tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-301648422024-03-13T13:36:17.244-07:00VM SportsVishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comBlogger437125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-66690090725225799322011-12-15T08:21:00.000-08:002011-12-15T08:23:37.216-08:00Fantasy Final Four - Semifinals Preview<b style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">1. El Jefe - Jeff (10-3)</b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">vs</span><br /><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">6. Tebowner - Sandeep (8-6)</b><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Sandeep lucked into his 76 - 72 victory over Sammy thanks to Tim's Monday Night comeback on him in Rivalry Week 13, which dropped him down to the lower (ha!) Sixth Seed. Despite not waking up in time to replace the inactive Adrian Peterson in his starting lineup, the newest Nor Cal Valley Boy happened to play against the one team that scored less than his in Week 14. Even though he probably deserves to be eliminated this year, Sandeep's first playoff win has been a long time coming after being eliminated in the playoffs with scores of 101 and 107. </span><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /><div>Unfortunately, Sandeep's reward for the cheap playoff win is a date with his old pal Jeff, whose team is coming off a record shattering season. El Jefe put up a terrifying 150 points in his bye week, and is fully capable of sustaining that level of scoring as we have all witnessed throughout the regular season. That being said, Sandeep only needs to beat him once, and may be equipped with some favorable matchups to do so. Jeff's team will kick off first on Thursday Night with Roddy White, while Sandeep will have Miles Austin and Jason Witten get it started for him on the first Saturday Night game of the season at Tampa Bay. Sandeep's Adrian Peterson will host Jeff's Drew Brees, while his Broncos will host Jeff's Patriot studs Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowsi. Jeff will close the day on SNF with Ryan Mathews. If this is still somehow close heading into Monday Night, we're in for some stupid fun as each fantasy team has a kicker in the Steelers at 49ers game, but Sandeep may have the edge for once with Mike Wallace as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Can the Dancing Midget topple El Jefe... or will Jeff begin his quest to become our first No.1 seed to win it all?<br /><br /><br /><b>2. Everybody Loves Rice - Albert (9-4)</b><br />vs<br /><b>5. The Crazy Commish - Vishal (8-6)</b><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Your Commish is undefeated in all (one of) his playoff matchups! The showdown with the Jew was a wild up and down roller coaster ride, starting on Thursday and ending on Sunday Night Football:</div><div><br /></div><div>Up: Injury to Big Ben </div><div>Down: Big Ben somehow returns at the Half, scores 17, and the Steelers D drops 16. 33-0 heading into the weekend.</div><div>Up: Owen Daniels somehow doubles the Arian Foster's point total.</div><div>Down: Daniels does not catch the game winner in that game, while MJD scores his FOURTH touchdown seconds later.</div><div>Up: Matt Ryan finishes with 28 points, his best performance of the season and Frank Gore limps off the field to start the late games.</div><div>Down: Frank Gore returns and scores a touchdown.</div><div>Up: Larry Fitzgerald (acquired in the CJ trade) takes over the game and Mike Bush gets a garbage touchdown, resulting in a kosher tirade of swearing on gchat. Mike's takes a 109-102 lead into SNF, but has no players left while I have two.</div><div>Down: Ahmad Bradshaw is benched for the first half of SNF.</div><div>Up: Dez Bryant hauls in a 50-yard touchdown, winning the epic showdown for yours truly 113-109.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Commish left Toby Gerhart's 16 points on the bench and the Jew left Marques Colston's 22 points on the bench, so you can only imagine the anguish that caused us both. I shouldn't speak for white people, but I can honestly say that was one of the most enjoyable Sundays I have ever had. THIS is why we play this gut wrenching game of fantasy football, boys.</div><div><br />Whew. Now onto this upcoming week. Even after moving across the country, the ultimate friendly rivalry lives on. Although Albert leads 5-2 in our all-time series, this is by far the most significant matchup we have had. This matchup may very well be decided before Sunday, as your Commish is doubling up on the Falcons and Cowboys: Thursday Night with Matt Ryan and Michael Turner hosting the Jaguars and Saturday Night with Dez Bryant and waiver wire pickup Felix Jones at Tampa Bay. Of course, Albert is doubling up on the Cowboys too with Tony Romo and Dan Bailey. Albert's Ray Rice with close the weekend on Sunday Night Football. And in the most ironic twist, I will be starting the Ravens Defense while Al will start the Seahawks Defense. Fitting, no?