Category: External Sports (Page 466 of 821)

      Mark Schlereth’s rant about the NFL

      October 22, 2010 /

      ESPN commentator and former player Mark Schelereth was asked what he thought about James Harrison being fined $75 K for two dangerous hits in Week 6.

      I agree that the NFL shouldn’t profit off of DVDs glorifying big hits if they are trying to clean up the contact over the middle, and I agree with Schlereth’s issue with the NFL’s health care/disability policy, but one thing I loathe in debate is when one side freaks out over incremental change by taking the opposing viewpoint to the extreme.

      Example #1: “You take all the contact away, guess what you are? You’re soccer. That’s why Americans love the NFL.”

      Is anyone advocating taking “all the contact away”? Of course not. This kind of rhetoric doesn’t help the discussion. At all. He also speaks for all fans, when he has no business doing so. I don’t watch the NFL for the big hits. I watch for great playcalling, great runs, great throws and great catches. I don’t like to see a defenseless wide receiver get laid out (and possibly injured) when he tries to catch a pass over the middle. Go ahead and tackle the guy without leading with your helmet or your shoulder. Better yet, make a play on the freaking ball.

      Example #2: “You know what NFL players should to on Sunday night or Monday night? Play two-hand touch. Go out on the field and nobody hit anybody, and let’s see how popular your game is, if nobody is hitting anybody.”

      Again, who is saying that “nobody should hit anybody”? By taking the opposing viewpoint to the extreme, Schlereth hopes to make it sound absurd and gain support, but it only serves to lower the level of discourse.

      Another statement bothers me:

      “I’m all for fining guys who are malicious, with malicious intent.”

      James Harrison readily admitted that he’s out to hurt people, so Schlereth should reconsider his defense of the Steeler linebacker.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, NFL, Video

      Titans’ Kenny Britt involved in bar fight

      October 22, 2010 /
      NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 29: Kenny Britt #18 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at LP Field on November 29, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Cardinals 20-17. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

      While the details are still forthcoming, the Nashville Tennessean is reporting that Titans’ receiver Kenny Britt was involved in a bar fight with two men early Friday morning in downtown Nashville.

      The incident occurred at 1:45 a.m. at Club Karma at 305 Broadway. Witnesses identified Britt as being involved in the fight and striking another man. Britt was not present when police officers arrived at the scene and has not been interviewed by police.

      According to police, a disorderly conduct call was made early Friday morning after a fight at the club. After interviewing witness, police said a fight between Harold Pointer, 26, and Bradford Miser, 29, broke out in the bar area at the club.

      Witnesses said Miser punched Pointer, and the two men fell to the ground. Britt allegedly joined in and hit Pointer.

      “According to the witness, Britt began striking Pointer,’’ Aaron said. “Security at the club as well as a witness then pulled Britt and Miser off of Pointer.’’

      When officers arrived, Britt was not at the scene. Miser told police he struck Pointer because he had been elbowed in the throat.

      Britt has not been arrested or charged with anything, but considering he’s been in and out of Jeff Fisher’s doghouse since being selected in the first round of the 2009 draft, this situation won’t be taken lightly. He could be in some serious trouble with either the Titans and/or the league once more details emerge.

      It sounds like the man involved in the fight plans to press charges, so although Britt hasn’t been arrested yet, that may change. This obviously makes him a risky play this week. If he’s out, Nate Washington will get a big bump and Justin Gage (now healthy) is worth a look in deep PPR leagues.

      External Sports, NFL

      2010 NFL Week 7 Picks & Predictions

      October 22, 2010 /
      SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 3: Quarterback Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers celebrates a Charger touchdown play against the Arizona Cardinals in the third quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on October 3, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers won 41-10. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

      A 2-2 Sunday in Week 6 has left me starring at a losing record this season in the NFL. While I hit the Eagles and Vikings last Sunday, the Bears and Raiders left me hanging with their horrendous efforts against the Seahawks and 49ers, respectively.

