We can all in hindsight scream and kick the Hornets' management for the sad state of affair this team finds itself in.
But when Posey, MoPete and Peja were signed, if we were all honest, 99% would at THAT time have said they agreed with these moves .
The true blame is on The Creaky 3 directly.
Posey has done nothing, and has in fact, been a huge liability on defense and even worse on offense.
In one recent 20 game stretch, Posey was shooting 16% from 3-pt land.
He is really good at something though that's hard to put a price on (though I'll value it at.. zero...): Posey is excellent at meeting the starters at mid-court, smiling,hugging them and whispering in each starters' ear.
My guess on what's being whispering goes like this: "Yo, playah, I'll only be scoring 2 points tonight in 25 minutes, but still get my $68,109 paycheck for tonight's game.(1/82nd of his $5,585,000 annual salary)"
In his 22 minutes per game, NoShot Posey is averaging a staggering 4.5 points per game on 35% shooting, 30% from 3-pt land.
So over 66 games, the Hornets' are getting banged for their buck at a $18,804 per point clip.
MoPete has contributed nothing to this team since his signing. Has any players shot more bricks and airballs?
And his out-of-control, off-balance heaves driving to the goal look like something out of a YMCA pickup game.
NothingPete's statistical contribution for his $6.21 million salary? 42% FG, 37% 3-pt FG, 6.33 pt a season scoring average.
And when he does score, the PA system should play "Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money" because that's all NoPete is doing: taking mo of Hornets' money, mo of Hornets' money, mo of Hornets' money.
At least Peja, when healthy, gives you an occasional offensive "explosion" of 20+ points.Peja unfortunately just physically fell apart over the last 3-4 years.
But for every 20 points he scores, Peja forfeits at least that scoring total in his complete defensive liability.
Yet more painful than his injuries is his 2009-10 salary: $13.392 million.
Yes, these contracts were too high, but that's hindsight.
So, when you want to do the typical "management sucks" tirade.. remember this:
The Creaky 3 continue to steal paychecks from the Hornets' organization, and because of the backward A** guaranteed salary structure of the NBA, the Hornets are literally stuck in salary hell.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Hornets Menu - stick a fork in 'em, they are done
As a huge Hornets fan and season ticket holder, I must proclaim with honesty,full factual analysis ... The 2009-10 Hornets are done. Stick a fork in them now.
Credit is due on many levels:
Effort: This team plays hard, scraps and does much with little.
Playing better than .500 ball without CP3 for more than 20 games now is a huge accomplishment.
Rookies Shining: As ESPN agreed, Collison and Thorton are the best rookie combo in the NBA this season, hands down.
Aside from Collison's turnover propensity at times, he has been - dare I say it - as good as CP3 as a starter.
Thorton is a cold-blooded scorer. Once he masters the finer points of the NBA game (drawing contact going to goal and earning more free throws, for example), this stud will be unstoppable.
Okafor: many doubted and questioned the swap of Chandler for Okafor. I never did, and Okafor has proven me right. Aside from being overmatched against bigger centers, he is a double-double machine, and intimidates with his shot-blocking more than Chandler ever did. Problem is he can't defend the post and subsequently gets in silly foul trouble.
There you have you shiny, happy news.
Now, back to reality.
As it stands at this moment, the Hornets' are at best a .500 team right now. Why? They are horrible defensively. When is last time they held a team under 50pts in a half and/or 100 pts in a game?
The number of uncontested layups and wide-open shots every game is unexplainable.
Check that.. I can explain: Lack of effort and discipline, more so effort. Defense is about intensity and effort, and to allow uncontested shots at the rim is (no pun intended) indefensible.
Anyone with knowledge of this team also knows, they are in a straight-jacket when it comes to contracts.
The heavy contract shackles of Peja, MoPete, and Posey have left needle eye's room to improve the roster.
And even worse about The Creaky 3 (my copywright is pending on this name) is their on-court performance.
(Following names have been changed to protect the innocent)
No-Shot Posey looks like he has cement in his shoes on D. All he takes are 3s, and my guess is he's hitting 25% of those.
Pejunk scores 20+, then can't hit a shot for 2-3 games.
NoPete... someone, anyone explain to me how he's getting a quarter worth of playing time????!!