<br /></div></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-size: small; ">Will the Commish's wild ride continue... or is Albert destined to face his rapist Jeff with the championship on the line?</div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-19981600348262535492010-12-10T20:29:00.000-08:002010-12-10T20:34:04.735-08:00Oh Matt, you so awesome<a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-films-sound-efx/09000d5d81cbf618/Sound-FX-Leading-the-Hawks">Matt Hasselbeck was miked up as he led the Seahawks to a 31-14 win over the Carolina Panthers.<br /></a>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-14839154466726069312010-11-16T07:56:00.000-08:002010-11-16T08:06:01.845-08:00Salt Lake SergeI've been all caught up in Matt Hasselbeck throwing for 300+ yards with a broken wrist (ouch!) in an impressive divisional road victory, but then something more unexpected happened...<br /><br />The StolenSonics upset the Jazz last night in Utah!<br /><a href="http://www.dailythunder.com/2010/11/okc-does-the-unthinkable-and-holds-off-a-jazz-comeback-115-108/"><em>(Prior to the game, the always witty Scott Brooks joked to the media, “We’re going to go down 10 and we’re going to see how good Jerry is coaching with a lead.” How prophetic that was. If you’re unaware, Utah has come back from double-digit second half deficits in five consecutive games to win.)</em> </a><br /><br />Well, the Thunder did go down by 10 in the first quarter, but then KD busted a Mike Vick and dropped his usual 30. But the real story was Serge Ibaka, who started in place for the hobbled Jeff Green at PF, and put up a career high 22pts/11reb/4blk statline. We already know Ibaka is a freak athlete who is still learning the game and improving at an exponential rate (recall OKC was an rookie Ibaka boxout/Gasol putback away from taking the Lakers to seven games last year), but last night he threw everyone off by knocking down a couple midrange jumpers without hesitation (in response to Paul Millsap's 3's... speaking of which, isn't Millsap better than Boozer if he's consistently knocking down 3's off pick and pops with Deron?)<br /><br />Suddenly, the StolenSonics don't just have a raw big athlete who is already improving at rebounding, blocking shots, setting screens, and converting incredible alley-oops once a game, but if he can step out and nail a jumper every now and then, that will suddenly open up the floor for Durant and Westbrook and make this team all the more dangerous.<br /><br />I'm not going to be too blinded by fanaticism, so I still say that the StolenSonics need another consistent clutch player to go alongside the NBA's highest scoring pair of players in KD and Russ. That being said, they just beat one of the best teams in the league in probably the most difficult place to play on the second night of a back to back with Ibaka playing that role, if only for one night.<br /><br />Sergeballu LaMu Sayonga Loom Walahas Jonas Hugo Ibaka. Remember the name.Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-5325858412694969962010-10-15T13:53:00.000-07:002010-10-15T13:56:48.357-07:00Oh, Matt you so funny 14<a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/index.php/2010/10/15/dear-espn-and-nbc-qb-matt-hasselbeck-would-love-for-his-seahawks-to-be-on-your-networks/#more-9356">Matt Hasselbeck does it again, this time to the Boston Herald:</a><br /><br />“I think a lot of times when things get reported (nationally) on the Seahawks in Seattle are sort of a little off-base,” Hasselbeck told me. “We’re very far away from the rest of the world. When we get a day off, a lot of our guys go to Vancouver, British Columbia. In the offseason, a lot of guys hit up Alaska. I mean, we’re pretty far off.”<br /><br />That sounds pretty cool.<br /><br />“Oh, it's cool, but when there are national stories about our team, they are rarely very accurate or rarely do they tell the full story of what’s going on,” the former Boston College star said, laughing, too. “If we start winning games again, maybe we’ll get on TV again, maybe we’ll get a Sunday night game one of these days, it’s been a long time. I’m not even going to ask for a Monday Night game… But it’s like being in the Witness Protection Program.”<br /><br />Oh, he had an example of what he means.<br /><br />“Probably the loudest guy I knew, great player, Pete Kendall,” Hasselbeck continued. “I played with him in college, probably the loudest guy I know. Got drafted by the Seahawks, never heard from him for like six years. Never heard about him, never heard from him. It’s just, the Witness Protection Program.”<br /><br />At this point, I was cracking up. You never expect a guy to go into a comedy routine. But Hasselbeck was hilarious.<br /><br />So, I told him, you’ll work for ESPN when you get done with your career like your brother and people will say, “Where you been all this time?”<br /><br />“Well, either that or do the Jeff Feagles,” he offered. “Jeff Feagles was a great punter for us for a long, long time. He goes and plays one year for the Giants and all of the sudden, NFL Films does a special on him and then he’s in the Pro Bowl and now he’s probably in the Hall of Fame… you gotta get one year with the Giants and you’re good.”Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-19767510481686055232010-10-15T09:42:00.000-07:002010-10-15T13:57:44.879-07:00The NFL needs to change...With the National Football League peaking in popularity while staring at a potential labor lockout within the next year, let's throw out some ideas with the potential to help improve and sustain the league's constantly growing popularity...<br /><br />A completely different television angle. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently told the owners during their summer meetings that they must reevaluate fans' in-stadium experience, in lieu of the recent realization that fans are opting for a more cost effective Sunday to watch multiple games from the comfort of their own home or sports bar. However, the reason why football games are so exciting to see in person is simply that those who are present can actually see all the players throughout the entire field. On television, we usually only see the quarterback drop back in the pocket on passing plays, and are left with no choice but to watch the pass rush while wondering what's happening beyond the line of scrimmage downfield. The receivers and secondary are not on camera until the ball is thrown, and by then it's too late to figure out what was the play, how the receiver broke open, or how well the defenders were in position until we are shown replays. The television networks should adapt a camera hanging from behind the offense showing viewers a baseline or up field angle, similar to the view many are already used to in the beloved Madden video game series. This way, all 22 players are on camera at all times. Let's see Rex Ryan have all his defenders moving around prior to the snap, disguising different fronts and rushers. Let's see what Chris Johnson sees as he presses the hole and bounces it to the outside for another long run. Let's see what Peyton Manning looks at in as he makes his reads before audibling to hot routes and choreographing his receiver to an open space. Show us the entire field, NFL!<br /><br />Cooperate with and establish the United Football League as the NFL's minor/developmental league. Like MLB and the NBA, the NFL should should establish a farm system for its teams to call up and/or demote players, while testing out new rules and developing coaches, referees, and front office officials. NFL Europe may have folded, but the UFL can succeed with the backing of other deep pocketed and powerful owners like Marc Cuban, Nancy Pelosi, and T. Boone Pickens who don't fail.<br /><br />Scrap all these overtime rules and variations. Let's make it simple so the Donovan McNabbs will understand. If tied at the end of regulation, play one five minute period in its entirety. If still tied, a second five minute overtime period. If still tied, go home with a tie. This way we'll see more aggressive play calling and intense two point conversion attempts. You play to win the game!<br /><br />Scrap the coin toss. Take a cue from the XFL, and let each team elect a player to run the 40-yard dash.<br /><br />Scrap all restrictions on touchdown celebrations. I want to see group dances. I want to see props. If it's a problem, let teams sponsor their celebrations so the owners will I want to see Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens come up with Michael Bay like stunts. The NFL is, before anything else, entertainment.<br /><br />Monday Night Football Doubleheaders. Kickoff Weekend is great not only because everyone is excited and hungry for football, but because it features a Thursday night game to wet our appetite and closes the weekend strong with a Monday night doubleheader. Why not continue this throughout the season?<br /><br />Combine the Pro Bowl with the Senior Bowl. Moving it to a week before the Super Bowl helps, but the NFL still desperately needs to shake up its all-star game that is the least interesting among all the major sports. Let's allow future NFL rookies to get a chance to shine against the best. The Pro Bowlers will finally be motivated to play well as they won't want to get shown up by a bunch of 18-year olds looking to improve their draft stock. Sure, it might not be a very competitive game, but can anyone recall a memorable Pro Bowl? Imagine the draft hype generated if some young kid jacks up Ray Lewis, beats Darrell Revis for a touchdown catch, or tackles Adrian Peterson one on one...<br /><br />International regular season games. The only clear cut advantage David Stern's NBA has over the NFL is in international markets, as basketball's popularity has been rapidly growing throughout Asia, Europe, and South America for decades now. If the NFL must add regular season games, then send a pair of teams to a neutral site in another country every week before their bye.<br /><br />Rid of the measuring sticks with microchips in the football to measure first downs and touchdowns. It's 2010. If a satellite in outer space can give us driving directions, I'm sure the NFL can afford to modernize one of their most inaccurate and dated processes.