In my 42 years of Saints fandom, I've learned a valuable lesson borne of maturity (ok, stop laughing about my maturity....) The lesson is this : to shake off and forget a Saints loss.
But last night's bone-numbing loss to the hated Falcons is a pill so bitter that I literally could not sleep and will taste for a long, long time.
With the entire season in the balance and hanging by a thin thread of playoff hope, the Saints will rewind the tape of 2012 and this one game will sum up their "what if" frustrations.
It was a night bursting with "what if" missed opportunities that had the over-rated Falcons primed for defeat.(Seriously, has there ever been a worst 11-1 team?)
But as my 14-year-old son Kyle said of the first offensive play of the game, "I think that tells me how this game is going to go.The Falcons are so lucky."
How it went was on the very first offensive play of the game, noodle-arm Matt Ryan threw a simple hook pattern to Saints-killer Tony Gonzalez at the 29-yard line, Malcomb "Almost make a big play every time" Jenkins broke under the pattern perfectly, yet somehow completely missed making the interception and Gonzalez made a 9-yard reception.
What then ensued was what many of us thought was an "uh oh here we go again" matador defensive effort, allowing a Falcons 6-play,80-yard TD drive.
Then on the Saints' subsequent 4th offensive play, Brees gave us a what we now know was an ominous foreboding of his night:
With great protection, Brees threw a deep post route to Colston, who broke open behind the cornerback at the goal but Brees both waited too late to make the throw and also completely misread the other corner sneaking to the middle of the field. INT in the endzone.
I'll save us all the pain and not recount the next FIVE INTs, and spare gory details of what might have been Brees' worst game as a professional.
From that first drive until the last unexplainable INT, Brees - completely uncharacteristically - never seemed settled, seemed too amped up and showed little-to-no patience in his throws and reads.
Unlike the previous game vs. the 49ers, Brees had time and was rarely even touched throughout the entire game, yet looked uncomfortable and forced throws all night. As great is Brees has been in his Hall-of-Fame bound career, when he's bad, wow, he's horrifically bad. Last night, was one of those horrifically bad nights.
Speaking of horrifically bad, Brees time management of the first half's last minute.. yikes.
First, by a split second, Graham commits offensive pass interference that wipes out a beautifully-called screen pass TD to Sproles.
(Oh, the irony: Sproles caught Brees' record breaking yards-in-a-season pass vs. Falcons last year, and Sproles' TD here would have continued Brees' consecutive games with TD streak....)
After a 12-yard pass to Sproles to ATL 5 , Brees inexplicably huddles team and lets 23 seconds run off clock, then - with no timeouts remaining - checks down to Sproles to the 3-yard line.
Freeze.
At this moment, how does Brees or coaches chirping in his helmet, not know to either spike football to kill clock or throw ball to endzone?
Clock expires. No FG, no TD. Momentum lost.
To magnify the gaffes, the Saints also get the ball to start the 2nd half.
The Saints come out in 2nd half, and DOMINATED the Falcons on both sides of ball.
The Saints maligned defense turns in by far it's most complete game, giving up only around 50 yards of offense from end of 1st quarter until almost final 3-4 minutes.
But Brees' Interception-palooza and Saints' dumbfounding play-calling in second half wasted a rare-defensive night of excellence.
Saints first drive of 3rd quarter - 14 plays, 5 runs/9 passes. Pierre Thomas, rarely used in last few games for some unexplained reason, was gashing the Falcons, and on this drive netted 38 yards on 5 carries. Only get FG.
Next Saints' drive, 7 plays, 3 runs/4 passes. Pierre Thomas, 3 carries for 24 yards. Only get FG.
Next drive, 2 plays, 2 passes, Brees' INT.
Three 3rd quarter drives: remember (who can forget...) Brees' is still struggling, 23 plays total, 8 of which are runs for 62 yards, a average of a whopping 7.75 per carry. And this was a true average, not skewed by a long run (longest run was 13 yards.)
So, in 4th we keep running it, right?
Three 4th quarter possessions, game still in reach, ATL D gassed and being gashed... 2 runs out of 16 total plays. Huh?
A dubious call and a bone-headed play doomed the Saints early in 4th: facing 3rd and 5 at ATL 36 - FG range - (and Falcon D remember being gashed by run entire 2nd half....) - Saints go shotgun, Strieff whiffs on block, and Abraham sacks Brees, taking Saints out of FG range.
Morstead then lays down beautiful backspin punt, which bounds straight up at ATL 1.
Johnny Patrick runs under ball, has time to LOOK DOWN WHERE HE IS!!!, bats ball back to teammate at 1-yard line, but Patrick still somehow steps on goal-line!!!
Instead of limited play access at 1, Falcons start at 20, and methodically march down to kick a put-win-out-reach 55-yard FG by "I never miss vs Saints at home" Bryant.
Ultimately, this was a team loss - both coaches' decisions and players performance, as the cliche goes, but for all the bouquets we lay at Brees' feet, this defeat lands squarely on #9's shoulders.
Brees' epic fail last night was the final sour note in a dreadful, dreary and dysfunctional 2012 season.
Somewhere Sean Payton is looking at that pill called the 2012 season, and wishing it was a amnesia prescription.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Miles to go and I cannot sleep...
The extra hour of sleep LSU fans got Sunday morning from "falling back" an hour did not lessen the shock and pain of LSU's devastating and sickening 21-17 last-minute loss to Alabama Saturday night.