Watch how often he gets beat defensively, I dare you. It's ugly.
And it's laughable how often he shoots an air ball or complete brick every game.
I've been screaming at TV for a month now --- how can this staff steal minutes from Thorton and play a washed-up MoPete??
One of the local sports guys, Mackel I think, said it best:
Aside from CP3, Collsion, Thorton, Sanguilla (sp?)and Okafor, and maybe Peja, the rest of the Hornets roster is garbage. Well said.
Finally, will this team make playoffs?
I pray NO.
Best course of action: Miss the playoffs, save the embarassment and get the lottery pick.
Then go into off-season, pick your new head coach and re-mix this whole team recipe, because this current menu has some very very unappetizing ingredients.
Credit is due on many levels:
Effort: This team plays hard, scraps and does much with little.
Playing better than .500 ball without CP3 for more than 20 games now is a huge accomplishment.
Rookies Shining: As ESPN agreed, Collison and Thorton are the best rookie combo in the NBA this season, hands down.
Aside from Collison's turnover propensity at times, he has been - dare I say it - as good as CP3 as a starter.
Thorton is a cold-blooded scorer. Once he masters the finer points of the NBA game (drawing contact going to goal and earning more free throws, for example), this stud will be unstoppable.
Okafor: many doubted and questioned the swap of Chandler for Okafor. I never did, and Okafor has proven me right. Aside from being overmatched against bigger centers, he is a double-double machine, and intimidates with his shot-blocking more than Chandler ever did. Problem is he can't defend the post and subsequently gets in silly foul trouble.
There you have you shiny, happy news.
Now, back to reality.
As it stands at this moment, the Hornets' are at best a .500 team right now. Why? They are horrible defensively. When is last time they held a team under 50pts in a half and/or 100 pts in a game?
The number of uncontested layups and wide-open shots every game is unexplainable.
Check that.. I can explain: Lack of effort and discipline, more so effort. Defense is about intensity and effort, and to allow uncontested shots at the rim is (no pun intended) indefensible.
Anyone with knowledge of this team also knows, they are in a straight-jacket when it comes to contracts.
The heavy contract shackles of Peja, MoPete, and Posey have left needle eye's room to improve the roster.
And even worse about The Creaky 3 (my copywright is pending on this name) is their on-court performance.
(Following names have been changed to protect the innocent)
No-Shot Posey looks like he has cement in his shoes on D. All he takes are 3s, and my guess is he's hitting 25% of those.
Pejunk scores 20+, then can't hit a shot for 2-3 games.
NoPete... someone, anyone explain to me how he's getting a quarter worth of playing time????!!
Watch how often he gets beat defensively, I dare you. It's ugly.
And it's laughable how often he shoots an air ball or complete brick every game.
I've been screaming at TV for a month now --- how can this staff steal minutes from Thorton and play a washed-up MoPete??
One of the local sports guys, Mackel I think, said it best:
Aside from CP3, Collsion, Thorton, Sanguilla (sp?)and Okafor, and maybe Peja, the rest of the Hornets roster is garbage. Well said.
Finally, will this team make playoffs?
I pray NO.
Best course of action: Miss the playoffs, save the embarassment and get the lottery pick.
Then go into off-season, pick your new head coach and re-mix this whole team recipe, because this current menu has some very very unappetizing ingredients.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Are you infected with Who Dat Fever?
No temperature. No nausea. No headaches.
Strange.. I feel 100% healthy, but I know I still have the Who Dat fever.
And truth is I don't want to get over this sickness.
From all reports too, this fever has spread throughout the nation, maybe the world.
Evidence: the Saints-Colts Superbowl was THE most-watched TV show in the history of television. More than 106 milions viewers was last count I saw.
My independent study (do not ask how I derived at this.. super-double probation kinda stuff) shows that a whopping majority of this 106 milllion were infected with mild cases of Who Dat, but upon Porter's game-ending INT for TD they were all full-blown Who Dat infected.
Symptoms you ask?
