Random Thoughts and a Few Predictions
- Even though I am passionate about baseball I just couldn’t really get into watching the Detroit Tigers play the St Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
- Isiah Thomas will not be successful as the NY Knicks head coach and will be fired within a year
- One of the classiest guys in sports is Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison. All he does is catch passes and more passes and than hands the ball back to the referee. He never taunts other players, just goes about his business the old fashioned way. Entering this year he has over 920 catches in 10 years. In fact he is in the top ten of all-time in 3 categories: Receptions, Receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
- It was interesting to read that Fourteen of USA today’s baseball staff predicted the baseball playoffs 1st round – 13 of them picked the Yankees, 12 of them picked the Twins, 13 of them picked the Padres and only 7 of them picked the Mets. Safe to say you could have done better picking names out of a hat.
- You heard it here first… the Chicago Bears will go 10-0 and lose in week 11 on the road to the New England Patriots but will meet in this years Super Bowl which is a rematch from 20 years ago.
- Congratulations to fellow Hofstra Graduate Marques Colston and current New Orleans Saint Receiver. He currently is 8th in the NFL in receiving yards and tied for 2nd in touchdown receptions - not bad for a 7th round draft pick!
- The Dallas Mavericks will not only make it to this years NBA final they will win it. They learned a tremendous amount from last years final. You may not think I am going out on a limb BUT this hasn’t happened since 1989 when The Detroit Pistons won the championship after losing in the finals the prior year.
- In case you missed it Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning missed his first practice in his nine year career to attend his grandmother’s funeral. In the sports world today that is unprecedented
- Keep an eye on the Chicago Bulls - I think that team is going to be really good this year, make a lot of noise and might even meet the Mavericks in the NBA finals.
- Unless Barry Bonds drastically lowers his contract demands or plays for the San Francisco Giants he will be sitting home and playing lots of golf next summer.
TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Am I the only person who misses the Lakers/Celtic rivalry? Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - some of the best basketball ever!
Have a thought about sports? Something bothering you about a player? Have a trivia question or prediction? We want to hear from you!
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:28 am
Prediction:
I like the Giants in the NFC and the Colts in the AFC. This will be the DREAM Super Bowl for CBS (Manning vs. Manning plus a NY team).
Another prediction: If Manning vs. Manning doesn’t happen this year, it will before long. Just sit tight.
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:48 am
Give me the intensity of a good college football rivalry game anytime over anything the Pros do. You cannot compare the atmosphere of say, the Super Bowl, to any of the yearly college football rivalries (OU-TX, Michigan-Ohio State, even Army-Navy). I challenge any of you to attend one of these games live and the super bowl and tell me where there is more passion And isn’t that what sports should be about, passion?
November 3rd, 2006 at 3:59 pm
I also am thinking Manning v. Manning this year or maybe I am just hoping for that.
It is great to see a long standing filled with tradition team like the Bears performing well again - they love football in Chicago.
Just watch out for the Nets and if they run into Dallas in the finals, we will sit next to David Stern and we can both watch you suffer during the Mavericks loss.
One last point about predictions, my 15 year old daughter who has only watched about 2 hours of pro football in her life is leading our football pool by 5 games - it is over 35 men who call themselves experts.
November 3rd, 2006 at 4:33 pm
As a die hard Detroit sports fan, I was into the MLB playoffs and World Series as never before. I even found a sports bar while in Spain to watch game 1 at 2:30a.m. What the Tigers accomplished was truly amazing. All baseball fans including the Bostonian’s have to appreciate what the Tigers did. “They were almost as impressive as the ‘04 Red Sox!”
Regarding basketball… The Bulls will be in the final 4 thanks to ‘ex Detroit Piston’ Ben Wallace.
Ace
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:49 pm
MARVIN HARRISON IS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE BUT CAN ANY NAME THE RECEIVERS SELECTED BEFORE HIM IN THAT YEARS DRAFT?
PEYTON MANNING WILL NOT BE PLAYING IN THIS YEARS SUPER BOWL - HE HAS NO DEFENSE AND LIKE PITCHING IN BASEBALL DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.
