NBA Season Preview & Predictions

The 2007-2008 NBA season tips off Tuesday, October 30, after a tainted offseason in which David Stern described as “the worst that could happen to a professional sports league” in reference to the Tim Donaghy betting scandal. Referees shaving points aside, the NBA also made news through the drafting of the league’s next generation of superstars in Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, the Boston Celtics’ two blockbuster trades, and the infamous Kobe Bryant trade demand saga. There is no doubt that this upcoming year is sure to be filled with even more storylines, although everyone is sure to be eager to get back on the floor for some actual basketball. Here are some cunning predictions, in the order of projected finish:

Western Conference

Pacific Division

Phoenix Suns – The world’s best offense is poised to run away with the Pacific yet again. New general manager Steve Kerr traded away Kurt Thomas and two future first round draft choices in order to free up some cap room and sign Grant Hill. With an aging Steve Nash and a strong likelihood of the team being broken up soon for salary purposes, the window of opportunity is closing fast on the Suns. If Nash can stay healthy, the Suns will be right back in the conference finals again.

Los Angeles Lakers – Six years later, the Lakers organization is still reeling from the loss of Jerry West, and has gone from the premier sports franchise to a complete mess. While owner Jerry Buss’ admission that he is listening to trade offers for Kobe Bryant may very well be the beginning of the end of the Kobe era, coach Phil Jackson has quietly made a brilliant move in making Bryant the facilitator of the Triangle offense. The complex offense that has produced nine championships has drifted away in the last few years, but with the ball in Kobe’s hands more, he will emerge as an effective distributor and more of a versatile threat, a la Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty. The Lakers are always a Lamar Odom injury away from missing the playoffs again, but look for former Bruin Jordan Farmar and a motivated Andrew Bynum to finally break out as the next great Laker tandem.

Golden State Warriors – The Warriors were the league’s Cinderella story last year, developing into the pride and joy of the Bay Area. Head coach Don Nelson receives most of the credit for having his former team’s number in route to a stunning upset of the first seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs last April, but will his coaching style still be effective coming off such a fun run? GM Chris Mullin raised some eyebrows trading away Jason Richardson for 8th overall pick Brandan Wright, out of North Carolina, in a trade that should pay off in the long run. However, in the tough west, the Warriors will narrowly miss the playoffs, sadly reverting the Bay Area back to its former status as a pro sports doormat.

Los Angeles Clippers – The Clippers had their Cinderella run two years ago, forcing owner Donald Sterling to finally open up his wallet and shell out the dough. Then last year, the Clippers reverted back to their status as, well, the Clippers. By re-signing much of its roster before last year, the Clips’ hands were tied heading into this offseason. Throw in Shaun Livingston’s freak knee injury and the loss of Elton Brand for most of the year, and the Clippers are destined for the lottery…again.

Sacramento Kings – New coach and former King himself Reggie Theus hopes to bring a renewed attitude to a team seemingly in a downward spiral. Good move in extending the contract of stud scorer Kevin Martin, but they do not have much hope when their best offseason addition is signing Mikki Moore, who is going to be lost without Jason Kidd pitching him easy layups.

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets – The Nuggets’ Achilles heel has been injuries. If, and this is an enormous if, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, and Nene can all stay healthy, head coach George Karl can develop the team chemistry to lead this team to the league’s elite.

Utah Jazz – The Jazz were a pleasant surprise last season, reaching the conference finals behind Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams, reminding Salt Lake City of the Stockton and Malone days. If the Jazz can somehow get the most out of Russian brat Andrei Kirilenko, the supporting cast led by Mehmet Okur should fuel Utah to the playoffs, where head coach Jerry Sloan is at his best.

Portland TrailBlazers – The loss of Greg Oden for the year is a fatal blow, and there is already talk that he may end up closer to a bust like Sam Bowie than a gem like Shaq. That being said, the Blazers still have a bright future, and the departure of Zach Randolph allows Nate McMillan to hand the team over to its promising youth in Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Josh McRoberts, and Martell Webster. Remember these names, folks, because they are going to become a championship contender sooner than later.

Seattle Sonics – The not-so-super Sonics cleaned house this past year, as everywhere from management to coaching staff to the roster has been replaced or revamped. With ownership fighting the city government in a determined effort to move the team to Oklahoma City, the team wisely decided to trade away Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis while building a team designed to win in a few years, rather than now. The new GM is Sam Presti, formerly of the San Antonio Spurs, and is the genius who discovered Tony Parker in Europe. Similar to their Pacific Northwest rival in the Blazers, the Sonics are going to have a losing season again this year, but have a very promising future.

Minnesota Timberwolves – GM Kevin McHale was never able to build a consistent contender around Kevin Garnett, so the Wolves shipped the athletic superstar to Boston for the largest package of players and picks ever traded for a single player in NBA history. The Wolves will now have to build through the draft around Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, and Ryan Gomes. And they will be picking high, because they are easily the worst team in the west.

Southwest Division

Houston Rockets – The Rockets made the best offseason move that no one noticed in signing Steve Francis, and are now in position to win the deepest division in basketball. Remember, Francis was developing excellent chemistry with Yao Ming before being traded for Tracy McGrady. Now that T-Mac and Yao have a legitimate number three, Houston is poised for a deep playoff run under new head coach Rick Adelman’s aggressive offensive style.

San Antonio Spurs – When healthy, the defending champions are poised to win it all again. Problem is, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli have a tendency to break down as the season wears down. If Tony Parker develops a mysterious shoulder injury due to a ‘bedroom accident’ with hubby Eva Longoria, then the Spurs title hopes will be more desperate than housewives on ABC.

Dallas Mavericks – Sure, they may have won a whopping 67 games last year, but another choking performance by Dirk and company is sure to deflate the spirits of the Mavs, who will find it hard to be motivated to make another run at a top record. While Avery Johnson is a great coach during the regular season, he lacks the ability to make the necessary adjustments during the playoffs, as seen in the 2006 Finals and 2007 first round series. Dirk Nowitzki lacks the killer instinct to take over in the fourth quarter of big games, and until the Mavs get someone who can win those close games (Kobe…?), Mark Cuban has a better chance of winning Dancing with the Stars than he does winning a ring.

Memphis Grizzlies – Look for the Memphis Grizzlies as the most improved team this upcoming year. Unfortunately for new head coach Marc Iavaroni, they will not overcome the Texas three-step ahead of them in the division, but should be able to at least make some noise with the return of Pau Gasol and the drafting of Mike Conley Jr. to join a promising supporting cast in Rudy Gay, Stromile Swift, and Darko Milicic.

New Orleans Hornets – The full time return to New Orleans this season may be enough to spark some early success like their football counterparts did last year, especially with Chris Paul and David West emerging as the league’s next great duo. But Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic are injury prone, and as good as Byron Scott is, there is no way he can get them ahead of the stacked teams above.

Eastern Conference

Southeast Division

Orlando Magic – The Magic made the NBA offseason’s marquee free agent signing by acquiring all-star Rashard Lewis and guaranteeing him a $110 million over the next six years. While they certainly overpaid, the Magic now have a legitimate cornerstone to go alongside centerpiece Dwight Howard. New coach Stan Van Gundy has brought in Patrick Ewing to help Howard develop a post game, and if J.J. Redick also develops into a consistent offensive threat, the Magic can run away with their division.

Miami Heat – The defending champions were not able to flip the switch and turn the heat on again last season, and consequently were swept out of the playoffs. Remember the name Dorell Wright, as he will emerge as the Heat’s new star. Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal are still ailing from lingering injuries, so look for Miami to hover around .500 before catching fire and sneaking in the playoffs to make some noise.

Washington Wizards – In the eastern conference, one superstar such as Gilbert Arenas is good enough to make the playoffs. Problem is, this team is nothing without him.

Atlanta Hawks – On TNT’s Inside the NBA, which is filmed in Atlanta, Charles Barkley is fond of declaring that the Hawks will contend in a couple of years. Kenny Smith then routinely asks, “Why, is Shaq a free agent in two years?” referring to the fact that the Hawks need someone huge before they become good. Rookie Acie Law IV will help, but not that much.

Charlotte Bobcats – Michael Jordan’s team has just been set back a year because of the season ending injuries to Sean May and Adam Morrison. For a team that already lacks depth, look for them to remain at the cellar of the division.

Central Division

Chicago Bulls – Ten years after the completion of the Jordan era, the Baby Bulls finally break through and win the best division in the East. No need to trade for Kobe here, because Ben Gordon and Luol Deng continue to develop into all-stars with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah providing energy and coming on as established role players.

Detroit Pistons – The Pistons are locks to contend in the East as usual, but look for them to be on cruise control through the regular season before making a deep playoff run. Chauncy Billups will need to have an MVP caliber year in order for the Pistons to break through.