- Daily need to wear black-and-gold shirts, feather boas, Saints championship hats
- Now own an authentic Saints jersey and believe wearing it at all functions is appropriate
- Search for anything mentioning or showing Drew Brees, his wife or his son, Baylen
- Attended the Superbowl in Miami and now have several new Who Dat friends on Facebook
- Re-read The Times Picayune stories on Mondat
- Have forwarded countess priceless pictures of Saints Superbowl photos, ie Payton sleeping with the Lombardi trophy
- Have recounted multiple stories of someone you know who has seen Payton holding the Lombardi Trophy at Ruth's, parades, on floats, in hotel lobbies, at post-parade parties, etc
- Have waited in line for hours post-Superbowl to get a Saints player autograph
- You have renamed the days of the week: Mondat, Truedat, WeDat, Drewdat, Fridat, Saintsdat, WhoDat
- Endlessly planning where you will hang the framed front-page headline, "Amen!" and other Superbowl stuff
- Keep "Get Crunk" on your iPod and in your car CD player, and when played must roll down windows and blare at ear-splitting decibels
- Have created an iPhone "Get Crunk" ringtone (guilty...)
- Have watched the NFL reply of the Superbowl no less than 3 times
- Every time you see Porter's INT, you jump up, scream and re-live that feeling like it's happening in real time
- Weeks later, still ask yourself constantly, "The Saints are the World Champions, aren't they?"
- When any Jim Henderson Superbowl play-by-play is re-played, stop whatever you are doing, listen, get goosebumps and tears as if you're hearing it for first time
- Have held a Superbowl Replay Party (I will be doing this soon!)
- Counting the days til Sept. 9 Thursday night Opening Game
- Thank God you are a Season Ticket holder
- Pray to God a Season Ticket holder offers you tickets to game's next year
If you are experiencing these symptoms, don't panic, don't schedule a doctor's appointment... just remain calm.. unless of course "Get Crunk" starts playing, then you must bob up and down, wave arms in the air, sing the words and chant "Who Dat Who Dat!!!"
Strange.. I feel 100% healthy, but I know I still have the Who Dat fever.
And truth is I don't want to get over this sickness.
From all reports too, this fever has spread throughout the nation, maybe the world.
Evidence: the Saints-Colts Superbowl was THE most-watched TV show in the history of television. More than 106 milions viewers was last count I saw.
My independent study (do not ask how I derived at this.. super-double probation kinda stuff) shows that a whopping majority of this 106 milllion were infected with mild cases of Who Dat, but upon Porter's game-ending INT for TD they were all full-blown Who Dat infected.
Symptoms you ask?
- Daily need to wear black-and-gold shirts, feather boas, Saints championship hats
- Now own an authentic Saints jersey and believe wearing it at all functions is appropriate
- Search for anything mentioning or showing Drew Brees, his wife or his son, Baylen
- Attended the Superbowl in Miami and now have several new Who Dat friends on Facebook
- Re-read The Times Picayune stories on Mondat
- Have forwarded countess priceless pictures of Saints Superbowl photos, ie Payton sleeping with the Lombardi trophy
- Have recounted multiple stories of someone you know who has seen Payton holding the Lombardi Trophy at Ruth's, parades, on floats, in hotel lobbies, at post-parade parties, etc
- Have waited in line for hours post-Superbowl to get a Saints player autograph
- You have renamed the days of the week: Mondat, Truedat, WeDat, Drewdat, Fridat, Saintsdat, WhoDat
- Endlessly planning where you will hang the framed front-page headline, "Amen!" and other Superbowl stuff
- Keep "Get Crunk" on your iPod and in your car CD player, and when played must roll down windows and blare at ear-splitting decibels
- Have created an iPhone "Get Crunk" ringtone (guilty...)
- Have watched the NFL reply of the Superbowl no less than 3 times
- Every time you see Porter's INT, you jump up, scream and re-live that feeling like it's happening in real time
- Weeks later, still ask yourself constantly, "The Saints are the World Champions, aren't they?"
- When any Jim Henderson Superbowl play-by-play is re-played, stop whatever you are doing, listen, get goosebumps and tears as if you're hearing it for first time
- Have held a Superbowl Replay Party (I will be doing this soon!)