I SEE ELI FACING BRADY - WHICH WOULD ALSO BE A DREAM MATCH UP FOR TV
QUESTION - IF PEYTON MANNING AND TOM BRADY HAD TRADED PLACES TO START THEIR CAREERS WOULD MANNING HAVE WON THREE SUPER BOWLS WITH BELICHEK AS HIS COACH? WOULD BRADY HAVE WON EVEN ONE WITH THE COLTS?
AS FOR THE NBA FUTURE CHAMPION - WHO REALLY CARES
KENNY ROGERS GOT OFF EASY FOR HIS BLATANT CHEATING IN THE WORLD SERIES. CORKED BATS AND SPIT BALLS ARE CHEATING - JUST LIKE STERIODS. BUT TO BASEBALL PURISTS THAT IS PART OF THE FLAVOR OF THE GAME - NO ITS NOT ITS CHEATING AND KENNY ROGERS IS A FRAUD
THE ROOOOSTER HAS SPOKEN
November 6th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Merrill, these are some great points and observations. I have a different take on Mr. Bonds. As a devoted Dodger fan you will have no problem guessing my sentiments about Barry “Bones”. I think that if the Giants and Barry part, there will be at least 5 American League clubs waiting at his door with 3 year, $15 million deals. Why you ask? Let me explain. In the recent book that disclosed his used of “supplements”, Bonds was characterized as an athlete driven not only do what McGwire and Sosa accomplished in 1998, but surpassing them and placing the single season record for homeruns out of reach for good. And that he did. Right now, he not only has his sights on Henry Aaron’s career homerun mark, but he is going to try to put this record out of reach for eternity. I believe Barry is aiming at hitting and surpassing 800 career home runs. Currently, Barry has 734 homeruns. If he plays for 3 years and averages 23 homeruns a year, he will be beyond 800. So why would any team play Bones $15 million a year? Simple, he will “put butts in seats” and make them $$$. If Bonds is smart (which I think he is to some degree) he will insist on two conditions in his next deal; 1. sign with an American League team and 2. sign a “Roger Clemens-like” deal where he does not travel and only plays home games. The first condition is obvious so that Bonds can DH and avoid injuries playing the field would do to his knees (hey that was what Aaron did for his last two seasons). The second condition is the kicker as it serves both Bonds and his new American League employer. By playing only home games, will allow Bonds to stay in shape and rehab any nagging injuries while the team is on the road. Play ten days, off ten days. Nice work if you and Roger Clemens can get it. But the big winner of this little clause is his new team, as they will be able to guarantee that Aaron’s record and Bonds’ #800 will both take place at their stadium. If I were the Kansas City Royals, I would sign this deal tomorrow. The last two seasons the Royals have averaged 17,200 a game. Their stadium holds 40,625 and their average ticket price is $20. Let’s do some math and see if the Royals can get their $45 million worth. If Barry can attract just an additional 10,000 fans a game (10,000 X $20 X 81 = $16.2 million) they will be up $1.2 million not counting increases in sales of hot dogs, beer, parking and ad revenue. Seems like a no brainer to me.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:16 am
As for the Bears prediction. Never underestimate the Ghosts of the ‘72 Dolphins. They are not ready to give up their record just yet. And with parity running rampant, it might just stand forever. Okay, no record is truly safe, but good news for the ‘72 Dolphins, the best anyone can ever do is tie their undefeated season.
November 18th, 2006 at 11:16 am
All great points where do I start:
Robert Harrell & Steve Schlesinger - great match up for TV and the ratings but I don’t think this is the year. As the Rooooooster said great defense beats great offense and I don’t believe Eli’s Giants get past the Bears.
Y.R. - The passion for college sports. One of my fondest sports memories is a Michigan game an Ann Arbor - I was there with 110,000 of my closest friends - what an experience. My hair still stands up thinking about it. And yes I was already wrong about the Bears - thanks for pointing that out!