Cleveland Cavaliers – The Cavs mysteriously did nothing to improve their clearly flawed team this offseason, and it will be even more difficult for Lebron James to carry the Cavs in a much improved eastern conference that will be gunning for them. Daniel “Booby” Gibson is now the permanent starting point guard, but must develop into a consistent number two option. Head coach Mike Brown has plenty to prove after being exposed as a terrible coach during the playoffs.

Milwaukee Bucks – Andrew Bogut is set for a breakout year, and the addition of Desmond Mason to go alongside sharpshooter Michael Redd provides a solid trio. However, Chinese phenom Yi Jianlian has a long way to go before he even comes close to living up to the hype.

Indiana Pacers – Danny Granger was a pleasant surprise last year, but the rest of this team is not as promising. Expect Larry Bird to finally pull the trigger and move Jermaine O’Neal during the season.

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics – What is with Boston and greatness? The Patriots, Red Sox, and even Boston College are all contending for championships. Danny Ainge’s bold moves were the story of the year, acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to go alongside Paul Pierce. The Celtics’ trades were so momentous, the NBA postponed its release of the schedule in order to give Boston more games on national television. The question is not whether the Celtics are going to dominate, but rather the question is to what extent. In the otherwise weak East, this stud trio could combine for 60-70 points a game, in route to just as many wins if all stay healthy. Critics point to the lack of a supporting cast and a potentially weak link in head coach Doc Rivers, but remember it only took one great player in Lebron James to carry Cleveland out of the East and into The Finals last year. Imagine what Boston will do with three.

New Jersey Nets – With Jason Kidd running the show, the Nets are always going to be in the mix. Vince Carter has never shown the ability to win games come playoff time, however. Look for Jamaal Magloire to break out with Kidd feeding him.

New York Knicks – Like the Lakers, this once prominent and classy franchise has evolved into a dysfunctional mess. If the players do not rally behind Isiah Thomas for a playoff push, expect the axe to finally come down on him. The real problem though, lies with Mason Square Garden Chariman James Dolan, so do not be surprised if he gets fired first.

Toronto Raptors – Andrea Bargnani shows flashes of brilliance towards the end of last year, so look for him to combine with Chris Bosh to form one of the most dangerous frontcourts in the NBA. If the Raptors were not hidden up in Canada, they would get a lot more attention and respect.

Philadelphia 76ers – Similar to Minnesota in the West, Philadelphia is still in rebuilding mode after trading away their superstar.

Awards

Most Valuable Player – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Is there any one man with more motivation in the world of sports right now? After last year’s early first round exit, Bryant had to sit at home throughout last year’s NBA Playoffs and watch Lebron James shine in the spotlight as he singlehandedly lead his team to The Finals. With the possibility of a trade looming, Bryant must reestablish himself as the world’s greatest basketball player. Look for Kobe Bryant to win the MVP not by stringing together a bunch of consecutive 40+ point games, but rather a string of double digit assists games, ridding him of the common perception that he is a talented but selfish player.

Second Place: Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets

Most Improved Player – Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers

Perhaps the only player more motivated than Kobe Bryant is the teammate who he thrashed this summer. Entering his critical third year in the league, the 20-year old Bynum will break out this year after working with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Second Place: Daniel “Booby” Gibson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Coach of the Year – Rick Adelman, Houston Rockets

Adelman is best known for his success with the Sacramento Kings several years back, and is credited with overachieving despite never having any big superstars. Now that he has Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming in Houston, look for the offensively minded Adelman to open things up and bring in fresh changes to the Rockets, who were bogged down in the past with Jeff Van Gundy’s slower half court sets and defensive philosophy.

Second Place: Stan Van Gundy, Orlando Magic

Rookie of the Year – Kevin Durant, Seattle Sonics

The 19-year old phenom is 6’9” tall with a 7’4” wingspan and has already been compared to Kevin Garnett. By trading away Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, Seattle has handed the reins to Kevin Durant, who will have all the opportunities to run away with this award.

Second Place: Jeff Green, Seattle Sonics

NBA Finals – Boston Celtics over Houston Rockets in seven.

Oh Matt, you so funny 4

Matt Hasselbeck, on pulling his oblique mussle in today's 33-6 win over St. Louis:

It was tough. I think it’s a great thing, I’m actually kind of excited. They told me I tweaked my oblique, which is awesome because I didn’t know I had any obliques. It’s good news, honestly. It’s in there somewhere, so I am really happy about that. I’m going to go home and tell my wife.

Oh Matt, you so funny 3

On playing the Rams, another winless team this week:"It doesn't matter. I think we proved that last week."

On TV being too intrusive, demanding of players time."I don't think so; not to me. I think it's great, I think it's great for our games. High def television is one of the best things ever invented; second maybe the wheel – or fire, maybe."

On being teased about the falling camera incident in Sunday's game:"I've actually been on my teammates a little bit. I've heard where they saw it coming at me and they were laughing. What about throwing a block or something, you know? Isn't that really your job?"

~ Seahawks Insider, The News Tribune

Kobe for Dirk?

In light or Mark Cuban's overanalyzed remarks on Dancing With the Stars, I was wondering why we do not see any all-star for all-star trades. If a Kobe trade is indeed in the works, it is likely that it would be for less value, similar to the Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, and Shaq trades. That is, a disgruntled superstar traded for a couple of young role players and draft picks.

If you are a team like the Dallas Mavericks though, what would stop you from pulling the trigger on a superstar swap? There is no doubt Dirk is just as vital to the Mavs as Kobe is to the Lakers, but I cannot imagine Kobe letting the Heat come back from 2-0 in the Finals or letting the Warriors run all over his team in the first round. While we can forever debate Kobe's character and teamwork, but there is no doubt that in the fourth quarter with a big game on the line, he is the best player to win the game.

Week 6: Duel in Dallas

New England 48, Dallas 27 - All eyes were on this showdown of 5-0 teams. Not surprisingly, the Patriots blew it open at the end, and the talk of an undefeated season has now begun. Although Dallas did at least hang with the Pats for the first three quarters, I still do believe that they will run away with the NFC.

Baltimore 22, St. Louis 3 - After such a terrible showing by the backups, Marc Bulger is determined to come back next week in search of their first win.

Minnesota 34, Chicago 31 - Adrian Peterson and Devin Hester stole the show in one wild game. If only the Vikings had a decent quarterback, with a beast of a running back and a superb defense, they would be quite a good team.

Cleveland 41, Miami 31 - Cleveland is reminding me a lot of Cincinnatti a couple years ago when Jon Kitna had a surprisingly good year so Carson Palmer had to sit. Derek Anderson is holding off Brady Quinn for now. Meanwhile, when is Miami going to win a game?

Green Bay 17, Washington 14 - Watched most of this game and am impressed with both teams in all facets of the game.

Jacksonville 37, Houston 17 - ESPN's Jaws says the Jags will give the Colts a game on next MNF.

Kansas City 27, Cincinnatti 20 - Larry Johnson finally gets going. How much of a mess are the Bengals?

Philadelphia 16, New York Jets 9 - I said that Oregon's Kellen Clemens is just as good as Leinart two years ago. We will soon see.

Tampa Bay 13, Tennessee 10 - Madden Curse kicks in on Vince Young.

Carolina 25, Arizona 10 - Vinny Testaverde wins a game at age 44. Kurt Warner goes down, so Tim Rattay steps in. Ouch.

San Diego 28, Oakland 14 - LT is back.

New York Giants 31, Atlanta 10 - Bold prediction: the Giants will contend for the NFC East title.

New Orleans 28, Seattle 17 - NBC’s Andrea Kramer quoted Mike Holmgren on Reggie Bush at halftime of last night’s game: “We knew he was quick, but we did not know he was that quick.”

Are you kidding me!? The supposedly football genius and fellow USC alum underestimated Reggie Bush’s quickness of all things? My great grandmother has no idea who Reggie Bush is, but even she would not be so dumb as to say something like that. What is next, are you going to reveal that you were not prepared for Mack Strong’s retirement sending the Seahawk running game down the drain? You were supposed to fix Seattle’s running game, not New Orleans’. Or are you going to tell me that you did not know that if you do not get much pressure on Drew Brees, he suddenly has the accuracy of Manning and Brady? Nothing that transpired last night should have surprised anyone. They are who we thought they were! And we let them off the hook! *Storms out*

Cheap & Easy

I do not know why I cannot post this, but go ahead and listen to it. This is from ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd, their popular morning show host.

Among the highlights:

For the record, being the most popular thing in the world, you gotta remember, 75% of the world lives in or near poverty. In other words, cheap and easy is almost always the most popular way to go. Is rice the tastiest food? No. But it is easily the world's most popular. Yes, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. It is cheap and easy.

Football is complex, it is expensive, it is not easy. American football is the best game, the most complicated, the most choreographed, and it means the most here, that matters more. We got the dough, we got the brains, and we got the options. Football is smart.