In fact, extra sleep won't lessen for LSU fans the haunting feelings of this loss for a long, long time. Much of the fiery angst and blame will be spewed by LSU fans and national media directly at one Les Miles. Much of it justifiably so. Oh, Les, how did you blow this game?... Let me count the ways...
Leading up to this epic showdown, from all sides - friendly and enemy pundits - the Bama best-ever, LSU doesn't have a chance coronation was taking place.
What seemed like the entire college football universe bowed at the feet of Nick Saban. Every media outlet reveled in the ridiculous notion that Bama was so dominant it could beat some NFL teams (despite fact Vegas oddsmakers said the Tide would be a 24-point underdog to the Jacksonville Jaguars.)
If you listened to the slobbering media, Bama's QB A.J. McCarron was the second-coming of Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler, Payton Manning and every other great QB in NCAA history.
Fuel to the fire was LSU's love/hate relationship with Saban, and an undeniable undertow of distrust for Miles by LSU fans. And boy, the Miles' doubters were in for a treat.
As expected in big games, Miles uncorked some wild tricks from under his oddly perched white LSU cap, but this go-round they all backfired like those Wiley E. Coyote ACME tricks.
Down 7-3, LSU offense imploded after a fumbled punt recovery, faced a 4th & 12 and lined up for a career-long 47-yard FG attempt by a struggling all-season Alleman.
Shockingly (and stupidly), Miles calls for fake where holder Brad Wing pitches to Alleman, despite fact Bama was in a "safety" formation with three defensive backs spread equally across back of the field.
43 seconds later, McCarron cakewalks for a TD, leaving LSU trailing and looking left for dead trailing 14-3 at halftime. Load the crimson and white confetti into the cannons, cue the ESPN analysts smuggly "I told you so" grins.
Hold the coronation ceremony... LSU stuffs Bama (which they did the entire 2nd half), scores to make it 14-10. Cue Miles' ACME moment #2.
With total control of game and all the much needed momentum, LSU runs an on-side kick, which is executed perfectly except one big uh-oh: the kicker touches the ball within the 10-yard, illegal touch zone. Momentum gone.
The next Piano falling from the sky trick: LSU has a 4th and 1 at the Bama 24, and instead of trying a 41-yard FG, Miles fumbles, stumbles and late in play-clock decides to go for it. The offense rushes back on field, Spencer Ware goes under center, rushes the snap, fumbles with handle and gains zero yards.
Why not call timeout, and get play set up, Les? Why run Wildcat with Ware when your best back all-night is Jeremy Hill off-tackle?
The last ACME dagger was Alleman missing a 45-yard FG with 1:58 remaining.
My head started spinning, and a swore I saw a crimson and white Roadrunner zip on the screen, and Roadrunner sees ACME safe precariously hanging from sky and ready to fall.... That safe is LSU inexplicably going into the dreaded prevent defense.
With no timeouts, Bama in 52 seconds drives the length of the field, and for reasons no one can explain, LSU allows Bama receivers to run sideline patterns which stop the clock.
(Note to McCarron groupies: at this point in game, he was 1-7 for ZERO yards. )
As clock ticked away, I only wished someone would just cut the rope and that safe (aka Bama scoring...) would fall on my head.
And to pour salt all over the wound, Bama scores easily on a screen pass where LSU blitzes from that side. The salt? Not the score, but the fact that post-game, LSU players say freshman CB Miles wasn't supposed to blitz on that play, a call he missed and subsequently left that screen pass void.
A friend said it very well: Miles and his staff basically coached LSU out of a win.
If you were to pick up the stat sheet and not known score, you would see every LSU dominated every statistical category that points to winning. Not some, all.
And one post-game analyst made a great, and very painful, point: LSU deserved to win and dominated Bama.. except for the last two minutes of first half and second half.
In crunch time - at the end of each half, when all the marbles were there for the taking, LSU's defense simply didn't execute.
In this one, Saint Saban didn't outcoach Miles. Saban simply sat back and let Miles fall into his self-made traps.
Les simply outsmarted Les, though many would say this statement is oxymoronic.... or simply moronic.
In fact, extra sleep won't lessen for LSU fans the haunting feelings of this loss for a long, long time. Much of the fiery angst and blame will be spewed by LSU fans and national media directly at one Les Miles. Much of it justifiably so. Oh, Les, how did you blow this game?... Let me count the ways...
Leading up to this epic showdown, from all sides - friendly and enemy pundits - the Bama best-ever, LSU doesn't have a chance coronation was taking place.
What seemed like the entire college football universe bowed at the feet of Nick Saban. Every media outlet reveled in the ridiculous notion that Bama was so dominant it could beat some NFL teams (despite fact Vegas oddsmakers said the Tide would be a 24-point underdog to the Jacksonville Jaguars.)
If you listened to the slobbering media, Bama's QB A.J. McCarron was the second-coming of Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler, Payton Manning and every other great QB in NCAA history.
Fuel to the fire was LSU's love/hate relationship with Saban, and an undeniable undertow of distrust for Miles by LSU fans. And boy, the Miles' doubters were in for a treat.
As expected in big games, Miles uncorked some wild tricks from under his oddly perched white LSU cap, but this go-round they all backfired like those Wiley E. Coyote ACME tricks.
Down 7-3, LSU offense imploded after a fumbled punt recovery, faced a 4th & 12 and lined up for a career-long 47-yard FG attempt by a struggling all-season Alleman.
Shockingly (and stupidly), Miles calls for fake where holder Brad Wing pitches to Alleman, despite fact Bama was in a "safety" formation with three defensive backs spread equally across back of the field.