<br /><br />Make pass interference reviewable and the maximum penalty 15 yards. So everyone will quit whining about incedental contact on incomplete passes.<br /><br />Allow the NFL Network and NFL Sunday Ticket to move to basic cable for all providers. The financial loss would be regained by the massive influx of advertising dollars.<br /><br />Personalized NFL Redzone Channel for subscribers. NFL.com is already hinting at this, so it's certainly possible on television as well. Allow fans to program their own personalized television channel with their fantasy team's players and opponent's. The channel would then swing from game to game showing those selected players as they rack up yards and score.Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-64161181189883712112010-10-07T09:39:00.000-07:002010-10-07T09:42:04.881-07:00PoopI always look back and fondly recall memories of how Mike Holmgren's Seahawks of the early 2000s had such great team camraderie, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=5651802&type=story">to the point where even barf and poop were acceptable.</a>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-31175466721175532422010-09-17T07:39:00.001-07:002010-09-17T07:41:25.739-07:00Oh Matt, you so funny 13<a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100916/BLOG06/100919871#Comedy.Thursday.at.the.Seahawks.practice.facility">Later, Hasselbeck was asked if he has ever dealt with problems getting calls on the headset in his helmet. </a>He has, but he also admitted that he has, on one occasion, pretended he didn't get the call in order to call his own play.<br /><br /><br /><br />There was one problem with that, however, that got him caught:"What I failed to realize is that the other quarterbacks on the sideline have the headset, so you have to get in unison on that one."Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-86735763232480668182010-08-23T09:10:00.000-07:002010-08-23T09:11:49.276-07:00Madden Tournament HeartbreakI finally entered a Madden tournament over the weekend. After talking football with most of the guys, I realized that they all were just as geeky as I am when it comes to the NFL, and most had more time on their hands to play and master this year's version and were more experienced in competitive tournaments such as this one. Because I insist on remaining loyal to my rightfully low rated Seahawks, I figured I didn't have much of a shot at making any noise, so I lowered my expectations and just decided to go have some fun out there a la Brett Favre. Somehow, I managed to dink and dunk my way to a shocking 17-0 shutout in the first round.<br /><br />My second round matchup was against a guy who was supposedly so good that he went on ESPN's Madden Nation bus last year. So once again, I figured I had no shot and started the game pretty loose. Then I win again, 14-0, and Mr. ESPN2 storms out in anger making excuses. At this point, the room starts to notice, and maybe even fear me. I mean, who wants to play the guy who rolled through the first two rounds having not allowed a single score, all while using those garbage Seahawks? <br /><br />Semifinals. I’m starting to believe I have a shot at winning thousands of dollars. On the third play from scrimmage, DeMarcus Ware sacks Matt Hasselbeck. Injury timeout. Carted off the field. Seattle’s backup Charlie Whitehurst (who!?) enters the game having never thrown a pass in the NFL, gets picked off twice, and the guy I lose to goes on to win the tournament. <br /><br />You cannot make this stuff up. The worst part is that this is exactly the type of thing that WOULD happen to Seattle. Did I mention our new $48.5 million left tackle, fourth overall pick Russell Okung got injured on the first drive of last night’s preseason game?<br /><br />Sigh.Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-37566212608528908332010-07-05T21:50:00.000-07:002010-07-05T22:00:58.731-07:00RetirementThe blog is done. I figured if the year long Clippers internship, tons of interaction with well known and popular sports figures, trips to Vegas, New York, France, Italy, and Spain full of amazing eye opening experiences, and all the other big time stories that have come and gone while I myself have gone through other many adventures into the real world, all couldn't make me muster some words in here, then it's definitely time to call it quits. As well as the fact that last sentence was grammatically incorrect.<br /><br />Besides, we're venturing towards a world of Tweeting. Follow me <a href="http://twitter.com/vishal620">@Vishal620</a><br /><br />It's been fun.<br /><br />And remember, the best is yet to come.Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-75697436227328366762010-03-04T17:34:00.000-08:002010-03-04T17:40:46.779-08:00SprolesPeter King tweets:<br /><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">What great fortune for Sproles, IMO: A returner averaging 72 touches from scrimmage per yr making $14m guar over two yrs. What a country.