It is not arrogrant when it is true. American Football is better.

Frank TV

SNF ~ Saints at Seahawks

You know that ESPN show Around the Horn, where four sportswriters debate hot topics? Here is how host Tony Reali started off one of the segments: "And now we move on to the New Orleans Saints. They STINK. The END."

The writers then proceeded to make a mockery out of the fact that Sean Payton thinks bringing in a new high profile kicker will help. Yes, that is the problem leading to an 0-4 record. The kicking game.

That being said, everything is set up for an upset this weekend. The Saints are no longer America's darlings. The pressure of Super Bowl expectations are long gone. Sunday Night Football. Primetime, NBC. All eyes on Reggie Bush, who excels in the spotlight.

Al Michaels: What do the Saints need to do to fix this?
John Madden: Well Al...uh...they need to stop all this turnover stuff.

Wow. Thank you, John.

The Saints are desperate for a win. But the Seahawks are sure to come out fired up after losing to the Steelers...again. More motivation? Mack Strong was forced into retirement this week, so the heart and soul of the Seahawks for the past 15 years will raise the 12th man flag before the game, firing up an already high-on-caffeine Seattle crowd.

If all else fails, we will borrow a page from Pac-Man Jones and make it rain. In Seattle, they are so used to precipitation that they do not even notice it anymore. And we all know how people from New Orleans react to a little water.

Mike Holmgren has never lost to the Saints, and there is no reason to start now.

Seahawks 24, Saints 7 .

BCS Shakeup

I remember arguing during the first couple weeks of September that the college football is just as predictable as the pros, and that we might as well cancel the season and pit No.1 USC versus No.2 LSU and get it over with. Well, so much for that. The BCS rankings were released today, and after a crazy couple of weekends in which all the top condenders have been upset, the Ohio State Buckeyes find themselves at a firm No.1 ranking. With a relatively soft schedule, Ohio State has not been overly impressive, but it is more about the mere fact that they remain undefeated and have avoided the big letdowns:

• LSU lost in triple overtime 43-37 to Kentucky.
• California lost at home to Oregon State 31-28.
• USC lost its No.1 ranking two weeks ago after being exposed in a close victory against Washington. Then they were stunned last week by Stanford, 24-23. (That same weekend, Notre Dame got their first win against UCLA, and the Anaheim Angels were swept out of the playoffs. Throw in Lakers' owner Jerry Buss saying he would be willing to trade Kobe Bryant, and it was a terrible week of sports in Southern California).
• The season's first BCS rankings feature the 6-0 South Florida Bulls and the 7-0 Boston College Eagles at No.2 and No.3 respectively.
• Who!?
• Exactly.

The Lounge

Former Los Angeles Times columnist, now of ESPN, J.A. Adande checks in with a good look at my Seattle SuperSonics. The entire franchise, from ownership to management to the roster, has been revamped, and as time passes it looks more and more like the team is heading to a bright future...in Oklahoma. A small part of me wants to believe that a youthful team will rally around a wise coaching staff and sneak up on unsuspecting teams this season, stealing a playoff spot, motivating the city and ownership to somehow come up with a deal to stay in Seattle. Then my brain tells my heart, "Uh...no."

Week 5: Oh no, Romo!

Dallas 25, Buffalo 24 - What!? You mean to tell me the Cowboys won this game? Everything went wrong for Tony Romo - FIVE interceptions and a lost fumble. But Trent Edwards interception (why are you throwing up by eight late in the fourth quarter!?) led to a touchdown, followed by an onside kick, followed by a game winning field goal by rookie kicker Nick Folk. Last night's game was by far this season's instant classic, and was reminiscent of last year's Monday Night Meltdown by the Arizona Cardinals against the Chicago Bears. The Bears, seemingly destined to win even after such a horrible quarterback performance, rode the come from behind victory to the Super Bowl. At 5-0, the Cowboys are the clear NFC favorites with the big test looming Sunday against the seemingly unstoppable Patriots.

Houston 22, Miami 19 - Houston is not as good without Andre Johnson, while Miami is still searching for its first win. The story of this game was Trent Green's hit and the trashtalk that ensued after. I am all for being a tough guy and helping your teamates and all, but as a quarterback, he should not be blocking anyone.

Jacksonville 17, Kansas City 7 - The AFC South is the best division in the NFL, and whichever team comes out second to the Colts as a wild card has a chance to give a division winner a game come January.

New England 34, Cleveland 17 - 19-0, anyone? First test this Sunday at Dallas.

New York Giants 35, New York Jets 24 - This game should be played every year. Regional rivalries should be strengthened. Let us see the Jets-Giants, Raiders-49ers, Chargers-Cardinals, Steelers-Eagles, Dolphins-Bucs, Chiefs-Rams, Ravens-Redskins more often then every four years. All these teams practically share territory and fans, so why not spark the league with some intraconference rivalries?

Arizona 34, St. Louis 31 - Kurt Warner is back, and he has the offensive weapons and smart coach to make some noise again. Look for teams to blitz the heck out of Warner though, who is not as great without a clean pocket.

Washington 34, Detroit 3 - So much for my mancrush of Jon Kitna. As for the Redskins, it takes a year for a coaching staff to come together and have its full effect. All those high priced coordinators hired last year are having a positive effect now. Jason Campbell looks like the real deal.

Tennessee 20, Atlanta 13 - What an ugly win. The Titans are one of those teams like the Jaguars who can sneak into the playoffs and give a great team a game.

Indianapolis 33, Tampa Bay 14 - And this was without a lot of key Colts starters. Peyton needed a big win going into a bye after a couple of tough games.

San Diego 41, Denver 3 - Still waiting on Jay Cutler to prove himself. Meanwhile, are the Chargers back? Again, it takes a while for a coaching staff to come together and have its full effect.

Baltimore 9, San Francisco 7 - Eww.

Chicago 27, Green Bay 20 - The Packers lose their first game of the season, while Brian Griese does just enough to get the entertaining comeback win. Are Da Bears back?

Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 0 - People have told me that Seahawk fans should stop talking about that one big game against the Steelers. Okay.

Mack Strong

Seattle Seahawk fullback Mack Strong announced his retirement today, a day after suffering a herniated disk in his neck that was causing trauma to his spinal cord. The loss of their lead blocker is a fatal one to the already struggling Seahawks. In a whopping 15 years in the NFL, ironman Mack Strong has blocked for three 1,000 yard rushers in Chris Warren, Ricky Watters, and Shaun Alexander. As an active member of the Seattle Church of Christ and President Bush's Pro Bowl friend, Mack Strong has been one of my favorite Seahawks. Thanks for a great career Mack.

Jon Kitna

ESPN The Magazine has a great feature on Detroit Lions' starting quarterback Jon Kitna. The former Seattle Seahawk has led the normally woeful Lions to a surprising 3-1 start.

A couple of the article's highlights, written by David Fleming:

Since he signed a four-year, $11.5 million deal in March 2006, about 20 Lions have given their lives to Christ. Teammates, converted or not, credit Kitna -- and, in part, this religious awakening -- with helping change the previously poisonous attitude in the Lions' locker room. Says [backup QB] Orlovsky, "He is the pulse and the heart and the soul of this team."

Kitna: "My first responsibility to this team is to be a quarterback. But my priority in life is to be a man of God."

Oh Matt, you so funny 2

Taken from The News Tribune:

On Deion Branch getting more involved in the offense:
"I think the first week Coach Holmgren didn't have in on his fantasy team, and then he was able to trade for him and it really changed everything."

On him playing fantasy football:
"I got a real team. It's not fantasy. It's real, live."

On him studying the playbook with help from his wife:
"She plays Coach Holmgren, so to speak. She'll say the personnel group, then she'll say the situation, then she'll say the play. It's much like when you're studying for an exam in college or something. ... Just sort of (studying) during commercials at night when we're watching television, or after that in bed. It's very romantic."

Week 4: 420+

Green Bay 23, Minnesota 16 - Brett Favre literally carries the Packers on his back en route to a 4-0 start. Favre threw touchdown passes numbers 421 and 422, overtaking Dan Marino for the most all time. Even though Peyton Manning is on pace to break what is now Brett's record in the next decade, not enough can be said about Favre's amazing play.

Houston 16, Atlanta 26 - So much for all that Matt Schaub leading the Texans to the playoffs. In his return to Atlanta, Schaub is outplayed by Joey Harrington.

Buffalo 17, New York 14 - I have a hard time caring about a division that is so far apart from its leader, the New England Patriots.

Cleveland 27, Baltimore 13 - Are the Browns suddenly a surprise team or is it just that the banged up Ravens are overrated?

St. Louis 7, Dallas 35 - Tony Romo amazes me. The guy is so agile and makes 'streetball' plays all the time. Dallas is the NFC's clear front runner right now. Thanks to a ton of injuries, the Rams are done, their only touchdown was a Daunte Hall return.