43 seconds later, McCarron cakewalks for a TD, leaving LSU trailing and looking left for dead trailing 14-3 at halftime. Load the crimson and white confetti into the cannons, cue the ESPN analysts smuggly "I told you so" grins.
Hold the coronation ceremony... LSU stuffs Bama (which they did the entire 2nd half), scores to make it 14-10. Cue Miles' ACME moment #2.
With total control of game and all the much needed momentum, LSU runs an on-side kick, which is executed perfectly except one big uh-oh: the kicker touches the ball within the 10-yard, illegal touch zone. Momentum gone.
The next Piano falling from the sky trick: LSU has a 4th and 1 at the Bama 24, and instead of trying a 41-yard FG, Miles fumbles, stumbles and late in play-clock decides to go for it. The offense rushes back on field, Spencer Ware goes under center, rushes the snap, fumbles with handle and gains zero yards.
Why not call timeout, and get play set up, Les? Why run Wildcat with Ware when your best back all-night is Jeremy Hill off-tackle?
The last ACME dagger was Alleman missing a 45-yard FG with 1:58 remaining.
My head started spinning, and a swore I saw a crimson and white Roadrunner zip on the screen, and Roadrunner sees ACME safe precariously hanging from sky and ready to fall.... That safe is LSU inexplicably going into the dreaded prevent defense.
With no timeouts, Bama in 52 seconds drives the length of the field, and for reasons no one can explain, LSU allows Bama receivers to run sideline patterns which stop the clock.
(Note to McCarron groupies: at this point in game, he was 1-7 for ZERO yards. )
As clock ticked away, I only wished someone would just cut the rope and that safe (aka Bama scoring...) would fall on my head.
And to pour salt all over the wound, Bama scores easily on a screen pass where LSU blitzes from that side. The salt? Not the score, but the fact that post-game, LSU players say freshman CB Miles wasn't supposed to blitz on that play, a call he missed and subsequently left that screen pass void.
A friend said it very well: Miles and his staff basically coached LSU out of a win.
If you were to pick up the stat sheet and not known score, you would see every LSU dominated every statistical category that points to winning. Not some, all.
And one post-game analyst made a great, and very painful, point: LSU deserved to win and dominated Bama.. except for the last two minutes of first half and second half.
In crunch time - at the end of each half, when all the marbles were there for the taking, LSU's defense simply didn't execute.
In this one, Saint Saban didn't outcoach Miles. Saban simply sat back and let Miles fall into his self-made traps.
Les simply outsmarted Les, though many would say this statement is oxymoronic.... or simply moronic.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Saints 1:37, v 86
Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today for a thing called mourning. (Apologies to Artist formerly known as Prince...)
Mourning the loss of a great season yesterday to a numbers team, the 49ers.
No, the title of this sermon is not from the Good Word.
Saints 1:37, 86 are a series of painful numbers that are seared into my Who Dat soul, along with a bevy of other numerology we will cover.
But we'll get to those title numbers later.
First, the most glaring:
5.
Five turnovers in one game, three of them lost fumbles. Mind numbing when you consider the Saints set an NFL record for least fumbles in an 16-game season with 5 lost fumbles. To almost equal your SEASON total in this one divisional playoff game is hard to believe.
23 at 1.
Pierre Thomas catches pass, turns and is about to score, when he is hit violently helmet to helmet, fumbles at one-yard line and Niners recover.
Painful enough Saints get zero points on spectacular opening drive, but more painful Saints lose their all-purpose back to apparent concusion on helmet to helmet hit.
Thomas' loss was three-fold: one, he's a tough inside runner, two, he gives you run/pass option and third, is very good blitz pick-up blocker and DE chip blocker.
And with Thomas' loss, Payton was down to only two running backs, Sproles and Ivory, each a specialist, not all-purpose like Thomas.
15.
Being down to only two running backs, Payton - on next Niners kickoff- had to let Roby, #15, return kickoff, instead of Sproles.
Ball stripped, fumble and inexplicably, Roby tries to pick ball up instead of falling on ball. Niners recover, and kick FG.
472, 32.
As my 13-year-old son Kyle asked, "Dad, how many teams have scored 32 points and lost in playoffs?"
I'd guess less than that cursed, previously mentioned number 5... maybe never.
And to put up 472 total net yards against Niners #2 defense, and not win is absolutely hard to comprehend.
85.
The Niners' passing game consisted of one player, Vernon Davis.
So, in last four minutes and Niners having to pass the ball, you must at all costs guard one player, and one player only, Vernon Davis.
Instead of double-covering him or playing zone, the Saints stunningly and stupidly single-cover Davis.
Covering TEs was Achilles' heel all year (and last year) of this team, and Niners' had one weapon, TE Davis.
Why would you not bracket cover him, aka Calvin Johnson, or at least jam him at line on EVERY play, and more specifically in the two drives? Inexcusable that they didn't do either.
1:37, 86.
Niners had ball at their own 14 yard line, 86 yards from a winning TD with only 1:37 left in game, and only 1 timeout.
99% of defensive coordinators play prevent defense here, not allowing offense to get ball deep, and keeping ball in middle of field to run clock.
The Saints did just this for first 3 plays, and the Niners clumsily managed the clock, taking 57 seconds to move 19 yards.
Saints fans could taste the sweetness of a miracle comeback, an NFC Championship.
40, 67.
40 seconds was all that stood between Saints miraculously moving on to the NFC championship, as Niners lined up at their own 33, 67 yards from scoring a TD.