<br /><br />So Darren Sproles will make an average of $7 million over the next two years. </span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Factor in about 5 returns a game,</span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"> and he will be earning $50,000 per touch. If we disregard returning, he will be earning a remarkable average of $100,000 per touch from scrimmage. <br /></span></span>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-38540863987772239762010-02-01T12:02:00.001-08:002010-02-01T12:02:57.146-08:00Bud Light | "Clothing Drive" commercial<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/ew9cEATPzDE' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/ew9cEATPzDE'/></object></p></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-82472153874638826822010-01-28T23:06:00.000-08:002010-01-28T23:10:37.841-08:00Jay Leno is Michael Jordan<div style="text-align: justify;">Just watched Oprah for the first time ever.<br /><br />She told the story of a celebrity who was the best at what he did, was forced into retirement, tried something new and failed, and so came back at the expense of someone else.<br /><br />So why are so many against Jay Leno for pulling a Michael Jordan?</div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-7985962027148340202010-01-10T15:59:00.001-08:002010-01-28T08:57:20.832-08:00Pete Carroll<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Seattle Seahawks have been in the headlines this past week (although for not exactly the ideal reasons in January). </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://twitter.com/Vishal620">As the news broke, I tweeted some short bits which you can follow here @Vishal620.</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I spent the weekend gathering and organizing my many thoughts, so it's about time I chime in already:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Seahawks were a mess. They forced Mike Holmgren into retirement in favor of phasing in Jim Mora as per general manager Tim Ruskell's choice. After just one year running the show together, Seattle fired Ruskell and Mora, along with most of their staffs. This means the Seahawks have cleaned house and are starting with a somewhat of a blank slate. Recall billionaire owner Paul Allen doing the same with his Portland TrailBlazers a few years back.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The excitement was greater in Seattle when Paul Allen brought in Mike Holmgren to run the show because he was a sure thing who had proved he was an offensive genius in the pros. Holmgren won Super Bowls in San Francisco and Green Bay and had coached up quarterbacks Montana, Young, and Favre. In comparison, Pete Carroll is not a sure thing, although I think he will have success now that owner Paul Allen and CEO Todd Leiweke allowed him to choose new GM John Schneider while seemingly maintaining final say on player personnel decisions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pete Carroll does have professional experience with the Jets and Patriots...during the 1990s. Because that was over a decade ago, a large part of me wants to throw it out. Since then he has shown his brilliance in evaluating and recruiting talent, albeit at the collegiate level, in route to a couple national championships while dominating the Pac-10.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">When Carroll came to USC nine years ago, critics bashed the hiring on the basis that Carroll was a coach in the pros had no head coaching experience at the collegiate level. I think Seattle is getting a seasoned and experienced Carroll, who has learned from his many experiences at multiple levels.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mora and Carroll are eerily similar NFL coaches. Mora is 31-33 as an NFL head coach; Carroll is 33-31. Mora is 1-1 in the playoffs; Carroll is 1-2. Mora was fired after one year as head coach in Seattle after three years in Atlanta; Carroll was fired after one year as head coach in New York before coaching three years in New England. They are both are 4-3 defensive guys, players' coaches, and touted as motivational 'rah rah' guys. That being said,when Mora defended himself by saying going 5-11 was a one win improvement over last year's 4-12 disaster, I was ready to fire him too. Of those 11 losses, 7 were by 17+ points. Seattle lost its last four games under Mora by a combined 123-37 points. Instead of the team coming together and finally beginning to gel under its new coaching staff, it was clear that Mora and his staff had lost the players.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The hiring of Pete Carroll is not only great because of Carroll himself, but because he brings along several great coaches from USC. Seattle's new offensive coordinator will be Jeremy Bates, a young and up and coming coach whose value has shot up after working with Jay Cutler in Denver.