      Maybe this is the week it all turns around for good and I can start sleeping at night again. That losing record haunts my dreams…

      Browns (1-5) @ Saints (4-2), 1:00PM ET
      Despite a wide array of injuries, the Saints’ dominated a Tampa team last Sunday that had been playing with a lot of confidence. Maybe New Orleans has found a way to overcome all the injuries and will start to turn it on. Either way, the Browns are banged up themselves and don’t have the luxury of having Drew Brees under center to right the ship. I was impressed with Colt McCoy’s NFL debut last Sunday in Pittsburgh, but he may be without Josh Cribbs (head) and Mohammad Massaquoi (head) this Sunday, which is a problem considering Cleveland was already thin at receiver. The Browns will try to win this game on the ground with Peyton Hillis, but I think their defense will be on the field for long stretches of time and the Saints’ offense will kick it into high gear at some point. New Orleans rolls again this week.
      THE PICK: SAINTS -13

      49ers (1-5) @ Panthers (0-5), 1:00PM ET
      Sorry for my bluntness, but I don’t like the Panthers. I think they rival the Bills for being the worst team in the league and whether it’s Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen that takes the snaps, I think they have a good chance of losing every Sunday. That said, I don’t trust the 49ers as far as I can throw them. Their first win came against an Oakland team last Sunday that actually may have been trying to lose based on the effort they gave. I don’t think San Fran is well coached, I don’t think they play disciplined football and I don’t trust Mike Singletary’s in-game decision-making. So while it pains me to take Carolina, I think they get their first win this week and Vegas burns those that are hoping back onto the 49ers’ shaky bandwagon.
      THE PICK: PANTHERS +2

      Patriots (4-1) @ Chargers (2-4), 4:15PM
      Before making my picks each week, I scour locate all the traps. And this, my friends, is a trap. Why in God’s name would anyone take a 2-4 San Diego team playing a 4-1 New England squad that just beat the Ravens? Because the Chargers are 2-0 at home? Not buying it. Antonio Gates is hurt and may not play and the Chargers were just dominated by the Rams. There’s simply no reason to take the Bolts this week, which is exactly why I’m taking the Bolts this week….and for a more logical take on the game: The Chargers have looked like a completely different team at home this year and Philip Rivers should take advantage of a suspect New England secondary. It’s tough for East Coast teams to travel cross-country and win on the road, and no team will travel farther than the Pats this weekend. The depleted Chargers win and cover.
      THE PICK: CHARGERS –3

      Giants (4-2) @ Cowboys (1-4), 8:30PM ET, Monday
      Speaking of traps…The Giants have won three in a row and have been awfully impressive on both sides of the ball the past three weeks. The Cowboys, on the other hand, have shot themselves in the foot at every opportunity and have essentially become a joke. With that in mind, what better time for Dallas to wake up then against a division rival on national television? Expect the unexpected every week in the NFL. Everyone is expecting the ‘Boys to lay an egg and embarrass themselves on Monday night, but I actually think the opposite plays out. I think the Cowboys put together their best performance of the season and make people consider whether or not they can climb back into the NFC East race. (Then they’ll promptly lose next week by committing 17 penalties and turning the ball over six times and then they’ll go back to being a joke.)
      THE PICK: COWBOYS -3

      Season Record: 9-10-1

      External Sports, NFL

      2010 College Football Week 8 Picks

      October 22, 2010 /
      DALLAS - OCTOBER 02: Jeremy Beal and Jamarkus McFarland of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrate a quarterback sack against the Texas Longhorns in the first quarter at the Cotton Bowl on October 2, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

      Thanks to Wisconsin’s domination of Ohio State last Saturday night, I missed out on my first 4-0 week in college football. No matter, I’ll gladly take 3-1 to give me a winning record on the year. (Crap, I said that too loud, didn’t I? I did, I did say that too loud. The college football gods are going to be annnngry…)

      Utah (love them Utes), Boise State and Hawaii were all winners in Week 7, while those douche Buckeyes were my only loser. Week 8 picks are below.