Acc - your Detroit Tigers blew a golden opportunity - you heard it hear 1st - they will be 82-80 next year and NO where close to the playoffs
Roooooster - great question on the draft and no I don’t know the answer but curious who it is….. I don’t believe Brady would have won ANY super bowl rings with the Colts. He is great for the Pats and Coach Belichek’s system. He might be average anywhere else. Appears Kenny Rogers did cheat and got away very easy - not sure why. My question is on the biggest stage in the game, with cameras all over the place - why did he do it? Did he really think he could get away with it? Was he surprised he got caught or did he want to and GET in the heads of the Cardinals? Also did that wake them up? I think it may have and the end result is the World Series Trophy is in St Louis and not in Detroit.
Ed Sugar - I love the concept of the Royals signing him and financially it might make sense - however I don’t believe it will happen because the Royals probably are risk adverse and will pass.
I look forward to Rooooster given us the answer to his question and your comments
November 20th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Merrill, I am also a huge sports fan and fancy myself as a BB afficionado of sorts. I’d be most delighted if Bonds never played another game. With the exception of Bay area fans I don’t believe anyone else cares about him. He is arrogant and at best a one dimensional player with declining skills there as well.. Why would any team think that fans will come to see a player hit 23 home runs a year ?
I think college hoops is a great representative of sports at their best. The NCAA tournament is a lot more objective than the BCS.
As, a Giant fan I can say this. Eli is no Peyton and will never be . Brady would be a winner on any competitive team as would Peyton.
The Bears are exciting but are poised to be overtaken in the NFC. Rex is too inconsistent.
Great rivalries of the past include Dodgers/Giants, Knicks /Celts,USC/UCLA,Duke/NC, UCLA?Kentuvky ( in BBall )
Belichek should grow up and stop emulating Bobby Knight and Parcells at being angry when their assistants leave.
Detroit the feel good story in BB. I think they will be a contender again because just about everyone, including the young pitching staff will be back.
I don’t understand why everyone is so enamored with these Japanese ballplayers. Ichiro is the only one who has achieved star staus thus far. It drives me crazy that the Bosox bid $51 million just to be able to negotiate with the pitcher who had 16 wins last year. And then they’ll be held up by Boras for another $50 million.
The only thing I can say for sure about the NBA this year is that the Knicks stink and Isiah is the new Teflon Don in NY.
Somebody should smack Bobby Knight back one of these days and then perhaps his bully days will be over.
Merrill, how’s that for a rant ?
Great BLOG
Joe
November 23rd, 2006 at 9:39 am
Joe,
I didn’t know you are a huge baseball fan. What are some of your favorite games you attended? We need to go to a game and should try and schedule something this year in NY - either the Mets or Yanks.
Not sure how many days to spring training but Bonds still doesn’t have a contract!
I like your list of great rivalries but not sure I would put UCLA/Kentucky on the list - what about Florida/Florida State in College Football or Toronto Mapleleafs and The Montreal Canadians in hockey?
Parcells is starting to let his hair down and have fun - perhaps Belicheck will do that as well. Speaking of the Cowboys with NO dominant team in the NFC and a wide open field they are DANGEROUS and no one will want to face them.
If I ever owned a team I would NEVER try and sign a Boras client……Not sure why the Sox tried that hard to get the newest japanese star. Although him, Schilling, Papelbon, Beckett and Wakefield sounds like a great staff - not sure who closes or comes in after the 7th inning.
Funny that you said that about Bobby Knight - I said that too a buddy last week. Why hasn’t any of his players taken a swipe at him
Joe - love the sports rant - would love to hear from you again.
November 28th, 2006 at 9:14 am
Merrill I have great seats for the Mets. We will get that done when you are in NY in’07.
To foster my love of BB I attended 5 Fantasy camps from ‘86 to ‘92. Mets, Giants, Yankees and 2 Texas Ranger camps.
Ranger camps my favorites. Hit against Nolan in ‘92 before his last season and lined a major league base hit off of about an 85 mile an hour fastball on his first pitch. I have it on tape. What I loved about the Ranger camps were the attitudes of the old players. Since they did not have a long history they had non ex Rangers as well as old Rangers. My favorite guys at all of these camps was Brooks Robinson and Johnny Logan and Lew Burdette. Brooks is just the best gentleman you can ever meet. Bobby Valentine also a favorite of mine.