- Counting the days til Sept. 9 Thursday night Opening Game
- Thank God you are a Season Ticket holder
- Pray to God a Season Ticket holder offers you tickets to game's next year
If you are experiencing these symptoms, don't panic, don't schedule a doctor's appointment... just remain calm.. unless of course "Get Crunk" starts playing, then you must bob up and down, wave arms in the air, sing the words and chant "Who Dat Who Dat!!!"
Sunday, February 7, 2010
It is futile...You cannot resist the Who Dat Nation Force
(Fort Lauderdale, FLA)
I keep saying aloud, "Denise, can you believe this.. that we're in Miami, going to the Superbowl to watch the Saints!?"
I've been blessed with lots of Wow moments in my life, but this one tops them all.
My latest stop in this surreal, whirlwind Saints season is one I'll never forget. So many snapshots (and some of those snapshots will remain locked away forever...):
- The unbelievable Who Dat Nation invasion.. Last night we returned to SoBe (it's not cool to call it South Beach...), and I told Denise let's count the number of people wearing Saints black n gold until we see a Colts fan. No kidding, we stopped counting at 27.
- We didn't get the memo: Clothing is apparently optional on SoBe. Not for the faint of heart (or faint of conviction) Nuff said.
- P.S. to above point: And apparently when guys go out in SoBe, they leave their shirts at home. Men bare-chested every step of the way.
- I'd conservatively put the Who Dat to Colt ratio at 25:1. And that might be generous.
- Last night at The Clevelander, a "Where to be" uppety outdoor bar on SoBe, I sat at bar drinking a bottle water (with that fact I shoulda been wearing donkey ears.... Drinking water at this bar?! What's wrong with you!?) and a guy orders 2 normal bar-brand drinks. "$22?!!" he said incredously. Yep, $22 for 2 drinks. His friend said,"That's freaking ridiculous.. and they could at least put them in something bigger than a Dixie cup."
- Cover charge to Fat Tuesday = $10. Cover charge for Clevelander= $30. Garage parking = $40. Jello shots at Clevelander= $5 (bikini models walk around non-stop with them)
- Collins Drive = total gridlock. We found a back way out that cut drive time by 30 minutes. And we didn't even have to ask, "Excuse me Holmes how do I get back to 856?" (shout out to Clark Griswold)
- Jack Bauer and CTU aint got nothing on these guys.... We have seen caravans of black Escalades all over SoBe. Brand new, totally spotless ones with totally blacked out windows.
- 99% of people here have never seen a "Who Dat" second umbrella, as evidenced by the non-stop photo requests for Denise to pose for them.
Well gotta go for now. It's time to drive to the first of 2 pre-game tailgate (inside a casino, the other by the stadium...) parties.
Geaux Saints!!!! finish strong!!!!
-
I keep saying aloud, "Denise, can you believe this.. that we're in Miami, going to the Superbowl to watch the Saints!?"
I've been blessed with lots of Wow moments in my life, but this one tops them all.
My latest stop in this surreal, whirlwind Saints season is one I'll never forget. So many snapshots (and some of those snapshots will remain locked away forever...):
- The unbelievable Who Dat Nation invasion.. Last night we returned to SoBe (it's not cool to call it South Beach...), and I told Denise let's count the number of people wearing Saints black n gold until we see a Colts fan. No kidding, we stopped counting at 27.
- We didn't get the memo: Clothing is apparently optional on SoBe. Not for the faint of heart (or faint of conviction) Nuff said.
- P.S. to above point: And apparently when guys go out in SoBe, they leave their shirts at home. Men bare-chested every step of the way.
- I'd conservatively put the Who Dat to Colt ratio at 25:1. And that might be generous.
- Last night at The Clevelander, a "Where to be" uppety outdoor bar on SoBe, I sat at bar drinking a bottle water (with that fact I shoulda been wearing donkey ears.... Drinking water at this bar?! What's wrong with you!?) and a guy orders 2 normal bar-brand drinks. "$22?!!" he said incredously. Yep, $22 for 2 drinks. His friend said,"That's freaking ridiculous.. and they could at least put them in something bigger than a Dixie cup."
- Cover charge to Fat Tuesday = $10. Cover charge for Clevelander= $30. Garage parking = $40. Jello shots at Clevelander= $5 (bikini models walk around non-stop with them)
- Collins Drive = total gridlock. We found a back way out that cut drive time by 30 minutes. And we didn't even have to ask, "Excuse me Holmes how do I get back to 856?" (shout out to Clark Griswold)
- Jack Bauer and CTU aint got nothing on these guys.... We have seen caravans of black Escalades all over SoBe. Brand new, totally spotless ones with totally blacked out windows.