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The linebackers coach will be Ken Norton, Jr. A UCLA Hall of Famer and Super Bowl winner with the Cowboys, Norton was a great linebacker himself. In his five years coaching linebackers at USC, he recruited and developed the likes of Dallas Sartz, Keith Rivers, Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava, Clay Matthews III, Rey Maualuga, and of course, Seattle's own Pro Bowler Lofa Tatupu.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pete Carroll was once asked something like if there was any one player he ever coached that was the most memorable. Carroll essentially said that Lofa Tatupu was the player who was most like him, who had the same thought process, was like a coach on the field, and was most in tune with Carroll. The Seahawks already have in place a great group of athletic and skilled linebackers alongside Tatupu in Aaron Curry, LeRoy Hill, and backup David Hawthorne. I am getting giddy at imagining how effective the Seattle Seahawks can be now that Pete Carroll and Lofa Tatupu are reuniting to run the defense.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Not surprisingly, former players of Carroll on the Seahawks like Lawrence Jackson and Lawyer Milloy have already more than endorsed the hiring and are rallying the players to support Carroll and buy into his program faster.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There are several NFL players who previously had success under Carroll and could easily be available this offseason. Carson Palmer. LenDale White. Reggie Bush. Matt Leinart. And someday Matt Barkley. I am just tossing out names, but do not be surprised to see Seattle end up going after one of these former USC legends.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Imagine if Seattle drafted Mark Sanchez last year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In any event, the Seattle Seahawks hiring of Pete Carroll marks a new era to open up a new decade. With Kurt Warner's retirement coming up, looks like Carroll should be able to lead the Seahawks back to dominating the Pac-10...er, NFC West.</span></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-32205095671734543322010-01-01T12:43:00.000-08:002010-01-27T12:43:45.087-08:00Never a Year Like '09 - JibJab<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><object width="425" height="350"><param value="http://youtube.com/v/eKYe1KiwywE" name="movie"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://youtube.com/v/eKYe1KiwywE" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></p></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-45597521855582320832009-12-21T14:48:00.000-08:002009-12-21T14:49:15.017-08:00Huh?<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/two/091218">Malcolm Gladwell:</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">How random are our reactions to celebrity misbehavior? You'd think there would be some general moral principle at work here, but there just isn't. Barry Bonds and Shawne Merriman allegedly did exactly the same thing: took performance-enhancing drugs that gave them a decided advantage over their peers. Bonds became a pariah. Merriman went to the Pro Bowl. Leonard Little left a party, got into his car and hit and killed a young woman. He blew .19 on the Breathalyzer. What happened to him? He did 60 days. Six years later, he was arrested for drunk driving again. He still plays for the Rams. Michael Vick did bad things to dogs and went to jail for two years and become the personification of evil. I mean, I love dogs and I was appalled by Vick's behavior. But in what universe is it a bigger crime to fight pit bulls than it is to get wasted and kill an innocent person? (Let's not even get into Plaxico Burress, whose case proves, I guess, how unexpectedly seriously New York state courts take the crime of stupidity). And now we have Tiger Woods, who fooled around on his wife and hit a fire hydrant. And in the middle of this absurd circus, the reigning King of Kings of the NBA and role model to millions is a man who not that long ago was accused of rape and lucked out of a trial because, by all appearances, he was able to buy off his accuser in a civil settlement. Huh?<br /></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-58967362566719808132009-12-15T20:58:00.000-08:002009-12-17T16:44:13.505-08:00Albert<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8BFNWkpSzHeBDhlO9EDDlEb_TU6ZUn-4ScArrNBS3DjWXntMwdQqpJN2jbfyR62X-wCeinhOSfmQZs7Mii71Prmtm5UyzFxKddmUP5wuYDmsUyz3VTNgjByqram_25apREP_Kg/s1600-h/Albert.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8BFNWkpSzHeBDhlO9EDDlEb_TU6ZUn-4ScArrNBS3DjWXntMwdQqpJN2jbfyR62X-wCeinhOSfmQZs7Mii71Prmtm5UyzFxKddmUP5wuYDmsUyz3VTNgjByqram_25apREP_Kg/s400/Albert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415694000690080898" border="0" /></a><br />Albert with Ray Rice, Sidney Rice, Tom Brady, and Joe Flacco<br /></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-6305741742945812582009-12-15T20:57:00.001-08:002009-12-15T20:58:29.264-08:00Michael<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyl8lao2bYEsey8g15ZOk-KFRNa178HhGfmhADiyAUSObEP0pnzolO169EXLxBQzoKvWo18y0BhrSS7-e2gehyphenhyphen1oWv3BQKe-1ks_PMblMXHkUPNhFiIQS03XsN_gYWckQFU2H-w/s1600-h/Michael.