Chicago 27, Detroit 37 - Brian Griese struggles in his debut as the Bears' starting quarterback. Thanks to Mike Martz, the Lions are like his old Rams in that they are simply going to outscore their opponents.

Oakland 35, Miami 17 - Daunte Culpepper scored all five touchdowns in his return to Miami. Call me crazy, but do the Raiders have a shot at winning their division?

Tampa Bay 20, Carolina 7 - This is why the NFC is so weak. Divisions like the South have no favorite whatsoever. Cadillac Williams is done for a while after that freak knee injury.

Pittsburgh 14, Arizona 21 - Props to Bill Simmons who called Ken Whisenhunt's influence in a surprising upset. With Kurt Warner winning a game now, what happens to golden boy Matt Leinart?

Denver 20, Indianapolis 38 - We know Manning owns the Broncos. Why even play this game?

Kansas City 30, San Diego 16 - Three loses in a row for the struggling Chargers. Instead of blaming the new coaching staff, upper management should bear the criticism for letting the entire 13-3 regime go.

New York Giants 16, Philadelphia 3 - McNabb goes from quarterback on the way out, to elite quarterback, back down to on the way out. With no Westbrook, a terrible offensive line, the still recovering McNabb stood no chance.

Seattle 23, San Francisco 3 - Keep on sleeping on my Seahawks, America. They just stormed into San Franciso and shut up everyone who doubted that the NFC West still belongs to Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck was sharp and the defense was dominating. Remember, the Seahawks are a fumble away from being undefeated. Super Bowl rematch in Pittsburgh next weekend.

Weird Indians

Five months later, and super conservative Indians still have a problem with Bollywood bombshell Shilpa Shetty

Week 3: Separation Time

Talk about Separation Sunday. The best story of the weekend was the Green Bay Packers upsetting the San Diego Chargers at home. The Chargers are certainly in a funk, probably due to the completely new coaching staff, as exhibited by LT's frustration, even getting into it with his quarterback Philip Rivers on the sidelines. The Packers are 3-0, Brett Favre is playing like a whole new quarterback while the defense is quitly looking great. Watching this game, however, I did not like the lack of a running game on the part of Green Bay. Granted, the Chargers are great at stopping the run and have a weak secondary, but eventually the Packers are going to have to get some yards on the ground.

T.O. said the Dallas Cowboys made a statement by winning in Chicago on Sunday Night. Remember, the Cowboys were a botched snap away from advancing to the playoffs and going to Chicago, where they just proved they can win. Tony Romo is playing amazing, scrambling around and putting up huge numbers. Romo is in a contract year, and Jerry Jones is obligated to pay up soon the way he is playing. Hopefully it does not have some sort of crazy mental effect on the field.

The Patriots put up another 38 points in another blowout, and it the Brady to Moss combination is not even fair for opposing teams. In the AFC, the Colts and Steelers also advanced to 3-0.

The Ravens are good enough team to make some noise in that tough AFC, but again, it is way too early for Steve McNair to be banged up already. And how about Kurt Warner replacing Matt Leinart and nearly rallying for the win? Go figure.

Back to the NFC, where the Saints are already this year's most disappointing team. Sure, Dallas and Green Bay are looking good at 3-0, but let us not forget the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle is a fumble away from joining those elite teams at 3-0 after winning a wild west game against Cincinnatti, 24-21. You had safeties, fourth down and two point conversions, quarterbacks catching passes, and turnovers galore. While Carson Palmer and the Bengals put up big numbers again, Matt Hasselbeck is quietly having a good year. The fourth quarter featured four lead changes, including Hasselbeck's strike to Nate Burleson for the game winning touchdown. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled, and Palmer and the Benglas offense never got a chance to come back again. While the Seattle defense got eaten up statistically, new safeties Brian Russell and Deion Grant each caught interceptions and made several key plays. The banged up Shaun Alexander has yet to even get going. Hasselbeck was asked whether he'd like a little more national recognition for his hot start to the season. "I think it's better that we just chill out here [in Seattle] in the witness protection program," he said. "We're good. Let them talk about all the East Coast teams and their cool throwback uniforms." As the analysts start to make early judgements and separate the teams, do not sleep on my Seattle Seahawks, folks.

Week 2: Oops!

The Seahawks fumbled away a sure win in another wild weekend. Carson Palmer's SIX touchdown passes were not enough as Derek Anderson and Jamal Lewis led the woeful Cleveland Browns to a surprising 51-45 victory. This makes the 2-0 Steelers look more dominant, as were the New England Cheatriots who ran the Chargers out of town on SNF 38-14. Indy survived another Vince Young comeback while the Bears looked terrible despite winning their home opener. The Saints got blown out again while Dallas takes over as the highest scoring team. Denver lucks out with another Jason Elam game winner. Green Bay, San Francisco, Detroit, and Houston are all 2-0. In the immortal words of the legendary Vince Lombardi, what the hell is going on here?

Bolts Bandwagon

With the Rodney Harrison suspension and the fines of Bill Bellichick and the Patriots organization for cheating, New England may just be the most disliked sports franchise right now. Heading into this Sunday Night's huge showdown against the San Diego Chargers, it seems nearly everyone would love to see the Patriots lose after such a controversial week. Other than the Denver Broncos, who would be justified in rooting against San Diego in hopes of winning the AFC West, I would think that fans of the other 30 teams in the NFL are pulling for an upset at Foxboro, happily hopping on the Bolts Bandwagon.

Shady Brady and Bill Belicheat

Oden Out

On May 22, I wrote: Portland last had the No.2 pick in 1984, selecting center Sam Bowie, a bust in comparison to the fellow who Chicago took next by the name of Michael Jordan. Deja vu anyone?

Oden was limited and missed much of his freshman season at Ohio State with a broken wrist. Then he missed most of the summer league with tonsillitis. Now, he is out for most of the year after microfracture surgery on his knee. Instead of being the NBA's next big star, Oden is unfortunately on track to be an injury prone bust.

Goodell Strikes Again

NEW YORK (AP) -- New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for videotaping an opponent's offensive and defensive signals.

Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.

More on Pats

Now that the Patriots have been caught cheating, everyone around the NFL has thrown in their two cents, resulting in an even larger cloud cast over the New England organization and their three Super Bowl wins. Opponents are openly questioning how legitimate the Patriots' wins are while Sports Illustrated finds more occurrences of Patriot videotaping. The commentary and debates on this subject can be endless; the fact of the matter is that the Patriots cheated to gain some competitive advantage. Imagine if they go on to make another Super Bowl run again this year, something which is quite likely. Then the NFL's integrity would be no better than the NBA's after the referee scandal.

Cheating Patriots

Let us do something out of the ordinary these days and present the facts:

• NFL security officials confiscated a camera and videotape from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella on the New England sidelines when it was suspected he was recording the Jets' defensive signals.
• The league also was reviewing a possible violation into the number of radio frequencies the Patriots were using during Sunday's game, sources said. The team did not have a satisfactory explanation when asked about possible irregularities in its communication setup during the game.
• Last season, the Green Bay Packers had an issue with a man wearing a Patriots staff credential who was carrying a video camera on their sideline.
• The Patriots have not presented their case to the league, nor anyone else for that matter.
• LaDainian Tomlinson: "I think the Patriots actually live by the saying, if you are not cheating, you are not trying" Keep in mind that LT has a running feud with the Patriots after last year's "classless" celebration on San Diego's turf after a playoff victory. Chargers stud linebacker Shaun Merriman was suspended four games last season for essentially cheating as well. Chargers visit the Patriots on Sunday night.
• The New England Patriots beat the New York Jets 38-14 last Sunday, the seventh consecutive win at the Meadowlands for Tom Brady and company. The Patriots offense was effective largely because Brady had plenty of time thanks to his superb offensive line. Brady was never sacked, was not pressured much at all, and was only hit once. In other words, the Jets defense was basically helpless.
• As perennial contenders, the Patriots are the front runners to win it all this year, and have won three Super Bowls in four years, prompting many to dub the team as a dynasty.

That dynasty's integrity is now in serious question. This is not an exaggeration folks. Even if these specific allegations are not as serious as they appear to be, there is no doubt that after being caught twice, at the very least, Bill Belichick's staff has been and continues to be up to something fishy. The extent of the spying and how much does it help the Patriots may never been known, but the fact of the matter is that there is already enough evidence for the NFL to punish the Patriots, most likely through monetary means and in the form of multiple draft picks.

Remember that the NFL is more about game planning and preparation than anything else. With the rapidly advancing technology, coaches are constantly trying to acquire any competitive advantage that may help in preparation.

What a Week One!

The first week of the NFL season is in the books, and it was quite a wild ride. The mere return of meaningful professional games would have been enough, but a bunch of entertaining matchups and amazing finishes provided for an even better weekend.