- 99% of people here have never seen a "Who Dat" second umbrella, as evidenced by the non-stop photo requests for Denise to pose for them.
Well gotta go for now. It's time to drive to the first of 2 pre-game tailgate (inside a casino, the other by the stadium...) parties.
Geaux Saints!!!! finish strong!!!!
-
Thursday, February 4, 2010
WHO DAT! WE DAT! WHERE YA GONNA BE AT???
Getting pumped!Ready to join the Who Dat Nation invasion, as we and New Orleans Saints take Superbowl XXIV!
Brees jersey, black n gold face paint, beads, second line umbrella... we be ready!
Denise and I flying out tomorrow 10:50 a.m. American Airlines, flight 2688. arriving Fort Lauderdale at 1:30 p.m.!
Staying at Courtyard Marriott Aventurra Fort Lauderdale.
I've been surfing web, checking out WWL radio and TV sites, nola.com, and anywhere else I can think of.. Very surprised that none of these "major" media outlets have organized a centralized gathering of info for Who Dats to know where to go, what to do, NFL activities, etc. (Or should I be surprised at their lack of effort?)
Have had to turn my radio dial counterclockwise ever since Vikings win.. the national media bias for the Colts is unbearable.
If I listened to all the shows, I would be eating my non-refundable plane tickets, selling my tickets, cancelling my Miami hotel and rental car. Why go? Every national analyst says Saints don't have a chance.
Bet you didn't know:
Peyton Manning is second to only God?
The Saints defense has no prayer of stopping the Colts offense? (And I thought the official stats show the Saints offense was #1 in total offense and # 1 in scoring...and that Brees had more TDs than Peyton this year.... )
The Saints pass rush is dirty and takes cheap shots on QBs?(but isn't the object to hit the QB? silly me.. )
Even without their best defensive player, Freeney, the Colts D is better than the Saints D (which was 2nd in NFL in takeaways..)?
The real NFC championship was Vikes vs. Cowboys?
As Tim Brando of CBS said, the bias is from lazy reporting and geography.
Lazy because the reporters only go by what they see on TV.
And what they see on TV is what the big boy media types (producers, on-air, etc..) are all located in Northeast of country, and all graduated and lived in Northeast.
Well gotta go now. Time to get crunk.
Brees jersey, black n gold face paint, beads, second line umbrella... we be ready!
Denise and I flying out tomorrow 10:50 a.m. American Airlines, flight 2688. arriving Fort Lauderdale at 1:30 p.m.!
Staying at Courtyard Marriott Aventurra Fort Lauderdale.
I've been surfing web, checking out WWL radio and TV sites, nola.com, and anywhere else I can think of.. Very surprised that none of these "major" media outlets have organized a centralized gathering of info for Who Dats to know where to go, what to do, NFL activities, etc. (Or should I be surprised at their lack of effort?)
Have had to turn my radio dial counterclockwise ever since Vikings win.. the national media bias for the Colts is unbearable.
If I listened to all the shows, I would be eating my non-refundable plane tickets, selling my tickets, cancelling my Miami hotel and rental car. Why go? Every national analyst says Saints don't have a chance.
Bet you didn't know:
Peyton Manning is second to only God?
The Saints defense has no prayer of stopping the Colts offense? (And I thought the official stats show the Saints offense was #1 in total offense and # 1 in scoring...and that Brees had more TDs than Peyton this year.... )
The Saints pass rush is dirty and takes cheap shots on QBs?(but isn't the object to hit the QB? silly me.. )
Even without their best defensive player, Freeney, the Colts D is better than the Saints D (which was 2nd in NFL in takeaways..)?
The real NFC championship was Vikes vs. Cowboys?
As Tim Brando of CBS said, the bias is from lazy reporting and geography.
Lazy because the reporters only go by what they see on TV.
And what they see on TV is what the big boy media types (producers, on-air, etc..) are all located in Northeast of country, and all graduated and lived in Northeast.