Logical thoughts whirled through every common-sense fans' brain: Let them catch short ball. Rally to the ball. Tick tock tick tock. Game over. Simply do not give up a long-gainer. Keep everything in front of you.
Before these thoughts could be processed, like a slow-motion horror movie scene, Alex Smith throws a crossing pattern to Vernon Davis, who has easily beaten Malcom Jenkins. 99 yards later (felt like that long...), Davis is tackled inside the 10-yard line.
Watching live was painful. Watching replay was excrutiating agony. Why?
Because for reasons Saints fans - and Gregg Williams - will have to live with during a painful off-season, Williams called a blitz, leaving Jenkins man to man, with closest help being Roman Harper, who was 20-25 yards back in centerfield.
Cliche is "Numbers don't lie." No sir, they surely don't lie here. Because in the end, the truth is, all the numbers mean nothing and don't take away one ounce of the searing pain and hurt of this crushing loss.
Mourning the loss of a great season yesterday to a numbers team, the 49ers.
No, the title of this sermon is not from the Good Word.
Saints 1:37, 86 are a series of painful numbers that are seared into my Who Dat soul, along with a bevy of other numerology we will cover.
But we'll get to those title numbers later.
First, the most glaring:
5.
Five turnovers in one game, three of them lost fumbles. Mind numbing when you consider the Saints set an NFL record for least fumbles in an 16-game season with 5 lost fumbles. To almost equal your SEASON total in this one divisional playoff game is hard to believe.
23 at 1.
Pierre Thomas catches pass, turns and is about to score, when he is hit violently helmet to helmet, fumbles at one-yard line and Niners recover.
Painful enough Saints get zero points on spectacular opening drive, but more painful Saints lose their all-purpose back to apparent concusion on helmet to helmet hit.
Thomas' loss was three-fold: one, he's a tough inside runner, two, he gives you run/pass option and third, is very good blitz pick-up blocker and DE chip blocker.
And with Thomas' loss, Payton was down to only two running backs, Sproles and Ivory, each a specialist, not all-purpose like Thomas.
15.
Being down to only two running backs, Payton - on next Niners kickoff- had to let Roby, #15, return kickoff, instead of Sproles.
Ball stripped, fumble and inexplicably, Roby tries to pick ball up instead of falling on ball. Niners recover, and kick FG.
472, 32.
As my 13-year-old son Kyle asked, "Dad, how many teams have scored 32 points and lost in playoffs?"
I'd guess less than that cursed, previously mentioned number 5... maybe never.
And to put up 472 total net yards against Niners #2 defense, and not win is absolutely hard to comprehend.
85.
The Niners' passing game consisted of one player, Vernon Davis.
So, in last four minutes and Niners having to pass the ball, you must at all costs guard one player, and one player only, Vernon Davis.
Instead of double-covering him or playing zone, the Saints stunningly and stupidly single-cover Davis.
Covering TEs was Achilles' heel all year (and last year) of this team, and Niners' had one weapon, TE Davis.
Why would you not bracket cover him, aka Calvin Johnson, or at least jam him at line on EVERY play, and more specifically in the two drives? Inexcusable that they didn't do either.
1:37, 86.
Niners had ball at their own 14 yard line, 86 yards from a winning TD with only 1:37 left in game, and only 1 timeout.
99% of defensive coordinators play prevent defense here, not allowing offense to get ball deep, and keeping ball in middle of field to run clock.
The Saints did just this for first 3 plays, and the Niners clumsily managed the clock, taking 57 seconds to move 19 yards.
Saints fans could taste the sweetness of a miracle comeback, an NFC Championship.
40, 67.
40 seconds was all that stood between Saints miraculously moving on to the NFC championship, as Niners lined up at their own 33, 67 yards from scoring a TD.
Logical thoughts whirled through every common-sense fans' brain: Let them catch short ball. Rally to the ball. Tick tock tick tock. Game over. Simply do not give up a long-gainer. Keep everything in front of you.
Before these thoughts could be processed, like a slow-motion horror movie scene, Alex Smith throws a crossing pattern to Vernon Davis, who has easily beaten Malcom Jenkins. 99 yards later (felt like that long...), Davis is tackled inside the 10-yard line.
Watching live was painful. Watching replay was excrutiating agony. Why?
Because for reasons Saints fans - and Gregg Williams - will have to live with during a painful off-season, Williams called a blitz, leaving Jenkins man to man, with closest help being Roman Harper, who was 20-25 yards back in centerfield.
Cliche is "Numbers don't lie." No sir, they surely don't lie here. Because in the end, the truth is, all the numbers mean nothing and don't take away one ounce of the searing pain and hurt of this crushing loss.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Hornets' Salary Hell
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.
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.
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.
Monday, December 28, 2009
A 13-2 Saints team with 2-13 Saints fans mentality
Enough already with the "same old Saints" mantra from the alleged diehard fans of my beloved Saints!
Yes, Saints fans have suffered a long laundry list of inglorious and humilating losses: the Lansford FG to end the Saints playoff run under Bum, the Vikings massacre in the Dome for the Saints' first-ever playoff game, the multiple "Hail Mary" Falcon daggers, and so many other fumbles and bumbles.
The pain of so many disappointments is etched deeply in the New Orleans sports pyche. You can feel it when hopes are high, and there is still an aura of "Yeah, but..." always present, a lingering sense of doubt, fear and inevitable doom.
Have the supposed-super Saints struggled in the last 4 games and looked more like Clark Kent, aka the Tampa Bucs? Yep, they have.