New Orleans 10, Indianapolis 41

By now the Thursday opener has had time to sink in. Peyton tears up the Saints for 31 points in the second half, but it was the Colts defense that impressed holding last year's No.1 offense to three measly points. The Colts are in an unprecedented circumstance as the defending champions with little pressure to repeat; more pressure is on arch rival New England Patriots who, with all the offseason improvements, everyone has winning the Super Bowl.

Denver 15, Buffalo 14

Kevin Everett's life threatening injury is more important than anything else here. The Broncos out gained the Bills 470 to 184 in total years, but trailed for the first 59:59 of the game! Jason Elam rushed onto the field and kicks the winner as the clock ticks down. Denver's defense is already great, but if Jay Cutler, Travis Henry, and the Bronco offense keeps it up, throw them into the long list of contenders in the AFC.

Tennessee 13, Jacksonville 10

I did not catch much of this game, but did notice the Titans running all over the Jags, while Jacksonville's was limited on the ground. Go figure. Maybe it is as simple as it sounds: Vince Young is a winner, he just somehow wins these types of games.

Miami 13, Washington 16 (OT)

Almost had a freak finish at the end of regulation. Jason Campbell shows promise, but these two teams are not going anywhere this year.

Carolina 27, St. Louis 13

I am going to continue the new trend of patting myself on the back as I called this upset. However, no one foresaw Steven Jackson being contained so well though. The injury to left tackle Orlando Pace pretty much kills the Rams season.

New England 38, New York Jets 14

The biggest story of the week, as the Patriots may have actually exceeded the large expectations placed before them. Tom Brady went off, and with Randy Moss stretching the field and keeping defenses conservative, that gives Brady more time in the pocket to tear up opposing defenses. There is already talk of a 19-0 season, but it will be interesting to see how the elite teams attack this scary offense. Say, San Diego on Sunday night.

Atlanta 3, Minnesota 24

Adrian Peterson continues to impress, emerging as the early frontrunner for offensive rookie of the year. The Viking defense dominates again, although it was against the woeful Falcons.

Pittsburgh 34, Cleveland 7

Big Ben and company looks goo, but similarly, it was against the woeful Browns. The Browns used two quarterbacks, neither of which were named Brady Quinn. After a beatdown by the Steelers, you have to wonder how great that Dallas trade is looking now. The Browns look like they could end up with one of the worst records in the league, consequently giving the Cowboys one of the top picks in next year's draft.

Philadelphia 13, Green Bay 16

The Packers won this game on defense and special teams. Watch out, when Favre gets the offense rolling, they could easily steal the NFC North division.

Kansas City 3, Houston 20

I am not sure whether to be impressed with Matt Schaub and the Texans, or whether it is just that the Chiefs are that bad.

Tampa Bay 6, Seattle 20

Ditto. A solid win for my boys up in Seattle, as the offense showed glimpses of their sharp 2005 form, and the defense was dominant. But then it was against the Buccaneers.

Chicago 3, San Diego 14

Watching games throughout the first week, and it is clear that defenses are far ahead of offenses. It takes more time for complex offenses to get in rythm before they start clicking and wearing down defenders. This was a defensive struggle, and the Chargers only blew this one open towards the end. After sitting out the preseason and coming in rusty against a great defense, LT had a rough start. Some are saying he had a bad game, but he still scored two touchdowns folks.

Detroit 36, Oakland 21

The battle of the losers was quite entertaining. The Lions put up points, and may finally make that breakthrough on offense that is expected in Mike Martz's second year. Daunte Culpepper gives the Raiders a better chance to win than McCown.

New York Giants 35, Dallas 45

What a game! I normally do not like divisional matchups as the featured Sunday Night game, but those NFC East teams always have great shootouts. Romo and Manning went wild, but Eli's fourth quarter shoulder injury kills the Giants season.

Baltimore 20, Cincinnati 27

Big win for the Bengals, although it is encouraging for the Ravens that after so many turnovers they still had a chance to win it at the end. It is a pity that Steve McNair and Ray Lewis are already hurt.

Arizona 17, San Francisco 20

Again, the defenses looked better than the new offenses here. Alex Smith came up big in the game-winning drive in another nationally televised thriller. Great finishes like these are why everyone is so glad that football is back!

Bill & Aints

My belief that Bill Simmons is the most entertaining sportswriter is no secret. But he scored even more points with me this morning when he matched my Super Bowl pick of the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Sure, you may chalk it up to a couple of displaced Californians choosing their former hometown teams, but I say we are just both geniuses.

Speaking of which, the Colts thrashed the Saints in the second half of last night's NFL season opener, 41-10. In that same Super Bowl entry I wrote a week ago, I said:

"the NFL runs on preparation and game planning, and now that coaches have an entire year of Drew Brees and Reggie Bush running Peyton’s offense on film, look for defenses to be better prepared for a team that is no longer off the radar, as the magic of New Orleans and the mystique of the ultimate underdog fades away."

You think Tony Dungy had Sean Peyton's offense figured out, holding Brees and company to a measly three offensive points? I think this is where I am supposed to say 'I hate to tell you I told you so,' but that would simply be a lie.

Questionable Raiders Management

The Best Game I Never Won

After a terribly long day working at the bank after a convenient three day weekend, I came home, grabbed something to eat, and sought to redeem my exhaustion in the best possible way - on Xbox Live playing EA Sports Madden 08. I have been at this for a couple weeks already, and I have to say that playing on the newer generation of consoles online is a completely different experience. I do not mean to sound like a cheesy commercial for the service, but the ability to trashtalk against an old classmate late into the night during a back and forth football game is a lot better once you actually experience it yourself. As tired and frustrated as I already was after a grueling day at work, I stumbled upon what may just be the best game I have ever played.

My random opponent, selected automatically due to our similar records and experience level, choose to be the Chicago Bears. As the visiting Seattle Seahawks, I could already see another low-scoring matchup based on defense and field position. Of course, the score at the end of the first quarter is 14-14 after each quarterback tosses a couple touchdowns. Yes, the realism is uncanny. Rex Grossman comes back down to earth after a deep pass is picked off by Marcus Trufant, and I take a 24-21 lead into halftime. Once we get a feel for how to defend each other, my opponent begins to pound Cedric Benson against my smaller defense in the second half, slowing down the pace a little. The first punt of the game only comes late in the fourth quarter when I am killing clock to try to protect a 31-28 lead. Devin Hester comes up with a huge return down the sidelines, setting up the tying field goal kick and overtime.

Chicago wins the coin toss, but is stopped on a 4th and 2 attempt at midfield. One first down later, and my drive stalls at the Bears' 39-yard line. At this point, the similarity to the NFC Divisional Playoff Game is uncanny. Seattle only needed one completion, one more first down, one more big play, to win in overtime in Chicago, but was unable to do so. Josh Brown misses a tough 57 yard field goal, giving Chicago good field position to set up a short drive for their own game winning kick with seconds remaining.

But the Bears miss! Double overtime! Hasselbeck gets hot converting three consecutive passes. With confidence running high inside Chicago territory, I go for the win, running a deep pattern to the inside throwing high to D.J. Hackett only to be intercepted by Charles Tillman! With my heart broken after blowing a second chance to win the game, Grossman drives down the field inside the Seattle 30. But then a similar route results in a Julian Peterson interception! On a fourth and 1 attempt, I call my own number and sneak in for the first down with Hasselbeck who fumbles the ball going down. Can you say TRIPLE OVERTIME!?

My Seattle Seahawks force a Benson fumble and again storm back. With yet another opportunity to win the game, Hasselbeck makes the mistake of throwing to an open Nate Burleson down the middle of the field, only to be picked off by none other than stud middle linebacker Brian Urlacher in an amazing display of his athleticism. At this point I have been on an emotional roller coaster, all the while trying to keep my mind straight enough to stategize efficiently in what has quickly become an intense chess match. Note that nearly all of the overtime periods took place within each 30-yard line, keeping each of us conservative on both sides of the football. After several short passes and running plays, I adjust my defense keeping only one safety back deep. Grossman fakes yet another hand off, playing as the deep safety I bite on the play action just enough so that Rex chucks a bomb to, who else, Devin Hester, who simply cannot be caught up to.

Chicago 37, Seattle 31.

Matt Hasselbeck and Rex Grossman, with four touchdown passes each, finish with quarterback ratings well into the 100s. A combined ten turnovers, most of which coming during the overtimes, offset the miserable defensive performances in the first half when both of our offenses simply went up and down the field at will. I am sure many players have similar experiences, but this was simply one of those insane games that had me going nuts. Every play call, every movement, every execution that all falls on my shoulders, had an enormous impact. I can easily go to sleep tonight replaying the crucial plays pondering the many potential "what ifs." No wonder coaches are so stressed out as their hair turns grey or disappears. It was my own mistakes that narrowly cost me the game, and it is with that knowledge that, even when losing, made it such a great and enjoayable one. This was truly the best game I never won.

