were sporting an offense that Arkansas St. looks down upon, but I was looking forward to going to my first UCF football game as a fan since 2005.

It was incredibly hard to outwardly root for the Knights — not because it would be an insult to the flavor of vanilla to say that their offense is vanilla  — but because sports writing has trained me in the past four years to always unbiased toward UCF. But halfway through the third quarter and with Hurricanes up 17-7, there was reason to be excited. A snap over the head of the Hurricanes’ punter and a penalty gave the Knights possession on UM’s two-yard line.

First and goal at the 2. Six more feet and we’ve got ourselves a ballgame with the No. 9 team in the nation.

So what do the Knights call on first down? How about a play action pass to the tight end? Those always work around the goal line. How about just a simple dive play? You have basically four plays to get two yards. Just plow straight ahead!

Running Blog of No. 1 Florida Gators vs. No. 4 LSU Tigers

Tim Tebow is just two weeks removed from this scene. How will he play tonight?

Yes, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow WILL start tonight. Obviously, his performance we’ll be dissected from every angle ad nauseam.  But his availability is the best thing for this game. It won’t give the Gators any excuses if they lose.

But regardless, this game has the highest combined ranking between opponents, so it should be an awesome one. Follow along!

5:06 p.m. Pressure! Pressure! Pressure! The Tigers only have five sacks all season. They pressure from LSU’s defensive line is the biggest key to this game.

5:08 p.m. Urban Meyer just said that backup quarterback John Brantley may see some playing time but that Tebow will start and he is the team’s QB. He won’t be removed unless he is visibly injured.

5:11 p.m. And we are underway with Trindon Holliday taking the opening kickoff out to the 29 to start the game.

Are You Ready For Some (Hilarious) Football?!?!?!

BRING IT ON!!!!

The UFL debuted tonight to little fanfare. I think the first game, which pitted the California Redwoods against the Las Vegas Locomotives, was broadcast over the Internet somewhere.

But I just know this league is going to be great. Not for football, but for my personal enjoyment.

Just look at the league’s catch phrase: “WHERE FUTURE STARS COME TO PLAY!”

What future is that? 2001?

But that’s the best part of the UFL: The has-been NFL players. See, with the XFL, you had a few people with previous NFL experience, but the UFL is filled with wash-ups and they ALL have a great back story.

(Just stick the word “allegedly” somewhere in each of the next few sentences)

2009 MLB Playoff Predictions: Dodging Los Angeles

The Dodgers are where I expected them to be. I also expected them to reach the World Series. That's not going to happen

Way back on the morning of April 1, I posted my 2009 MLB playoff predictions on a friend’s wall in Facebook (because I am a pop culture sellout), and here is what I put down:

NL Playoffs: Dodgers over Mets, Cardinals over Phillies; Dodgers over Cardinals

AL Playoffs: Rays over Angels, Yankees over Twins; Yankees over Rays

World Series: Dodgers over Yankees

OK, so you’ve got the Mets and the Rays in there and that didn’t turn out too well. But as we enter the playoffs, I take pride that each team I predicted to be in the World Series have the best record in its perspective league. More than five months later and the two teams that I thought would be the best in baseball still are, according to the records.

Now, as I present an updated version of my 2009 playoff predictions, I will sacrifice preseason pride for postseason correctness.

Running Blog of the Tigers-Twins AL Central Tiebreaker

One-game MLB playoffs: Where Bucky Dent happens

One game. From 162 to 0, plus one. The Detroit Tigers could have avoided this situation, but an absolute collapse in the past three weeks has put them into a do-or-die situation on the road against the Twins. The deck is certainly stacked against Detroit. The Tigers are not they team with the momentum. They playing on the road in what could be the final MLB game in the Metrodome. They have a 20-year-old rookie on the mound and if you believe in karma, Miguel Cabrera certainly isn’t helping.

But that’s why they play the games. So if you are watching or can’t because you are at work since this game is being played at the ridiculous hour of 5 p.m. Eastern, follow along. We could witness history. Right, Bucky Dent?

2:03 p.m. Seriously, Miguel??? A 0.26?? Holy Christ! How was he able to play the next day?

2:06 p.m. Porcello has rebounded impressively after predictably struggling around the middle of the season. But he has never been in a situation like this. You have to believe he is nervous as hell.

2:08 p.m. We are underway with a fastball from Scott Baker to Curtis Granderson.

A Quick Vick Quip

On Wednesday, we heard that Michael Vick had signed an endorsement deal with Nike. On Thursday, Nike states that those claims are false. The company will provide Vick with Nike products, but has not signed him to a contract.

Vick will try to get a shoe deal somewhere else. The early favorite is Hush Puppies.

(pause for laughter, wait for people to stop rolling in the aisles)

OK, that’s all the time I’ve got. You’ve been great. I’ll be here all week. Tip your waitress and try the fish.

... Hush Puppies, OHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Welcome to October: The Best Month of the Year

The leaves change, the temperature drops, the holidays are right around the corner and sports start to heat up. Welcome to October! It is the best month of the year and here’s why:

You’ve obviously got the World Series, which will be known in 2009 as the 12th Fall Classic meeting between the Yankees and Dodgers. This month is so big in baseball, players earn it as their nickname. OK. so Derek Jeter got Mr. November, but who really calls him that? And yeah, Dave Winfield became Mr. May, but that wasn’t a flattering alias.