But how can anyone who truly knows football say a 13-2 team is "same old saints"? (Note to all: the Saints until this year have NEVER won 13 games in a year.) To lump this team into a same old category is NOT realistic nor diehard. Come'on people , this aint your mama's Saints!!!
Old negative habits die very hard though.
I awake this morning to hear results of a WWL-radio poll: 74% say the 13-2 Saints will lose their first playoff game. Nothing like morning cheer.
After the searingly painful loss to the Bucs Sunday, I sat silent, speechless and stunned at Dome. But more stunning was Saints' "fans" incredible negativity, the sense of doom, the sudden screams (though mostly idiotic) of doubt... Geez, I thought we're 13-2, still #1 seed, first-round bye guaranteed, #1 offense, etc.
Winning is a mindset, and unfortunately we as "diehards" are conditioned to react incredibly negatively when adversity hits us.
Every percieved bad playcall, bad tackle, or bad loss.... Go with your first defense, the easy out of pessisism and doubt. Such emotion isn't rational, it is simple knee-jerk, go with the rest of the heard and dont' think about it. Strange, doesn't this sum up so much of the non-sport New Orleans mindset too???
What casual knee-jerk observers miss is the domino effect that injuries such as Shockey, Shanle and Greer have had on this team down the stretch.
With Shockey out, Thomas is forced to be our primary TE which he really isn't. Having to put him into pass patterns, Thomas also is lost as blocker, which was his primary role pre-Shockey injury.
Shanle's loss and limited availability of late has been huge too. Shanle, the team-voted defensive MVP last year, is one of their best coverage linebackers. Evidence- our last 4 opponents have thrown swing passes consistently in flat to running backs.
But Greer's sport hernia injury has been the biggest hidden Achille's heel to the Saints short-term downturn by far though.
Prior to his injury, all observers said Greer might have been the best shut-down coverage back the Saints had ever had.
Yes, Saints fans have suffered a long laundry list of inglorious and humilating losses: the Lansford FG to end the Saints playoff run under Bum, the Vikings massacre in the Dome for the Saints' first-ever playoff game, the multiple "Hail Mary" Falcon daggers, and so many other fumbles and bumbles.
The pain of so many disappointments is etched deeply in the New Orleans sports pyche. You can feel it when hopes are high, and there is still an aura of "Yeah, but..." always present, a lingering sense of doubt, fear and inevitable doom.
Have the supposed-super Saints struggled in the last 4 games and looked more like Clark Kent, aka the Tampa Bucs? Yep, they have.
But how can anyone who truly knows football say a 13-2 team is "same old saints"? (Note to all: the Saints until this year have NEVER won 13 games in a year.) To lump this team into a same old category is NOT realistic nor diehard. Come'on people , this aint your mama's Saints!!!
Old negative habits die very hard though.
I awake this morning to hear results of a WWL-radio poll: 74% say the 13-2 Saints will lose their first playoff game. Nothing like morning cheer.
After the searingly painful loss to the Bucs Sunday, I sat silent, speechless and stunned at Dome. But more stunning was Saints' "fans" incredible negativity, the sense of doom, the sudden screams (though mostly idiotic) of doubt... Geez, I thought we're 13-2, still #1 seed, first-round bye guaranteed, #1 offense, etc.
Winning is a mindset, and unfortunately we as "diehards" are conditioned to react incredibly negatively when adversity hits us.
Every percieved bad playcall, bad tackle, or bad loss.... Go with your first defense, the easy out of pessisism and doubt. Such emotion isn't rational, it is simple knee-jerk, go with the rest of the heard and dont' think about it. Strange, doesn't this sum up so much of the non-sport New Orleans mindset too???
What casual knee-jerk observers miss is the domino effect that injuries such as Shockey, Shanle and Greer have had on this team down the stretch.
With Shockey out, Thomas is forced to be our primary TE which he really isn't. Having to put him into pass patterns, Thomas also is lost as blocker, which was his primary role pre-Shockey injury.
Shanle's loss and limited availability of late has been huge too. Shanle, the team-voted defensive MVP last year, is one of their best coverage linebackers. Evidence- our last 4 opponents have thrown swing passes consistently in flat to running backs.
But Greer's sport hernia injury has been the biggest hidden Achille's heel to the Saints short-term downturn by far though.
Prior to his injury, all observers said Greer might have been the best shut-down coverage back the Saints had ever had.
Williams' blitz schemes require man-to-man coverage, especially by the cornerbacks.
Greer's lockdown coverage allowed the Saints to blitz more and scheme for basically one side of field. When Greer played, you saw more blitzes from Harper, Gay, Jenkins and Sharper.
With him out, the question "Why don't the Saints blitz as much lately" is answered. - you can't blitz as much or as effectively.
Also with Greer (and then Gay out off and on with assorted injuries), the Saints now have been forced to rely on a rookie cornerback and a scrap-heap cornerback.
Jenkins' lack of experience has been exposed over and over. Mackenzie has played admirably, but lacks the ability to completely shut down receivers.
Question now that the Vikes choked up the #1 seed to the Saints is... will all the alleged diehards now jump back on the Superbowl bandwagon??? I'd bet on it judging from their Bucaneeer loss post-game flip-flop.
Greer's lockdown coverage allowed the Saints to blitz more and scheme for basically one side of field. When Greer played, you saw more blitzes from Harper, Gay, Jenkins and Sharper.
With him out, the question "Why don't the Saints blitz as much lately" is answered. - you can't blitz as much or as effectively.