Random Labor Day Thoughts

Labor Day Weekend signifies several things. For most, it is a nice day off from work representing the end of summer. But for us cool guys, it means it is time for some FOOTBALL!!!

• College kicked off this past weekend, and nothing made bigger news than Appalachian State's 34-32 stunning upset of No.5 Michigan which came on a blocked field goal. App State were heavy underdogs walking into Michigan, but wound up shocking the world with what many are saying is the greatest upset in the history of college football. While the talent was certainly a reason for the win, preparation throughout the summer focusing in on a big opener must have played a large role as well.
• With the No.5 ranked team falling off the charts so early, the validity of the preseason poll must come into question. Heck, the whole poll system used in college is consistently being called out for its far too many flaws.
• I paid most attention to the featured primetime game, in which Cal got its revenge over Tennessee, 45-31. While it was an impressive statement for the Pac-10 and quite an entertaining game, the highlight of it all for me was ABC commentator Brent Musburger calling out Berkley's "hippies in the trees" to quit protesting and allow the school to build a training facility in place of a small forest. Administrators have promised to plant three trees for every one they cut down. Musburger clearly wanted to say, stop living in the trees and go find something better to do with your lives, you weird Berkley hippies.
• I am rooting for USC, LSU, and West Virginia, the top three teams in the country, to all go undefeated. This way, the national title game will be as controversial as ever, forcing the BCS to listen to the masses and do some major overhauling.
• Watching college football after the NFL preseason makes the distinction in talent and organization level between the two levels all the more clear. The best athletes and programs are far better than their opponents compared to the parity driven NFL. Idaho cannot touch Pete Caroll's machine at USC, whose Colisium contains more people than Idaho University's entire city and surrounding area. Watching many of the games and most highlights, the big plays were not so much a result of good excecution as they were of missed tackles, which drive me nuts. I understand how there is often more excitement and passion in college football, but I still prefer watching the best players in the world compete in the best team sport in the world, and that can only be found in our beloved NFL.
• This is probably the only weekend where college football overshadows the pros, but not for the tons of players who lost their jobs Saturday. NFL teams set their 53 man rosters, cutting many notable players, the most surprising of which was Jacksonville Jaguars' starting quarterback Byron Leftwich. Leftwich was entering a contract year and had already been declared the starter earlier in the summer.
• New England Patriots' safety Rodney Harrison was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, admitting to using Human Growth Hermones. There are many good debates on this subject, but if this were baseball or any other sport, it would be a lot bigger story and everyone would be close to freaking out. Shawn Merriman went on to win defensive player of the year last season despite a similar suspension, and while there is no doubt he is an amazing athlete, the contrast to Barry Bonds' never ending scrutiny is inevitable.
• The Seattle Times features a great story on Deion Branch. For every Michael Vick, there are quite a few good players such as these.
• In addition to the normal chunk of cuts, the Seattle Seahawks pulled off a couple trades, shipping off one of my personal favorites, safety Michael Boulware to the Houston Texans. As Seattle's second round pick in 2004, Boulware was converted to strong safety after playing linebacker at Florida State. He had a surprisingly impressive first season, setting a team rookie record with five interceptions, three of which were game winning, as he quickly took over the starting job and appeared to be a promising future star on a rising defense. In 2005, Boulware started the entire season as a key member of a successful defense, picking off passes in both the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XL. After getting beat for several deep passes in 2006, Boulware lost his starting job, and a slight injury during 2007 training camp did not help his cause to make the team as a backup. Here's hoping that the good man who led the Seahawks' weekly bible studies has success in Houston.

Super Bowl XLI Prediction

New England Patriots

What is with Boston sports and their great offseasons? I normally shy away from bandwagon picks, but the fact of the matter is that the Patriots have had an uncharacteristically amazing offseason. Remember, the concern going into last season was Deion Branch’s holdout and Tom Brady’s completely new receiving corps, save for the ageless Troy Brown. This season, the storyline is similar in regards to a completely new receiving corps, but is looking a lot more promising. By now, everyone knows the additions: Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Kelly Washington, and Wes Walker. Even if the athletic Moss and speedy Stallworth are not catching long balls and putting up big numbers, their mere presence on the field forces defenses to adjust in respect to the deep passing game. This will open up the field for the versatile running back Laurence Maroney, not to mention Wes Walker coming out of the slot. While all of the additions are great talents, each is a gamble that could pay off large dividends or end up injured or a disappointment. Even then though, quarterback Tom Brady was only one big play away from defeating the Indianapolis Colts in their thrilling 38-34 loss in the AFC Championship game. With even a marginal upgrade in his offensive weapons, let alone acquiring four big name threats, Brady could have easily gone on to win the Super Bowl.

Granted, Tom Brady and company have never had a problem putting up points come crunch time. But in competitive AFC, they will not be well suited trying to simply outscore the dynamic offensives of the San Diego Chargers and defending champions Colts. The Patriots would have still had a great defense without going out and adding anyone to help genius Bill Belichick; it does not matter who he plugs in on defense, his excellent game planning and preparation usually proves to be effective. Nevertheless, New England threw $35 million at Pro Bowl linebacker Adelius Thomas, who had 83 tackles and 11 sacks as an important piece of the downright frightening Baltimore Ravens defense. Thomas will join controversial first round draft pick Brandon Meriweather as they add to the familiar cast of stingy Patriot defenders in Asante Samuel, Rodney Harrison, Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, and Junior Seau.

The road to the Super Bowl for the Patriots may be the toughest of any other team’s. The AFC East is rapidly improving; the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets each beat the Pats last year, including a 21-0 shutout at Dolphin Stadium. The Pats have to play the toughest of the four NFC divisions, the NFC East, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Finally, the Pats will not only go up against each of the other three AFC division winners, but will likely meet a couple of them in the playoffs as well. The popular skepticism surrounding the San Diego Chargers is justified; the completely new coaching staff cannot be expected to even come close to last season’s amazing performances. While the great wealth of talent is still there, former defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was known to make great halftime adjustments, leading to several comeback victories last year. The confidence in Baltimore is just as warranted. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have their swagger back as the defense returns to Super Bowl form and the signing of Willis McGahee should improve the offense. However, Steve McNair is only getting older, and seemed to wear down towards the playoffs last season, so it is doubtful that they can put up the points necessary to win in January. Finally, there is simply no way to dismiss the champions, specifically Peyton Manning and his unstoppable offense. While the Colts defense may be softer with the notable losses of each starting cornerback and leading tackler Cato June, the fact of the matter is that is likely to once again boil down to Colts and Patriots. There is no doubt that last year’s instant classic could have easily gone either way, but this year the New England Patriots’ new additions give them the slight edge.

Seattle Seahawks

This is the third consecutive year I have picked the forgotten men of the Pacific Northwest, but this time the argument may actually be the most convincing. Last season was a complete disaster in Seattle; everything that could have gone wrong did indeed go wrong. MVP Shaun Alexander broke his foot in the first game, Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck went down soon after, and the banged up offensive line was unable to regain its cohesive 2005 form. Football is a game of continuity and familiarity, so having so many players shuffled in and out of the starting lineup cannot breed success. While the superstitious chalk up the major injuries to the Madden Cover Curse and Chunky Soup commercials, throw in the Super Bowl loser hangover and the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx, and it is a wonder the Seahawks did not crash and burn. In fact, they somehow managed to win the NFC West and a literally wild playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, even taking the eventual NFC Champion Chicago Bears to overtime before falling short by a field goal.

Not unlike the New England Patriots, a healthy version of last year’s team is already good enough to make a Super Bowl run. Nevertheless, Seattle went out and signed Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney from the Atlanta Falcons. After giving up a number of blown plays on defense last season, the Seahawks acquired safeties Brian Russell and Deion Grant as the new starters and brought Jim Mora back home to coach the new and improved secondary. While I seriously considered completely changing this pick after yet another season ending injury to former first round draft pick and effective run stopper Marcus Tubbs, this year’s second round pick Brandon Mebane from California may help fill the enormous void. Marcus Trufant is quietly establishing himself as one of football’s top cornerbacks, and LeRoy Hill, Lofa Tatupu, and Julian Peterson have the potential to be the league’s best threesome of linebackers. However, this agile defense is built to succeed when playing ahead, so much will rest upon the shoulder’s of Mike Holmgren’s trademark offense.