A Fantasy Look Back at Week 3 in the NFL

I've read it; I totally relate

I should have known better than to say a few days ago that I would write about the NFL action each Sunday. An NFL Sunday to me is not just another day. It’s an exercise in stamina, thanks to fantasy football.

Every Sunday in the fall, if you ever want to find me, I’ll be at Smooth’s Sports Bar in downtown Long Beach, Calif. From my usual table, I can see 10 big-screen, high-def, plasma TVs within a 180-degree turn of my head. It’s a lovely scene, but it’s also hazardous to my health. I play in only one league a year, but that one league is the most important thing in my life every Sunday, and that turns the day into something much like a six-hour sugar rush. I spend all day swiveling my head, trying to keep up. In the moment, it’s exciting and nerve-racking. When it’s over, the crash arrives and I feel like Muhammad Ali after the “Thrilla in Manila.”

So on Sunday night, I was pretty tired — and pretty upset considering that I was facing Peyton Manning and lost my matchup by less than two points — but here is what I observed in the middle of my weariness.

Minnesota 27, San Francisco 24: OH MY GOD! BRETT FAVRE IS A MIRACLE MAN! SWEET JESUS! Truth is, through 56 minutes of this game, Favre was pretty bad. Before the 3:30 mark of the fourth quarter, Favre had thrown for an unimpressive 192 yards, one score and one interception on just 15-of-33 passing. He threw high, low and behind receivers. The fact remains that he is not a quality NFL fantasy QB. Statistically, I bet this will be his best effort of the season. Once again, I will admit that I was totally wrong on my prediction.

Much like the Bengals against Denver in week one, San Francisco should have won this game. It’s not just about the Favre prayer, but Frank Gore only had one carry in this game, which resulted in an ankle injury. Rookie Glen Coffee took over and rushed 25 times for just 53 yards. With Gore in there, there is no doubt that the Niners would have won. They were the better team. And how about 95 yards and two scores from Vernon Davis? Maybe he’s finally reaching his potential? For at least a week or two, I’m buying.

Injury update: Gore has a right ankle and foot strain. Early word is that he will miss the next three weeks and could return after a week six bye. Get Glen Coffee now! He didn’t do much against the Vikings, but most running backs are just as fortunate. He has a pretty nice schedule coming up.

Running Off At The Electronic Mouth IV

Now that we headed into the third week of the NFL season, expect posts about each weekend’s NFL action every Sunday. I’ve held off because there are just too many fluke occurrences in the first two weeks. Sure, some truths still hold strong (Lions, Rams still suck), but it takes a couple of weeks for us to know what we really have here.

But here are some things from the league — and other sports — that I would like to hit on.

Power rankings, like many polls in sports, are stupid and not worth paying any attention. But there is no way that the Jets should be lower than any AFC team on those lists. ESPN, FOX, CBS, SI, etc. have all put teams such as the Steelers, Ravens and Colts ahead of the J-E-T-S. What are they watching?

The Steelers have already lost a game. The Colts barely beat the Jaguars and the Dolphins, two teams that are destined to finish last in their respective divisions. The Ravens struggled at home against a pitiful Kansas City offense. Meanwhile, the Jets have the scariest defense in the NFL right now. They stifled the almighty Patriots and destroyed the Texans’ high-powered offense. They can dominate the clock with a good running game, and Mark Sanchez is following Ryan and Flacco in the mold of a rookie who refuses to look green.

Those other teams have more impressive recent history, and I think one of the reasons why many refuse to give the Jets their due is because of their lack of success this decade. But this is just a judgment on the 2009 season and there is definitely no better team — at least in the AFC — than the Jets.

It’s pretty clear which is the worst …

How Has Sports Made You Feel Old?

I’m just 25 years old. But in the words of one of my friends on my 25th birthday, “You’re half way to being dead.” Yeah, that’s what friends are for. Apparently we are secretly living in an 1800s society and 50 years old makes you the George Burns of the earth.

I know I am pretty young, but I guess it’s never too early to wonder about your own mortality, no matter how bulletproof you feel at this age. I thought about how old I am getting this past week when one of my best friends from high school became a father (that’s his baby you see to the right. He is going to be shaped so much into being the next great NFL linebacker that even Todd Marinovich’s father will cringe). It’s hard for me to comprehend that the same people I grew up with are now becoming dads.

But I find that sports, like nothing else, can make your age really stand out.

So I pose this question to you: When has something in sports made you feel really old?

Screamin’ Gus Johnson Provides Another Great Announcing Moment

As avid viewers of NCAA March Madness know very well, you are in for an exciting game if you’ve got Gus Johnson on the play-by-play. The game may be as fun as laundry, but Gus will glue you to your television set. His style, which I would describe as someone announcing sports while being thrown from an airplane with no parachute, draws you in.

So although the first 59 minutes and 30 seconds of Sunday’s Broncos-Bengals match was basically a punting exhibition, the final 30 seconds gave us the most thrilling moment of week one in the NFL. And who else would you rather have behind the mic as good ol’ Gus?

Yeah, it's a lot like that