Well gotta go now. Time to get crunk.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
SAINTS FANS UNITE IN MIAMI!!!!
Okay, I'm surprised I can't find any sites or resources to unite Saints fans in Miami for pre-game partying and gathering!!!!
Here's some stuff I did find on nola.com:
so far I've found the following:
Friday night: Gordon Biersch,downtown Miami
Saturday: Bokampers, Shuck n Dive, Ft Lauderdale
Sunday: Super Tailgate Party, El Palacio Hotel, 1 mile from stadium. contact: Sheilafoster@yahoo.com. $21 pre-pay.. Here is link for more info: http://www.saintsreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149246
http://www.jayfosterlaw.com/blog/new...l-tailgate.cfm
Post valid info here or request to join my Facebook group: Roadtrip Miami! (search: Jeff Marcon, Kenner, LA)
WHO DATS UNITE! LET'S SHOW THE NATION WHO WE ARE!!!
Here's some stuff I did find on nola.com:
so far I've found the following:
Friday night: Gordon Biersch,downtown Miami
Saturday: Bokampers, Shuck n Dive, Ft Lauderdale
Sunday: Super Tailgate Party, El Palacio Hotel, 1 mile from stadium. contact: Sheilafoster@yahoo.com. $21 pre-pay.. Here is link for more info: http://www.saintsreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149246
http://www.jayfosterlaw.com/blog/new...l-tailgate.cfm
Post valid info here or request to join my Facebook group: Roadtrip Miami! (search: Jeff Marcon, Kenner, LA)
WHO DATS UNITE! LET'S SHOW THE NATION WHO WE ARE!!!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Just the Chip the Saints needed
Sports fans have heard this cliche time and again: " He's playing with a chip on his shoulder."
As local and national media and fans pile on the 2009 New Orleans Saints for their late-season struggles, my guess is the chip has made a transformation.
In the lull that is a first-round bye, the New Orleans Saints by this time must have a mountain, not a chip, on their shoulder, as they rest, read and listen to all the pundits blab about their poor late-season play and the newfound greatness of the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers.
The short-term memory loss of sports fans is amazing. Facts become blurred, and negative opinion rules the day.
Know when the last time Dallas won a playoff game? 14 years ago, 1996! Dang, that was so long ago, people then actually thought Ditka was a coaching genius.
Know how many playoff games Aaron Rogers has played in? None, zero, nada. Aaron Brooks started more games in the playoff neighborhood than Mr. Rogers.
After a sizzling 13-0 start, the Saints were the NFL darlings. Debates raged about whether they would go 19-0 and win it all.
Then the NFL prince Saints turned into a three-game losing streak frog, and everyone jumped off the pumpkin onto the teams-of-the-week, the Cowboys and Packers.
Romo this, Roger that.
The Saints? Forgotten. Dissed. Bad-mouthed. One-and-done. Overrated. More and more verbal piling on by everyone.
Know what? I'm glad.
Because players - and teams - of true character play best when challenged, when there is a cause to fight for (cue the Braveheart music and William Wallace battlefield speech...)
At this time in the NFL season and in this time of parity, very little separates the #1 seed from the #6 seed.
The one common thread heard over and over again about this Saints team, last year in 8-8 adversity and this year as they were crowned the in-season best, is they have players of character.
With great character comes great pride.
(Bill Simmons of ESPN has a great read on this "Nobody believes in us" factor:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100108 )
Right now, everyone is throwing their flaming arrows at the Saints, challenging their character.
Watch out, because men of character, and a Saints team of character with something to fight for is a dangerous animal.
As local and national media and fans pile on the 2009 New Orleans Saints for their late-season struggles, my guess is the chip has made a transformation.
In the lull that is a first-round bye, the New Orleans Saints by this time must have a mountain, not a chip, on their shoulder, as they rest, read and listen to all the pundits blab about their poor late-season play and the newfound greatness of the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers.
The short-term memory loss of sports fans is amazing. Facts become blurred, and negative opinion rules the day.
Know when the last time Dallas won a playoff game? 14 years ago, 1996! Dang, that was so long ago, people then actually thought Ditka was a coaching genius.
