Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 692 of 1503)

      NFL Picks & Predictions: Week 4

      October 2, 2009 /

      Ravens (3-0) at Patriots (2-1), 1:00PM ET
      I still can’t get over the Falcons’ game plan (if you can call it that) to defense Tom Brady and the Patriots last week. Atlanta decided to drop seven defenders into coverage and allow Brady time to find open receivers, read The Great Gatsby cover to cover and figure out a way to help turn around the economy. Brady won’t be afforded that kind of time this week against the Ravens, who will no doubt bring extra defenders and use multiple fronts in efforts to confuse the New England QB. Baltimore isn’t going to allow the Pats to control the game on the ground either, and although the Ravens still have issues in their secondary, I like them pulling off an upset in Foxboro. For anyone who thought the Pats resolved their issues last week in a win over the Falcons, this game should prove otherwise.
      Odds: Patriots –2.
      Prediction: Ravens 31, Patriots 30.

      Titans (0-3) at Jaguars (1-2), 1:00PM ET
      The Titans are like that hot ex-girlfriend that dumped you three times but you foolishly keep going back to her hoping she’s changed. I’ve picked Tennessee to win the last two weeks and have been let down both times. Yet, here I am again, waiting to get my stomach kicked in. Jeff Fisher’s team is too good to fall to 0-4 and lose to an average Jacksonville team right? Right?! I think the Titans will play inspired this week, won’t make as many stupid mistakes as they did last Sunday against the Jets and will force David Garrard to beat them through the air by taking away Maurice Jones-Drew. If Tennessee losses this week, I promise not to pick the Titans the rest of the year. (Until she calls me at two in the morning drunk and looking for a place to stay…then I’ve got to let her in, right? Right?!)
      Odds: Jaguars –3.
      Prediction: Titans 20, Jaguars 17.

      Continue reading »

      Free Picks, NFL

      Chicago loses bid for 2016 Olympics

      October 2, 2009 /

      Chicago received a first-round knock out on Friday courtesy of the International Olympic Committee, which voted against Chicago’s bid for hosting the 2016 Olympics.

      From the Chicago Tribune:

      Rio de Janeiro and Madrid are now left seeking approval to host the 2016 Summer Games. The host city is to be announced around noon Chicago time.

      To some observers, it appeared that Chicago’s bid had been fast gathering momentum in the last week. Daley and others began to show their confidence as one piece after another fell into place. From First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey’s early commitments to travel with them to Copenhagen, to President Barack Obama’s late decision to go, to bad news trickling out about the Rio’s bid, indicators looked to be going Chicago’s way.

      But members of the International Olympic Committee are known for being unpredictable, even impulsive, when they gather to pick a host city.

      And in 2016, it won’t be Chicago.

      The 2016 Summer Games were to be Mayor Richard Daley’s legacy. Now the mayor comes home to face recession-driven budget woes and concerns about violence that plague Chicago, without the ability to change the public dialogue to Olympics talk.

      Daley and his Olympic bid team will now have to decide whether to regroup and try again for the 2020 Games. Conventional wisdom in Chicago cuts against extending the effort, partly because the bid has been so closely tied to Daley. At 67, the mayor’s political plans may not include remaining in office long enough to see through another run at the Games.

      I live in Chicago and most of the talk on sports radio leading up to today was about how the city was the favorite to win the 2016 Olympics. To be knocked out in the first round is no doubt a stunning blow to the city, as well as those who thought Chicago had a choke hold on the games.

      At the very least, people figured that Chicago would make it to the second round, especially with President Obama and Oprah (I thought it was illegal to say no to Oprah?) making the trip to Copenhagen. But apparently not.

      Oh, well.

      The Olympics

      Jim Brown calls out Michael Crabtree

      October 2, 2009 /

      In a recent interview with Sirius XM radio, former NFL legend Jim Brown had some advice for Michael Crabtree, the 49ers rookie who is holding out for a bigger contract offer.