Also with Greer (and then Gay out off and on with assorted injuries), the Saints now have been forced to rely on a rookie cornerback and a scrap-heap cornerback.
Jenkins' lack of experience has been exposed over and over. Mackenzie has played admirably, but lacks the ability to completely shut down receivers.
Question now that the Vikes choked up the #1 seed to the Saints is... will all the alleged diehards now jump back on the Superbowl bandwagon??? I'd bet on it judging from their Bucaneeer loss post-game flip-flop.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Landrieu the Sellout
For all to read, here is a copy of an email I just sent to Landrieu's office.
I will bet the house,I'll get some form email from her office, 2 million words long, with gobbly-gook wording about how noble her actions were for the residents of LA. Laugable.
Enjoy:
Mrs. Landrieu,
I'm sure you will send me a nauseating, form email in reply to this one. Tell your minions to save their time and not to!
I am disgusted but not surprised that you sold your vote, or as I would rather say, prostituted your vote to help support the disastorous healthcare reform bill.
Your party, the liberal Democrats, should be ashamed of how you have rammed this bill down the throats of the American people.
More than 60% of American oppose this monstronsity, but you and 59 other sellouts have chosen your will over the will of the people. Disgusting and unconstitutional.
To support the lies and distortions of Obama simply for the sake of saying "We Won" is reprehensible.
Neutral deficit?
No new taxes?
Fact: The bill contains $518 billion of tax increases nationwide.
Only those making over $200k will be taxed? Under this bill, 42.1 million of those earning under $200,000 will pay higher taxes.
Everyone can keep their insurance if they want to?
We’ll pay more for higher insurance premiums because, as the Congressional Budget Office reports, the bill increases health care costs overall.
And the bill doesn’t protect Louisiana small businesses in the middle of this serious recession. Most businesses will have to provide a government-defined health insurance benefit to their employees or pay a new government tax. The National Federation of Small Business says that would cost the nation at least 1.6 million jobs, costing tens of thousands of lost jobs in Louisiana, on top of our current high unemployment.
Businesses can keep their current employee insurance?
This new mandate would also create an incentive for businesses to dump their employees off their health plans, because it would be cheaper to do that and pay the new tax.
And most unforgivable?
And the bill forces pro-life taxpayers to support and subsidize abortion. That’s particularly offensive in Louisiana, one of the most proudly pro-life states in the nation.
Mrs. Landrieu you should be ashamed of your actions.
Rest assured, your name and reputation are now forever tarnished.
And I for one will uphold a previous pledge I made to you in a prior email: I will now speak against you as you move forward in any politcal endeavor.
I, unlike you Mrs. Landrieua, stand on my word and my principles.
I will bet the house,I'll get some form email from her office, 2 million words long, with gobbly-gook wording about how noble her actions were for the residents of LA. Laugable.
Enjoy:
Mrs. Landrieu,
I'm sure you will send me a nauseating, form email in reply to this one. Tell your minions to save their time and not to!
I am disgusted but not surprised that you sold your vote, or as I would rather say, prostituted your vote to help support the disastorous healthcare reform bill.
Your party, the liberal Democrats, should be ashamed of how you have rammed this bill down the throats of the American people.
More than 60% of American oppose this monstronsity, but you and 59 other sellouts have chosen your will over the will of the people. Disgusting and unconstitutional.
To support the lies and distortions of Obama simply for the sake of saying "We Won" is reprehensible.
Neutral deficit?
No new taxes?
Fact: The bill contains $518 billion of tax increases nationwide.
Only those making over $200k will be taxed? Under this bill, 42.1 million of those earning under $200,000 will pay higher taxes.
Everyone can keep their insurance if they want to?
We’ll pay more for higher insurance premiums because, as the Congressional Budget Office reports, the bill increases health care costs overall.
And the bill doesn’t protect Louisiana small businesses in the middle of this serious recession. Most businesses will have to provide a government-defined health insurance benefit to their employees or pay a new government tax. The National Federation of Small Business says that would cost the nation at least 1.6 million jobs, costing tens of thousands of lost jobs in Louisiana, on top of our current high unemployment.
Businesses can keep their current employee insurance?
This new mandate would also create an incentive for businesses to dump their employees off their health plans, because it would be cheaper to do that and pay the new tax.
And most unforgivable?
And the bill forces pro-life taxpayers to support and subsidize abortion. That’s particularly offensive in Louisiana, one of the most proudly pro-life states in the nation.
Mrs. Landrieu you should be ashamed of your actions.
Rest assured, your name and reputation are now forever tarnished.
And I for one will uphold a previous pledge I made to you in a prior email: I will now speak against you as you move forward in any politcal endeavor.
I, unlike you Mrs. Landrieua, stand on my word and my principles.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Taming of the Tiger
A wise man once said,"If you stick your neck out above the crowd, be ready to be hit with some tomatoes."
Welcome to our daily special, Tiger Woods ala Tomatoes.
Since his fateful rendevoux with a fire hydrant, Tiger has experienced a media and public smackdown of epic proportions.
And never has the world of sports seen such a dramatic and staggering fall from perfect to flawed.
Lurid text messages, multiple women claiming affairs, tabloid stories of impending divorce, this just to name a few of Tiger's mountainous indescretions.
But the Tiger book we have always read was almost comic-book perfect: a chiseled athlete under a Nike hat, an adoring supermodel wife, photo shoots with their two adorable tots and their dog, Solomon-like wealth, all coupled with seemingly superhuman feats on the golf course.