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyl8lao2bYEsey8g15ZOk-KFRNa178HhGfmhADiyAUSObEP0pnzolO169EXLxBQzoKvWo18y0BhrSS7-e2gehyphenhyphen1oWv3BQKe-1ks_PMblMXHkUPNhFiIQS03XsN_gYWckQFU2H-w/s400/Michael.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415693841092219746" border="0" /></a>Michael with Brian Urlacher and other fellow Chicago natives<br /></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-45584067036593620662009-12-12T16:21:00.000-08:002009-12-12T15:50:26.289-08:00Crazy Commish<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb8HdIXet5SlO8RXz2hZd84k5gYmRi9szZdm_TiXvu06Ke3ttnfqZJXW_Hr5mYufAu3902oUCSzUDBx1u5QmqOaj-3EpKkuYVmMu3AT-TMRgWnSnDCOTS8bTy7HOhGuukAXty6w/s1600-h/Vishal.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb8HdIXet5SlO8RXz2hZd84k5gYmRi9szZdm_TiXvu06Ke3ttnfqZJXW_Hr5mYufAu3902oUCSzUDBx1u5QmqOaj-3EpKkuYVmMu3AT-TMRgWnSnDCOTS8bTy7HOhGuukAXty6w/s400/Vishal.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414494061447264370" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Crazy Commish with Kevin Durant, David Stern, Clay Bennett, & Howard Schultz<br /></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-54010488837595302282009-12-12T15:50:00.001-08:002009-12-12T15:52:13.156-08:00Ajay<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XfDjHaNgK8l9Jt7tkjbVXCnoTxTzRl2c7GsDPUllztaQTFvELXAUanvqYRRpEWPtdpAHWRxPe6sYDDBPY6A_wva0Ko8HEgE0UTHYlqGb4jkRu3oe6FTOLc6MpdN1KScDTD1nNA/s1600-h/Ajay.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XfDjHaNgK8l9Jt7tkjbVXCnoTxTzRl2c7GsDPUllztaQTFvELXAUanvqYRRpEWPtdpAHWRxPe6sYDDBPY6A_wva0Ko8HEgE0UTHYlqGb4jkRu3oe6FTOLc6MpdN1KScDTD1nNA/s400/Ajay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414501540163880018" border="0" /></a>Ajay with former Clippers and DeSean Jackson<br /></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-50617470888290260372009-12-12T15:48:00.000-08:002009-12-12T15:49:38.334-08:00Sammy & Jeff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhB38aVs1pDjZ8kYfmkdWGGXuakh5tMlj78QDiTGRg-sdee8GGQeac6hYJNbCCuwPKXAoMZXLB3FU-mqjj5JcqPUdLk_LsTn8Y_d-FsPMvQfqZKI-78HkpVyWkWMWciGHq5pKoA/s1600-h/Sammy+%26+Jeff.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhB38aVs1pDjZ8kYfmkdWGGXuakh5tMlj78QDiTGRg-sdee8GGQeac6hYJNbCCuwPKXAoMZXLB3FU-mqjj5JcqPUdLk_LsTn8Y_d-FsPMvQfqZKI-78HkpVyWkWMWciGHq5pKoA/s400/Sammy+%26+Jeff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414501084172786306" border="0" /></a>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-9560248652213627582009-12-12T15:46:00.000-08:002009-12-12T15:48:15.519-08:00Tim<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3SiCZm6JqIek8B3oiJfTb9cedj5aeKCfykl9whUEOibZ90KwJPN3mvzKrnpduGzHsj6nFcKWK6Vhp_jO8gx3O9PmaiRKy-aUeTM-hzGyG7iWKAGkj9t2LPOHpIlH95XSGBKNtw/s1600-h/Tim.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3SiCZm6JqIek8B3oiJfTb9cedj5aeKCfykl9whUEOibZ90KwJPN3mvzKrnpduGzHsj6nFcKWK6Vhp_jO8gx3O9PmaiRKy-aUeTM-hzGyG7iWKAGkj9t2LPOHpIlH95XSGBKNtw/s400/Tim.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414500568507699890" border="0" /></a>Tim with Donald Sterling & Kim Jong Il<br /></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-82270821813926026082009-12-12T15:45:00.001-08:002009-12-12T15:45:59.772-08:00Harry<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0GzmmIS0B9J2laqdCu9KlHhxpXf4Nn5VB8gJGlJglvQhn6cgPbX7xL5Px4j3LjULwPMEc_BLVR5H-KUNPTvhQPAhSLrFJpINm1akMXkqxKRAXaXL2L2hla22oHLkv-jDMlTm_w/s1600-h/Harry.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0GzmmIS0B9J2laqdCu9KlHhxpXf4Nn5VB8gJGlJglvQhn6cgPbX7xL5Px4j3LjULwPMEc_BLVR5H-KUNPTvhQPAhSLrFJpINm1akMXkqxKRAXaXL2L2hla22oHLkv-jDMlTm_w/s400/Harry.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414500033061356098" border="0" /></a>Harry with Drew Brees and Brian Westbrook<br /></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-46564585907254499662009-09-25T21:36:00.000-07:002009-09-25T21:38:04.022-07:00Halo<a href="http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/852871/bungie-project-2/videos/halo_in5_spc_091809.html">A humorous and comprehensive video summing up the Halo Story.</a>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-74964431555327021422009-09-24T09:43:00.001-07:002009-09-24T13:10:26.468-07:00Live FootballRandom thoughts from watching the 49ers and Seahawks live in San Francisco last weekend:<br /><br /><ul><li>Football is best watched on television. The high definition telecasts, commentating, and ability to turn your attention to other games in between the long gaps in between plays and drives is simply better than the traffic, heat, jammed cell phone reception, and annoying fans that you must deal with when at the actual game.