      From the San Jose Mercury News:

      Jim Brown, who made $85,000 in the final season of his Hall of Fame career, has a message for the 49ers’ first-round draft pick:

      “Mr. Crabtree, get your butt in camp,’’ he said.

      In an interview with Sirius XM radio, Brown told host Joe Madison that Michael Crabtree’s current stance is “totally ridiculous” and said that an athlete’s career is measured by the way he plays, not the contract he signs.

      “You don’t realize that your legacy will be based upon how you perform, not how much money you made?” Brown said on the show.
      Brown visited 49ers training camp in August. Crabtree was absent because of a contract stalemate that shows no sign of a breakthrough three games into the regular-season. Reports peg the 49ers offer as a five-year deal that includes $16 million in guarantees.

      It’s painstakingly clear that Crabtree is only about the money. If he truly cared about football he would have already accepted the 49ers’ original offer (which was for fair, market value by the way) and would be contributing on the field right now.

      If it’s not killing Crabtree that his team is currently atop the NFC West standings at 2-1 and he can’t contribute in some way, then the 49ers should cut their losses and move on because the kid doesn’t have the fire to play.

      And that’s just not going to fly on a team coached by Mike Singletary.

      NFL

      Rockies clinch NL Wild Card

      October 2, 2009 /

      With their 9-2 victory over the Brewers on Thursday, the Rockies clinched the NL Wild Card, eliminating the Braves. Aaron Cook pitched eight innings of one-run ball in the win.

      Manager Jim Tracy actually has an interesting dilemma on his hands, because Colorado could still win the NL West. With the Dodgers losing four straight and only four of their last 10, the Rockies are only two games behind L.A. The two teams will start a three-game series today.

      With a playoff berth already locked up, do the Rockies rest their starters and get ready for the postseason or does Tracy manage to win the division? Depending on how the Cardinals and Phillies finish up, Colorado could wind up having the best record in the NL with a sweep over the Dodgers this weekend. And that would be quite a feat considering at one point they were 20-32 and fired their manager.

      It’ll be interesting to see how Tracy manages over the weekend. I would have to imagine that if a division title is in range for a club, they’d go for that. But the Rockies would have to sweep in order to win the West.

      MLB

      Questioning Favre’s motives to come back

      October 1, 2009 /

      Brett Favre should know better than anyone that whatever an athlete says will be examined, analyzed and often criticized by the media.

      And since he should know that, it’s a little strange that he’s now claiming that he isn’t out for revenge against the Packers despite previously stating that he wanted to stick it to Green Bay GM Ted Thompson, who traded him to the Jets last year.

      This is what Brett said in a conference call with the media on Thursday (via ESPN):

      “Never was motivated for that reason,” Favre said in a conference call. “No. That has nothing to do with it.”

      Uh Brett, then what would you call your open desire to stick to Thompson then?

      “It’s human nature to feel, I didn’t use the word revenge, but to prove that you still could play,” Favre said. “To prove someone wrong, or prove a group wrong. So you can call it what you want.”

      While I’m not ready to paint Brett with the liar brush, I do question his true motives to come back and play – specifically for the Vikings. He had to know that donning purple and gold would alienate many of the fans that rooted him for all those years in Green Bay, so why Minnesota?

      Chances are that Brett was telling the truth from the start. He’s still angry with Thompson for not bowing down and allowing him to return to Green Bay, no matter how many times he retired and unretired. Why else would he sign with the Packers’ most hated rival?

      I’m not oblivious to the fact that Minnesota was a perfect fit for Brett. He already knew Brad Childress’ offense and was familiar with the division. Plus, the Jets were transitioning to a new coach and none of Favre’s former teammates were championing for his return.

      But I still find it hard to believe that Brett’s main motivation wasn’t to beat Thompson and the Packers. The easiest way to burn the Pack was to sign with a rival, and then beat them on the field. He already accomplished the first feat, and a win on Monday night would allow him to cross off the other.

      Don’t let Favre fool you – he isn’t above trying to make Thompson and the Packers look foolish for not allowing him to return after the 2007 season. The hatchet is certainly not buried.

      NFL

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