Tiger's armor was impenetrable, built from a dogged determination to keep his private life separate from his public persona. (Why else would he name his private yacht, Privacy!?)
We saw only what Tiger wanted us to see: his golf. Off the course, we knew nothing, squat, nada, which is exactly what Team Tiger wanted us to know.
Tiger's veil of secrecy is now gone forever, ripped to shreds by saved texts and voicemails from women who apparently knew this fall from grace would come.
Many people now scream, including me initially, "it's his personal business, let him be and move on!"
Truth is Tiger owes no one a public apology. Tiger really only owes his family and friends some mea culpa.
But if Tiger wants to regain his spot on the sports world pedestal he once owned, he will have to do what he's never done: show his human side.
No more intimidating, I only answer what I want to answer, interviews.
No more robotic, cliche golf-speak answers to all questions.
No, it's now time to take off the cape, the Nike hat, push aside the agents and advisors, and start a new Nike campaign:
Just Be Real.
No more scripted statements on his site.
No more Team Tiger responses.
No more Tiger, the golfer.
It's time for Eldrick Woods, the person, to just look us in the eye like a man, and with sincere emotion, tell us he's human after all, that he really messed up, and most of all, tell us he's sorry and ask for forgiveness.
Welcome to our daily special, Tiger Woods ala Tomatoes.
Since his fateful rendevoux with a fire hydrant, Tiger has experienced a media and public smackdown of epic proportions.
And never has the world of sports seen such a dramatic and staggering fall from perfect to flawed.
Lurid text messages, multiple women claiming affairs, tabloid stories of impending divorce, this just to name a few of Tiger's mountainous indescretions.
But the Tiger book we have always read was almost comic-book perfect: a chiseled athlete under a Nike hat, an adoring supermodel wife, photo shoots with their two adorable tots and their dog, Solomon-like wealth, all coupled with seemingly superhuman feats on the golf course.
Tiger's armor was impenetrable, built from a dogged determination to keep his private life separate from his public persona. (Why else would he name his private yacht, Privacy!?)
We saw only what Tiger wanted us to see: his golf. Off the course, we knew nothing, squat, nada, which is exactly what Team Tiger wanted us to know.
Tiger's veil of secrecy is now gone forever, ripped to shreds by saved texts and voicemails from women who apparently knew this fall from grace would come.
Many people now scream, including me initially, "it's his personal business, let him be and move on!"
Truth is Tiger owes no one a public apology. Tiger really only owes his family and friends some mea culpa.
But if Tiger wants to regain his spot on the sports world pedestal he once owned, he will have to do what he's never done: show his human side.
No more intimidating, I only answer what I want to answer, interviews.
No more robotic, cliche golf-speak answers to all questions.
No, it's now time to take off the cape, the Nike hat, push aside the agents and advisors, and start a new Nike campaign:
Just Be Real.
No more scripted statements on his site.
No more Team Tiger responses.
No more Tiger, the golfer.
It's time for Eldrick Woods, the person, to just look us in the eye like a man, and with sincere emotion, tell us he's human after all, that he really messed up, and most of all, tell us he's sorry and ask for forgiveness.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Athletes never listen to mama
A sports guy, or was it mama, once said about athletes and their late night antics: nothing good happens after midnight.
Since hearing this statement, when any athlete gets in any trouble, the first thing I do is quickly dig into the article and find out what time the trouble occurred.
And every time, the incident is after the witching hour.
Once again this week, this admonition rings eerily true.
Nov. 27 @ 2:25 a.m. - Tiger Woods, arguably the best golfer in the history of mankind, rams into a tree and fire hydrant. His super-model wife, Elin, has to smash back window out of their Cadillac Escalade to excavate her husband.
Dec. 1 @ 3:25 a.m. - Carlos Dunlap, NFL first-round lock and Florida Gator superstar defensive end, was found asleep behind the wheel of his running car at a traffic light.
On one end of the spectrum is Woods, the epitome of media savvy and astute public relations moves. In fact, Woods' purposeful choice to be totally secluded from the spotlight both infuriates sports fans and adds allure to his Superman mystique.
But now the media, public and allegedly the authorities are pulling on Superman's cape to discover what was the Kryptonite that caused this mysterious early a.m. meltdown.
The public cry is : What in the world is Tiger pulling out of his driveway at 2:25 a.m.? Couldn't he tell the Nanny to go get the diapers at WalMart or go get another gallon of low-fat milk?
The actual incident and subsequent fallout is even more glaring and astonishing considering how secretive Woods' private life has been.
And on the other end of the sports spectrum is Dunlap's front-seat green-light nap.
Compared to Woods' ultra polished media experience, Dunlap is an immature, big-man on campus - 6'6",290 lbs lieral big - who probably actually thinks he is Superman, Batman and Spiderman all rolled into one.
And why not think he's unbreakable: last year's BCS Defensive MVP, SEC Championship game this weekend, NFL riches about to be laid at his feet, so who's to blame Dunlap for being punch-drunk with it all.
Unfortunately, Dunlap decided to (allegedly)get drunk on some adult punch and was charged with DUI, after failing a field sobriety test and refusing a breath test.
Now days before the biggest game of his young life, Dunlap will sit home with his suspension.
Like many before him, the cloud of bad character will hang over him, and likely cost him millions of draft-day dollars.
On the other hand, Woods uses cash as garden compost, so any collateral monetary damage from this incident doesn't matter a lick.
The only damage, and it may be substantial, is to Woods' aura of robot-like perfection.
Why Woods hasn't stepped up and simply explained the circumstances of this incident is mysterious.