As hard as it is to believe, Mike Holmgren is entering his ninth season in Seattle, most of which have been spent coaching up Matt Hasselbeck, who enters his tenth year in the league. Look for the man who produced hall of famers Steve Young and Brett Favre to draw out a breakout year for Matt Hasselbeck, who is in his prime. Deion Branch enters his first full year as a Seahawk, and with an entire summer and training camp under his belt, look for him to replace the oft injured Darrell Jackson. Holmgren is known to spread the ball around, so expect Nate Burleson and D.J. Hackett to have solid seasons, in addition to Hasselbeck’s ever reliable security blanket in slot receiver Bobby Engram. Tight end Marcus Pollard looks capable of providing Seattle with something they have never quite had in a dependable tight end, opening up the complex offense. With the offensive line getting younger and healthier, and Shaun Alexander poised for a big comeback year, Seattle is primed to return to its status as one of the league’s premier offenses.

It is as good as common knowledge that the NFC is supposedly weaker than the AFC. Whatever the case, the NFC does have more contenders. The NFC West division has been dubbed as the most competitive division top to bottom, in that any of the four teams could likely win the division. The Arizona Cardinals are the annual sleeper team, yet never fail to disappoint, especially with a feeble defense and shaky offensive line. New head coach Ken Whisenhunt will form a dynamic high scoring offense with Matt “Hollywood” Leinart throwing to stud receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, but it may take some time with a new offense and second-year quarterback. The excitement is San Francisco is only due to the Dan Snyder-like spending spree on free agents. While the defense looks solid, the loss of offensive coordinator Norv Turner will actually hurt the 49ers more than most believe, actually setting up Alex Smith to regress. Finally, the St. Louis Rams have actually become most balanced team in the division. Jim Haslett has set up a solid defense, while head coach Scott Linehan has drifted away from “the greatest show on turf” style into a more precise offense, using shorter passing routes and running the ball. Steven Jackson is expected to have an MVP type of year while Marc Bulger resumes his most-underrated-quarterback-ever campaign. The Rams and Seahawks have quickly formed one of the most entertaining rivalries in all of sports. Each of the two thrilling games last year were decided by game winning Josh Brown field goals, and Rams fans will be quick to point out that it could have easily been their team making the playoff run instead of Seattle. Despite Arizona and San Francisco’s improvements, the NFC West division will likely be decided between the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks yet again.

Seattle’s schedule for the upcoming 2007 season is most intriguing. Optimistic fans hope for a 4-0 start with Tampa Bay, Arizona, Cincinnati, and San Francisco opening up the season. Week Five features a visit to Pittsburgh where you know emotions will be running high due to the Super Bowl XL rematch. Seattle is also matched up with the other three division winners from last year, and likewise the NFC frontrunners. Although the Seahawks lost twice in Chicago last year, this time the Bears come to Seattle’s loud Quest Field in Week , known to be one of the best home field advantages.

The Philadelphia Eagles are the only more consistent winner in the NFC than the Seattle Seahawks. If Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook can stay healthy and return to their dangerous forms, the Eagles are an easy choice for a return to the Super Bowl. The complicated situation involving Andy Reid’s family troubles and the drafting of another quarterback behind McNabb may be the perfect amount of motivation for the team to rally around. That being said, the competitive NFC East teams have a tendency to beat each other up over the course of the season. Jim Johnson’s aggressive defense will host the Seahawks in December.

The sexy pick for the NFC is the New Orleans Saints, and understandably so. Sean Peyton’s offense proved to overwhelm opponents last year, and many expect it to develop into the league’s next Indianapolis Colts. However, the NFL runs on preparation and game planning, and now that coaches have an entire year of Drew Brees and Reggie Bush running Peyton’s offense on film, look for defenses to be better prepared for a team that is no longer off the radar, as the magic of New Orleans and the mystique of the ultimate underdog fades away. The Saints, thrown out of their comfort zone in cold and rainy weather, visit Seattle on NBC’s nationally televised Sunday Night Football in Week Six.

The NFL originally scheduled the Patriots and the Seahawks to meet in China this season, but supposedly scrapped those plans because Beijing was not ready to host the big game. In reality, they may have wanted to save the eventual Super Bowl for America:

Super Bowl XLI
February 3, 2008

Tom Brady is clearly the best player on the field, but a couple of questionable holding calls and an unusual offensive pass interference call in the endzone cost the Patriots. A Matt Hasselbeck run is ruled as a touchdown even though a replay review clearly shows he did not get in. Should sound familiar.

Seahawks 27, Patriots 21

The Boy Who Lived

I have an empty feeling inside of me, having just finished the seventh and final installment of J.K. Rowling's epic Harry Potter series. First off, the final book is by far the best, tying together all the loose ends created beforehand. You know you have seen a really good movie (or 24 episode) when the complicated plot comes together towards the end, and it all clicks in your mind as you go "Ohhhh, I get it!" THAT feeling is what occurs during Deathly Hallows, particularly in the chapter where Harry looks back into the past. I can only hope that the last movie does justice to the wealth of great action scenes.

Everyone loves the great characters of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. But the brilliance of the genius, yet far from flawless, Dumbledore plays a rather large role in a story in which he is dead (or is he!? You had to love innocent Ron throwing the idea out there every few chapters or so that maybe Dumbledore is not dead, only to be shot down by a frustrated Harry or Hermione). For better or for worse, the numerous soap opera relationships took a backseat to the main storyline, but you had to love the whole Ginny situation, especially how she boldly cuts short the awkward return of Cho. Rowling even manages to make the reader feel sympathetic towards the deep characters of the Malfoys and Severus Snape, perhaps the only figure more hated then Voldemort himself.

The emotions created by this book is second only to the Bible. Speaking of which, the parallels between Potter and Christianity should not go unnoticed. Although Rowling quietly omitted religious references during weddings, births, deaths, funerals, and the characters never thought about praying in all of their dangerous and near-death experiences, there are some subtle references to the Good Book that the average reader will not notice. When Harry visits his parents' graves, he reads: "The last enemy to be destroyed is death" on the headstone. Those words were originally written by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the church of Corinth (15:26). If the Potter family being a Christian one is not enough, the tombstone of the Dumbledore family reads, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." These are the words of Jesus Christ during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:21).

In his now widely spread article, Jeffrey Weiss points out how "Harry believes that only his demise will save his friends. Like his mother, Harry is willing to choose that death without fighting. The final battle includes death and resurrection, spiritual power carried by blood, and an apparent total loss followed by ultimate victory. Distinctly Christian? I'd say so."

As for all the press that the Harry Potter saga has gotten for its supposed immoral themes, such as blatant witchcraft and defiance of elders and authority figures, conservative Christians, including myself, need to relax and back off. There are actually quite a lot of good morals that children can learn from reading these books. Besides, there are tons of far worse entertainment venues out there that simply should not be.

Rowling has made it clear that this is the end for the Harry Potter saga. However, everyone knows that money makes the world go around, and with such an enormously profitable franchise, do not be surprised if Potter makes another triumphant return. Even if Rowling herself refuses to do it, think about the potential spinoffs that someone else could work up once they slither around legal barriers. The epilogue alone hinted at a whole another adventure for the next generation of Hogwarts teenagers. Imagine the possibilities of the appropriately named children building upon their parents' and grandparents' adventures going forward? Speaking of grandparents, the story could also steal an idea from the just as epic Star Wars franchise and go back into the past! The world loved learning how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader, so why not do the same for Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort? Some of the books merely grazed upon the tip of icebergs such as the developments of the Riddle and Dumbledore families. I want to know how exactly did James and Lily end up together, and what role did Sirius Black and Severus Snape play during their years together at Hogwarts. There is an action-packed chick flick waiting to happen. Imagine the loads of books and movies that can be created from the Potter universe, just on a different point on its timeline.

Forgive me for sounding like a boasting Slytherin, but when something of the sort comes out decades from now, remember that I called it long ago.

Justin and Jessica(s)

Forget Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake has just signed on with Mike Myers to join the cast of The Love Guru, in which the man who brought sexy back will play a LA Kings hockey (!?) player who falls for his team's owner, played by the lovely Jessica Alba (!), a woman who has proven to be scientifically hot.

30-3

No, President Bush is not cheering about Iraq being compared to Vietnam, but rather his Texas Rangers putting up a football type score, routing the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader:

The 30 runs were the most in the Major Leagues since the 19th century and set a new American League record.

The most runs scored in a Major League game was 36 by the Chicago Colts (now the Cubs) against Louisville in the National League in 1897.

The Rangers completed the sweep in Game 2 with a 9-7 victory, and set a new American League record for most runs in a doubleheader with 39. The old record was 36 set by the Detroit Tigers against the St. Louis Browns on Aug. 14, 1937.

The 49 total bases on 21 singles, two doubles and six home runs was also another single-game club record.

NFL Jokes

So I finally put down the Xbox 360 controller to take a break from Madden, and stumbled upon this hilarious article on ESPN.com's timesucking entertainment section known as Page 2. Note that in order to understand most of the jokes, one needs to be quite well informed in regards to football news.