Remind me to tell you a couple of Mantle stories when I see you. I idolized Mays growing up and then met him at the Giant camp and he was a major jerk. Bobby Bonds also a major jerk,so you can see where his son got it from.
In my lifetime I have gone to many many games. I’e been at 6 different WS and 4 All-Star games. My best AS game experience was at Fenway at the home run hitting contest the night bfore the game sitting on the first base side watching Big Mac hit his majestic shots over the Monster.
I also have a goal of visiting every Major League park. So far I have been to Yankee Stadium, Shea, Fenway, Camden Yards, Jacobs, Wrigley The New Commiskey.Rockies,Pac Bell,The Polo Grounds,Jack Murphy, the new Phillies park, Candelstickand the new Braves field.Now that I am semi retired I plan on seeing the rest.
My best BB memory is Bobby Thomson’s home run off of Branca in ‘51. I’ve had the good fortune to spend time with both of them. great guys and great story tellers.
I am still playing competitive BB ( not softball ) in a 48+ league and for the last 13 Falls I have played in a Men’s senior BB tournament in Arizona and Florida. I just came back from Florida where my claims to fame were catching an 11 inning game and also catching in a game where we struck out Bill Lee ( the Spaceman ) with the bases loaded. The guy can hit a ton and still throws in the low 80’s in addition to throwing a lot of junk. I have also played against Bert Camperneris ,Bob Oliver and Jerry Ruess in these tournaments
Fun to share stories with you. One of the reasons I love BB so much is that it’s a game my Dad encouraged me to play and follow and it was a passion we both shared. I love watching a game and strategizing on every pitch along with the Mgr.
Let’s stay in touch.
Joe
November 29th, 2006 at 10:22 am
November 29th, 2006 at 11:21 am
THE 1996 DRAFT
ONLY KESHAWN JOHNSON, GOING NUMBER 1 TO THE JETS WAS PICKED ABOVE TERRY GLENN (7TH TO THE PATS). YOU COULD CALL THIS DRAFT ONE OF THE GREATEST FOR WIDE RECIEVERS OF ALL TIME
JERMAINE LEWIS – BALTIMORE 4TH ROUND #153
ERIC MOULDS – BUFFALO 1ST ROUND #24
MUSHI MUHAMED – CAROLINA 2ND ROUND #43
BOBBY ENGRAM – CHICAGO 2ND ROUND #52
MARVIN HARRISON – INDY 1ST ROUND #19
JOE HORN – NEW ORLEANS 5TH ROUND #135
AMANI TOOMER – GIANTS 2ND ROUND #34
EDDIE KENNISON – KANAS CITY 1ST ROUND #18
OH YEA, ONE MORE GUY FOR THE LIST
TERREL OWENS – SAN FRANCISCO 3RD ROUND #89
November 29th, 2006 at 11:42 am
A few comments:
Joe - I have always wanted to g to a fantasy camp but never have. I actually have forwarded your comments to a contact at the Texas Rangers. I had no idea you are still playing ball - good for you.
I have met Bill Lee a few times and he is certainly a character.
I also keep track of the stadiums I have been to and I think the number is close to 35 which includes a bunch of stadiums that are gone.
The list includes:
Veteran Stadium - Phills
Jarry Park - Expos
Tiger Stadium - Detroit
Three Rivers - Pittsburgh
To Rooster - that was a great draft for recievers. Clearly the best ever. Marvin Harrison is a lock for the Hall of Fame. Probably nobody else but Glenn, Horn, Johnson, Moulds had real solid careers.
Thanks for sharing.
January 6th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Good morning.
I am writing this Saturday morning January 6th about 8 hours before th playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks. It got me to think about is thie Bill’s last game coaching in the NFL?
If they win - of course….. no… If they lose maybe….. If so this is the conclsuion I have come up with.
If Bill Parcells doesn’t coach the Cowboys next year - I believe the job will go to John Gruden who is coacking in Tamp Bay
If Bill does coach next year than I am 100% convinced that the year after Bill Cowher (who just stepped down as the head coach of Pittsburgh) will be the coach in 2008.
I look forward to your thoughts.