</li><li>That being said, the live experience is still something that I still would love go for once a year. You simply cannot replace the feel of the game that you get from actually being there in person. The intensity of third downs, the crowd noise, the difficulty of an offense operating deep inside their own territory, and so much more can only be properly comprehended live. </li><li>Watching what is happening on the sidelines is fascinating. For example, T.J. Houshmandzadeh came off the field after a series screaming at his position coach demanding the ball. He had to be restrained from shouting back at a 49ers fan in the stands. He later walked up to head coach Jim Mora presumably to express his frustration, but Mora either did not notice or pretending to be too busy to wisely avoid the confrontation. Seneca Wallace later came up to him, tapped him on the helmet in encouragement. Of course, the next two drives saw Housh get a couple catches, including one endzone target. It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks' most prominent offseason acquisition fits in, as Seattle has never really had such an alpha, perhaps diva, wide receiver.</li><li>I was also fascinated by the many substitutions in between every single play. On defense, Seattle will rotate most of its defensive line in and out of the game, presumably in an effort to keep them fresh. On offense, Seattle changed their running backs nearly every play. While I understand the strategy involved, how certain players are better suited in certain roles and situations, playing towards the matchups, and am sure the coaches have even more reasons that I can come up with, I also think that this all makes it difficult for some players to get into a rhythm and flow in the game.</li><li>Next year the Seattle Seahawks visit the San Diego Chargers, an occurrence that only takes place every eight years. After that, I think it will finally be time for me to look to find my way up to Quest Field and experience a home Seahawk game...with 67,000 of my peers.<br /></li></ul>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30164842.post-21460153781646190232009-09-23T17:20:00.000-07:002009-09-23T17:38:36.002-07:00San Francisco<div style="text-align: justify;">The past two years I have made a long weekend out of a couple road trips up to Berkeley. Each culminated on a Sunday in which the Seattle Seahawks were in San Francisco to take on the 49ers. Last year I had the thrill of seeing Seneca Wallace and Leonard Weaver combine for 338 yards of total offense as the Seahawks trounced the 49ers, 34-13. Recall it was Mike Singletary's first game as the head coach of the 49ers, when he pulled down his pants in the locker room at halftime in an effort to show his team what body part was getting kicked out on the field. As fun and fascinating as it was to witness such a game, it was of course a meaningless one.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">One year later, we perhaps had an even more enjoyable weekend up in the Bay. This season though, the Seahawks and 49ers each entered this Week 2 matchup 1-0, with realistic hopes of the game being a meaningful one this time around. Of course, Matt Hasselbeck gets nailed by Patrick Willis trying to run for the endzone. He gets up, waves for Seneca Wallace to replace him, and slowly collapses onto the field in pain. Although Seneca scored on the very next play, the game was a disaster for the Seahawks.<br /><br />I know injuries are a part of football, every team has them, deep rosters are built to survive them with players who step up, the good teams power through, and all that good stuff. But I hope I do not have to remind anyone of the unprecedented disaster that was the Seattle Seahawks health situation last season. I do not mean to begin whining or making excuses, but here is a quick summary of injuries to Seahawks starters just two weeks into this young season:<br /><br />Seattle Seahawks starters injured before Week 2:<br /><br />Walter Jones (LT)<br />Mike Wahle (LG) retired<br />Chris Spencer (C)<br />Leroy Hill (OLB)<br />Deion Branch (WR)<br />Marcus Trufant (CB)<br />Brandon Mebane (DT)<br />Josh Wilson (CB)<br /><br />Seattle Seahawks starters injured during the game at San Francisco, none of whom returned:<br />Matt Hasselbeck (QB)<br />Lofa Tatupu (MLB)<br />Sean Locklear (T)<br />Josh Wilson (CB)<br />Justin Griffith (FB)<br /><br />Count ‘em. That is THIRTEEN STARTERS, including the four best players on the team.<br /><br />As for those 79 and 80 yard touchdown runs by Frank Gore, note that the Seahawks were missing their starting DT as well as two of the NFL's top linebackers. When you have such a defense, there is simply an enormous drop off when the top guys are out with injuries. You can take it to the bank that those 79 and 80 yard touchdown runs by Frank Gore would never happen with Lofa Tatupu on the field. I know this is unreasonable, but take those two runs away and Seahawks win 10-9.<br /><br />That being said, this season is not the same as last as most of these players are said to be returning soon. However, if they do not return to form, then we are heading for a similar fate.<br /></div>Vishalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16801449492375373249noreply@blogger.com