Among some of my favorites:

The first week of camp was spent convincing new head coach Cam Cameron that his playbook consisting of 450 pages of the words "Give the ball to LaDainian Tomlinson" would not work well for the Dolphins.

Cincinnati's defensive line will be harder to penetrate this season as all of them are shackled together.

Peyton Manning missed a day of camp to film an eBay commercial in which he attempts to sell his brother Eli to another family.

Vince Young just punched his agent for talking him into the Madden cover.

Coaches say new Broncos running back Travis Henry has all the tools necessary to thrive in Denver's system. He has legs. And also arms, a torso and a head.

Players who have finished reading Al Saunders' 700-page playbook were shocked to discover that Harry Potter dies at the end.

On the first day of camp, Lovie Smith became the first black coach to open a training camp after losing the Super Bowl.

Brett Favre and his receivers spent much of camp working on timing patterns in which Favre heaves the ball wildly down the field and his receivers try to pull it out of the air just before the defense intercepts it.

The Saints worked hard on a new ball-control, clock-eating offense, consisting mainly of one play in which Reggie Bush runs around and around in circles for two minutes, ultimately gaining just a single yard.

Why We're Here

Women or Dogs?

“It’s really a sad day in this country when somehow Michael Vick would have been better off raping a woman if you look at the outcry of what happened. Had he done that, he probably would have been suspended for four games and he’d be back on the field.”

- Pittsburgh sports reporter Paul Zeise, who took a lot of heat, lost his job, apologized, but whose career (ironically like Vick's) is forever in the dumps because of the above comment.

Zeise's harsh comments and this MSNBC column got me thinking though, would Vick indeed have been better off committing other heinous crimes instead? Hundreds of professional athletes are consistently getting off on a wide variety of criminal charges, including rape and assault. The highest profile one, of course is Kobe Bryant, who has recovered to regain his status as one of the top icons in all of sports. Kobe's No.24 jersey was the top selling NBA jersey of this past 2006-07 season, topping Wade and Lebron.

While every situation is unique and different, media analyst Steve Adubato points out that "Unfortunately, women who are the victims of domestic violence are sometimes not seen as legitimate victims. Dogs have no free will and are brought into this sickening so-called “sport” and trained to kill and ultimately even be killed themselves if their owners no longer see value in them. For some people, the dogs Michael Vick allegedly tortured are seen more bona fide victims than a woman potentially beaten by a professional athlete. Sick but true.

"Let’s face it, many Americans may not have been overly shocked if Vick had been accused of beating up a woman he’s emotionally involved with. Not because it’s not a horrific act, but rather because we in the media, as well as the American public, have become somewhat desensitized to such a story."

There is no doubt that what Vick may have been involved in is definitely wrong. As a high-profile celebrity-athlete, the media circus surrounding Vick is completely understandable and expected. But let us not forget the countless acts of shameless men who have no respect for women.

Business in Seattle

Everyone keeps on grilling me on the situation in Seattle, namely the blowup of the Sonics' roster and clear intention to rebuild around Kevin Durant and Jeff Green (younger/cheaper/unknown potential) instead of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis (older/expensive/lack of defense).

I stumbled upon a column by Sam Smith with some great points about the understandable intentions of the new Sonics administration:

It's a franchise’s nuclear meltdown, which can only send one message to the people of Seattle: OK, you wouldn't build us an arena. Fine, we're blowing this thing up so when we move we're going to have a young attractive core of talent to sell to our new community.

In sports, it is easier to "save money and offer a stripped down product, which is the way the Clippers always made money" than spend a lot of money and contend for a championship to make large profits.

Remember, at the end of the day, the NBA is simply a business. Just like nearly every other aspect of life, it all comes down to the mighty dollar.

756

Who's Now

ESPN's SportsCenter feature finally came to an end this past weekend, as Lebron James lost out to Tiger Woods in the voting competition essentially set up for the golfing living legend to win:

• earned an estimated $100 million in winning and endorsements just in the year 2006.
• more wins on the PGA tour than any active golfer
• held the number one position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and greatest total number of weeks
• credited with attracting a variety of races to the game of golf because of his multiethnic background
• doubled golf's attendance and television ratings sparking a major surge of interest in the game

If that is not "now," then who knows what is?

Ten years ago, Michael Jordan would have easily won this. Ten years from now, it may very well be Lebron James. But right NOW, a debate such as this ends with Eldrick Tiger Woods.

Bonds vs Costas

As Barry Bonds ties Hank Aaron with home run number 755, his verbal feud throught the press with Bob Costas (he knows everything!) continues:

Costas on Bonds: "I think reasonable people conclude that while he'd be a near-unanimous first-ballot Hall of Famer, he wouldn't be approaching the lifetime record without something that is inauthentic in the mix."

Bonds on Costas: "a little midget man who absolutely knows [nothing] about baseball, who never played the game before."

Costas: "as anyone can plainly see I'm 5-6 ½ and a strapping 150. And unlike some people, I came by all of it naturally."

What a witty genius!

Press releases are rarely all that interesting, but take a look at the selection of words MLB commissioner Bud Selig used in regards to Bonds' tainted accomplishment:

"Congratulations to Barry Bonds as he ties Major League Baseball's home run record. No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable.

"As I said previously, out of respect for the tradition of the game, the magnitude of the record and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty, either I or a representative of my office will attend the next few games and make every attempt to observe the breaking of the all-time home run record."

Look at the Schedule!

As my main man Woody Paige loves to say, LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE! While the NBA's longer schedule pales in comparison to the significance of the NFL's, the placement of intriguing matchups on the calendar is certainly quite interesting, especially during the usually slow news days of summer.

Tuesday October 30 is the TNT's Tip-Off doubleheader, featuring the revamped Portland TrailBlazers at San Antonio for the Spurs' ring ceremony, followed by the Houston Rockets at the Los Angeles Lakers.

The NBA listened to my advice in booking D-Wade versus Lebron for ABC's Christmas Day annual debut. That will be followed by the Suns visiting the Lakers, and then we shall switch over to ESPN for Durant at Oden for the nightcap.

Other early notes that caught my eye on the initial glance at the schedule:

• The first few games of Oden and Durant are all on national television, including three out their four meetings against each other. Seattle gets seven total appearances on ESPN and TNT combined, while Portland has eleven.
• Not suprisingly, the Boston Celtics also made a big leap in national television appearances with ten.
• It will be interesting to see how the Miami Heat open up after a horrific first round sweep. Does Shaq come in out of shape as usual or storm back pissed off with a statement to make? Big early tests when they open up against Detroit (11/1 on TNT) then visit San Antonio the next week (11/7 on ESPN)
• Rashard Lewis returns to Seattle November 28 on NBATV.
• Ray Allen returns to Seattle December 27 on TNT.
• They each drop 50 on Durant, by the way.
• Cleveland at Miami highlights a TNT triple header on Martin Luther King Day.
• Dallas at Phoenix on Valentine's Day. Uh oh. Remember what a show these two high scoring clubs put on when on the same court? Hmm, decisions, decisions...
• All-Star Weekend in New Orleans - February 15-17, 2008
• As the NBA's longest tenured broadcast partner, TNT continues to get the best matchups as practically every Thursday night will feature a couple great matchups with a bunch of stars.

Boston Three Party

While they are calling for Kevin McHale's head in Minnesota, Boston has quickly reembraced their beloved Celtics. ESPN: To clinch his Tuesday trade to the Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett agreed to a three-year contract extension worth just over $51 million. By extending his current contract and eliminating the early termination option that would have allowed him to be a free agent after next season, Garnett also earned $8.8 million in trade bonuses that will be spread out evenly over the next five seasons, taking the value of the extension to $60 million. Garnett, 31, was eligible for a three-year extension worth nearly $90 million including trade bonuses.

Meanwhile, the New York Daily News reports:

The NBA is fouling out with fans over a referee gambling scandal, a nationwide survey reveals. A stunning 61% of pro basketball fans suspect that ref Tim Donaghy, who is being investigated by the feds, isn't the only corrupt NBA official, the new Zogby Poll reveals. The online survey of 7,362 people conducted July 27-30 confirms NBA Commissioner David Stern's biggest fear that the sacred trust of the game has been sullied. One-third of the 4,806 self-described NBA fans responding to the poll said the scandal has dampened their interest in the league. Nearly 88% of respondents said they believe Donaghy hedged his bets by affecting the outcome of NBA games he worked and wagered on during his 13-year career.

Remember, perception is as good as reality.

Finally, Mike Holmgren checks in with an angry yet humorous remark when asked about the Seattle Seahawks' offensive line committing a false start:

"It's inexcusable and I think it's a lack of concentration. It can get you out of the starting lineup quickly. ... It's a little thing, but it's a big thing. It drives me to distraction. If I could think of something really horrible to do to someone who jumped offsides, I would do it. Then you'd write about it, and it would be horrible."