Know how many playoff games Aaron Rogers has played in? None, zero, nada. Aaron Brooks started more games in the playoff neighborhood than Mr. Rogers.
After a sizzling 13-0 start, the Saints were the NFL darlings. Debates raged about whether they would go 19-0 and win it all.
Then the NFL prince Saints turned into a three-game losing streak frog, and everyone jumped off the pumpkin onto the teams-of-the-week, the Cowboys and Packers.
Romo this, Roger that.
The Saints? Forgotten. Dissed. Bad-mouthed. One-and-done. Overrated. More and more verbal piling on by everyone.
Know what? I'm glad.
Because players - and teams - of true character play best when challenged, when there is a cause to fight for (cue the Braveheart music and William Wallace battlefield speech...)
At this time in the NFL season and in this time of parity, very little separates the #1 seed from the #6 seed.
The one common thread heard over and over again about this Saints team, last year in 8-8 adversity and this year as they were crowned the in-season best, is they have players of character.
With great character comes great pride.
Often the rallying battle cry of "Noboby believes in us" is one that separates teams come playoff time.
The 2001 Rams and 2007 Patriots had the wrong kind of pride. In their case, everyone believed in them. That false pride cost each a Superbowl.
But teams with wounded pride, 2000 Giants, 2001 Pats, 2003 Panthers, 2005 Steelers, 2007 Giants, and the 2008 Cardinals, circled their wagons all way to the Superbowl over "Nobody believes in us."
You hear it all the time after a win, "The only people who thought we could win are in this locker room" or "No one said we could do it, so we decided to shut them up."
Hurt pride often is the great separator and motivator.
(Bill Simmons of ESPN has a great read on this "Nobody believes in us" factor:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100108 )
Right now, everyone is throwing their flaming arrows at the Saints, challenging their character.
Watch out, because men of character, and a Saints team of character with something to fight for is a dangerous animal.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A Who-Dat Nation in Collapse
As much as I love reading blogs, expert predictions and analysis, listening to sports radio, yada yada, I may now have to take do a sports-related version of a Carthusian monk vow.
Say what? Lucy, let me splain.
First some history:
Squirreled away in the French Alps, the monks of the Carthusian Order are considered by some to be the strictest order of the Roman Catholic Church. They don't eat meat, they don't sleep in intervals longer than three hours and they speak only when the work necessitates it.
My Saints-fan version of these vows: no King Cake, sleep as long as I want, and speak to only rational, informed people who have proper perspective of the Saints 13-3 season.
No question, my beloved Saints have hit a rough spot in the last 4 games.
I won't rehash my disbelief at fans reaction to the Saints late-season malaise. Been there, done that: http://marconsworld.blogspot.com/2009/12/13-2-saints-team-with-2-13-saints-fans.html
But the overwhelming tsnaumi of negative vibes about the Saints' playoff chances is hard to fathom. It's so bad, I joked with a friend today that I wouldn't be suprised if some people voted to vacate the Saints 13 wins!
Reality is that this is a new season, a season of complete hope and faith.
Every team is 0-0, but only one team won 13 games to get the #1 seed. (Hint to all the naysayers: this team would be the Saints.)
Rest and time to prepare will result in a Saints win come Jan.16.
Just ask Vegas: they say the Saints are still the favorite to represent the NFC in the Superbowl. (5-2 odds if you're wondering.)
And Vegas experts have something sorely lacking from the talking sports heads and sky-is-falling Who Dats: professional perspective.
My money is on the Saints.
Say what? Lucy, let me splain.
First some history:
Squirreled away in the French Alps, the monks of the Carthusian Order are considered by some to be the strictest order of the Roman Catholic Church. They don't eat meat, they don't sleep in intervals longer than three hours and they speak only when the work necessitates it.
My Saints-fan version of these vows: no King Cake, sleep as long as I want, and speak to only rational, informed people who have proper perspective of the Saints 13-3 season.
No question, my beloved Saints have hit a rough spot in the last 4 games.
I won't rehash my disbelief at fans reaction to the Saints late-season malaise. Been there, done that: http://marconsworld.blogspot.com/2009/12/13-2-saints-team-with-2-13-saints-fans.html
But the overwhelming tsnaumi of negative vibes about the Saints' playoff chances is hard to fathom. It's so bad, I joked with a friend today that I wouldn't be suprised if some people voted to vacate the Saints 13 wins!