      Colorado State @ Utah, 6:00PM ET
      I may take the Utes every week from here on out. They’ve covered in five of their first six games (their only blemish was a push) and you never have to worry about a letdown because, well, it’s Utah. If the Utes don’t blow everyone out by 60, then they look weak in the eyes of BCS voters because of the conference they play in (although that won’t be a problem next year when they join the Pac-12). The Rams are 0-3 on the road, where they’ve allowed an average of 43.7 points per game and have scored just 14.3 PPG. Utah, on the other hand, is averaging 40.3 PPG at home this season and has allowed just 12.3 PPG. Thirty and a half points is a steep number to lay, but the Utes have been covering big point spreads all season (albeit, this will be the biggest since they were a 29-point favorite over San Jose State on September 25, a game in which they won, 56-3).
      THE PICK: UTAH –30.5

      UAB @ Mississippi State, 7:00PM ET
      After beating Florida last Saturday to improve to 5-2 on the year, Mississippi State earned its way into the top-25 this week. That said, this has letdown written all over it. The Bulldogs are in the midst of their SEC schedule and now have to play a 2-4 UAB team at home. With games against Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss coming up over the next month, it’ll be easy to overlook a Blazers squad that hasn’t won on the road yet. It would make one team’s entire season to beat a ranked foe on their home field. The other team has its sites on tougher challenges down the road. I’m taking the former, which is also getting 19.5 points.
      THE PICK: UAB +19.5

      North Carolina @ Miami, 7:30PM ET
      I could be falling into a trap here, but isn’t North Carolina being undervalued a bit in this game? Both teams are 4-2 with identical 2-1 records in the ACC and the Tar Heels have won four straight despite having two NCAA investigations hanging over their heads. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, are only two weeks removed from laying an egg against Florida State at home and managed to beat Duke by just two touchdowns (well, two touchdowns and one two-point conversion, as the score was 28-13) despite the Blue Devils’ seven turnovers. Again, I may be falling into a trap here and it wouldn’t surprise me if it was 58-0 Miami at halftime because of this, but I’ll gladly take the 6.5 points with the hotter team right now.
      THE PICK: NORTH CAROLINA +6.5

      Oklahoma @ Missouri, 8:00PM ET
      I know I’m going to piss off the MIZZOU faithful here, but I don’t think the Tigers are good enough to be ranked No. 11 in the BCS Standings. The AP has it right with ranking them at No.18, which is more than fair considering this team was fortunate that San Diego State didn’t beat them in their home stadium a month ago. The Sooners have won seven straight against the Tigers and 19 of 20 in the series, with MIZZOU’s lone victory coming in 1998. Oklahoma has had a tendency this year of letting opponents hang around, but if Missouri can’t establish its running game, the Sooners will start to pull away in the second half. This one will be tight, but I think OU will use the diss from the AP (which has the Sooners ranked third) as motivation to come out on top.
      THE PICK: OKLAHOMA –3

      Season Record: 11-9

      College Football, External Sports

      LeBron says disgruntled fans “have to get over it.”

      October 22, 2010 /
      Miami Heat small forward LeBron James reacts during a break in play against the Detroit Pistons in their NBA preseason basketball game in Miami, Florida October 5, 2010. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      LeBron James claims he wasn’t telling his (former) fans in Cleveland to “get over it,” but it sure sounds like he did:

      “If I was a fan and I was on the outside looking in, I could be upset a little bit if one of my favorite players left,” James said. “Or if I felt like he betrayed us or whatever the case may be. But you have to get over it.”

      “Sports are very emotional and fans are very emotional,” James said. “At times they really believe you may be related to them you and you sleep in their house. When you do something wrong and you leave their house they can become very emotional. I’ve understood that over the years. But at the same time, you have to understand you have to do what is best yourself.”

      I’m not sure what the whole “you sleep in their house” bit is about — it sounds like one of those philosophical LeBron thoughts that went awry — but no one in Cleveland is going to be comforted by the rest of these remarks, no matter how nicely ESPN (headline reads: “LeBron sympathetic to fans”) wants to put them.

      LeBron later tweeted:

      Let’s clear this up! I never said to the Cavs fans to “get over it”. I’ve never and will never say anything bad about them. 7 years of joy!

      I’ll give him this — he didn’t say “those fans should get over it,” but he did imply that fans in general have to “get over it” when an athlete does something to anger them. In a time where no one is going to be parsing words in his defense, this is not going to go over well in Cleveland. Especially considering that the front-running LeBron (who grew up as a fan of Jordan’s Bulls, the Cowboys and the Yankees) simply can’t relate to Cavs fans who feel that their local hero stabbed them in the back.

      And there’s still no acknowledgment that “The Decision” was a colossal mistake, image-wise. He and his camp are still clinging to the idea that raising some money for charity offsets whatever pain he put Cavs fans through on his monumental ego trip/public break up.

      This is going to be an interesting season, for sure.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

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