Reality is that this is a new season, a season of complete hope and faith.
Every team is 0-0, but only one team won 13 games to get the #1 seed. (Hint to all the naysayers: this team would be the Saints.)
Rest and time to prepare will result in a Saints win come Jan.16.
Just ask Vegas: they say the Saints are still the favorite to represent the NFC in the Superbowl. (5-2 odds if you're wondering.)
And Vegas experts have something sorely lacking from the talking sports heads and sky-is-falling Who Dats: professional perspective.
My money is on the Saints.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Perfect Imperfect Ending
As LSU fans scream of getting jobbed by the PAC-10 refs at game's end, the last two plays perfectly summize LSU's imperfect season.
Let's get past the obvious first: Yes, the PAC-10 Umpire choked and blew LSU's only real chance at a last-second victory when he a) didn't apparently know the time urgency, b) didn't do his first job -clear the pile and place the ball for the next play, c) didn't notice immediately Bowman holding down Lafell and at that point either stop the clock or call a delay of gameon Bowman, and finally d) once he failed on these points, his reaction to call a personal foul was a direct result of his lack of attention to the first 3 pts.
Followup question: Why didn't the head referee step in and bring sanity to this all, and overrule the call?
Bottom line is at any sport, you NEVER lose a game because of one play. (3-4 dropped INTs, multiple dropped passes by LSU receivers, particularly Tolliver, no pass rush, Ridley's fumble, etc....)
Unfortunately the last closing, game-end plays simply are amplified because of the drama.
Now back to the bigger point. Poll any Tiger fan for their top issues with this '09 team and overwhelming consensus would have these in points in it:
1. Complete lack of game end time management
2. Highly questionable offensive play-calling
3. Lack of discipline aka numerous dead-ball penalties
4. Offensive confusion manifested in blown-assignments, mis-alignments, etc.
Let's get past the obvious first: Yes, the PAC-10 Umpire choked and blew LSU's only real chance at a last-second victory when he a) didn't apparently know the time urgency, b) didn't do his first job -clear the pile and place the ball for the next play, c) didn't notice immediately Bowman holding down Lafell and at that point either stop the clock or call a delay of gameon Bowman, and finally d) once he failed on these points, his reaction to call a personal foul was a direct result of his lack of attention to the first 3 pts.
Followup question: Why didn't the head referee step in and bring sanity to this all, and overrule the call?
Bottom line is at any sport, you NEVER lose a game because of one play. (3-4 dropped INTs, multiple dropped passes by LSU receivers, particularly Tolliver, no pass rush, Ridley's fumble, etc....)
Unfortunately the last closing, game-end plays simply are amplified because of the drama.
Now back to the bigger point. Poll any Tiger fan for their top issues with this '09 team and overwhelming consensus would have these in points in it:
1. Complete lack of game end time management
2. Highly questionable offensive play-calling
3. Lack of discipline aka numerous dead-ball penalties
4. Offensive confusion manifested in blown-assignments, mis-alignments, etc.
With 39 seconds remaining after Jefferson's 10-yard scramble to the PSU 49-yard line stopped the clock, LSU inexplicably throws a bubble-screen to LaFell netting a 4-yard gain directly in the middle of the slopfest field.
No timeouts remaining, awful footing in the middle of the field and you run a slip screen? Highly questionable play call.
Throw out the umpire choke, Hitt, a senior, just can't lose his emotions and throw Bowman off the pile. Hitt has to know better. Lack of discipline.
LSU then unexplainably took an eternity to line up for the next play (call it POMLTS - Post Ole Miss Lost Time Syndrome) : Jefferson had to motion for Ridley to line up correctly as a wide-out and once lined up properly, then took precious seconds to get the ball snapped. Complete lack of game-end time management once again.
Then the hook without ladder last play to Randle. Pass thrown to Randle, who turns and oops.. no one to pitch to. Game over. Offensive confusion manifested in blown assignments.
Oh, and who can pass up one last lagniappe question that haunted and aggravated LSU fans all season: Where was 5-star super-freshman Shepherd in this game!!??
No doubt, a perfect ending to an imperfect season.
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