Yes, Woods now has been cleared of any wrongdoing, and will pay one-billionth of his annual income, or a $164 fine.
Yes, this was on private property and thus, Woods correctly asserts it can remain a private matter. And if you could read the cartoon bubble above Woods' head, it would be peppered with his famous sailor's language, "It aint none of your f*$%* business."
All this is true, but reality is in today's cyber world, every 10-year-old now blogs, takes digital pictures and tweets. The result? Every public figure's business is everyone's business.
So, Superhero and College BigMan, take some simple mama's advice: Just stay home and don't go out after midnight, 'cause nothing good happens after midnight.
Since hearing this statement, when any athlete gets in any trouble, the first thing I do is quickly dig into the article and find out what time the trouble occurred.
And every time, the incident is after the witching hour.
Once again this week, this admonition rings eerily true.
Nov. 27 @ 2:25 a.m. - Tiger Woods, arguably the best golfer in the history of mankind, rams into a tree and fire hydrant. His super-model wife, Elin, has to smash back window out of their Cadillac Escalade to excavate her husband.
Dec. 1 @ 3:25 a.m. - Carlos Dunlap, NFL first-round lock and Florida Gator superstar defensive end, was found asleep behind the wheel of his running car at a traffic light.
On one end of the spectrum is Woods, the epitome of media savvy and astute public relations moves. In fact, Woods' purposeful choice to be totally secluded from the spotlight both infuriates sports fans and adds allure to his Superman mystique.
But now the media, public and allegedly the authorities are pulling on Superman's cape to discover what was the Kryptonite that caused this mysterious early a.m. meltdown.
The public cry is : What in the world is Tiger pulling out of his driveway at 2:25 a.m.? Couldn't he tell the Nanny to go get the diapers at WalMart or go get another gallon of low-fat milk?
The actual incident and subsequent fallout is even more glaring and astonishing considering how secretive Woods' private life has been.
And on the other end of the sports spectrum is Dunlap's front-seat green-light nap.
Compared to Woods' ultra polished media experience, Dunlap is an immature, big-man on campus - 6'6",290 lbs lieral big - who probably actually thinks he is Superman, Batman and Spiderman all rolled into one.
And why not think he's unbreakable: last year's BCS Defensive MVP, SEC Championship game this weekend, NFL riches about to be laid at his feet, so who's to blame Dunlap for being punch-drunk with it all.
Unfortunately, Dunlap decided to (allegedly)get drunk on some adult punch and was charged with DUI, after failing a field sobriety test and refusing a breath test.
Now days before the biggest game of his young life, Dunlap will sit home with his suspension.
Like many before him, the cloud of bad character will hang over him, and likely cost him millions of draft-day dollars.
On the other hand, Woods uses cash as garden compost, so any collateral monetary damage from this incident doesn't matter a lick.
The only damage, and it may be substantial, is to Woods' aura of robot-like perfection.
Why Woods hasn't stepped up and simply explained the circumstances of this incident is mysterious.
Yes, Woods now has been cleared of any wrongdoing, and will pay one-billionth of his annual income, or a $164 fine.
Yes, this was on private property and thus, Woods correctly asserts it can remain a private matter. And if you could read the cartoon bubble above Woods' head, it would be peppered with his famous sailor's language, "It aint none of your f*$%* business."
All this is true, but reality is in today's cyber world, every 10-year-old now blogs, takes digital pictures and tweets. The result? Every public figure's business is everyone's business.
So, Superhero and College BigMan, take some simple mama's advice: Just stay home and don't go out after midnight, 'cause nothing good happens after midnight.
Monday, November 23, 2009
64 Seconds of Infamy
Now that my wide-eyed, mouth-open-in-total-disbelief expression has faded, I can now rationally discuss what was the worst 64 seconds of time and game management in the history of college football, the ending of the LSU-Ole Miss debacle.
As a youth coach, I try to impart foundational lessons to my players. One of the most basic being, when you're in the game and on the field, you must think one-step ahead, and be prepared for your responsibility. "Before the pitch, if the ball is hit to you, where will you go with it?" I ask.
Great players and great coaches aren't robots, they are game managers ready for all circumstances using their God-given physical talents and their disciplined preparation.
First of all, for 58:44 of the game, LSU was outhit, out-hustled, out-schemed (aka out coached) and overall, just simply out-played.
But as the Fat Lady was stepping onto the stage, LSU got lucky and inexplicably Ole Miss, especially McClusker, seemed to purposely avoid recovering LSU's onside kick.
Then one very good wide-reciever bubble screen and 26 yards later, the horrific unraveling of a miracle comeback began.
LSU fans were salivating: 64 seconds remaining to victory, at the Ole Miss 32 yard line.. without a single-yard more gained we line up for a game-winning 49-yard FG by Jasper, who's already nailed a 50-yarder at this same endzone.
Hand the ball off, run two up-the-gut plays, kick winning FG, go home and prepare for Razorback game next week, right?
Wrong, here's where the Mad Hatter Miles went mad.
1st down: Jefferson drops back to pass (WHAT!!!).. incomplete.
Freeze time.
(Every coach on the planet tells their QB right now: "Son, whatever you do don't take a sack! Step back, do your read, not open, throw it away!")
2nd down: Jefferson take 3-step drop to pass again (ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME!!!), slides back 2 steps too much right into outside rushers path.. SACK!
3rd down: Jefferson throws off-target bubble screen to Ridley, drawing him backward, tackled immediately... (CALL TIMEOUT!!!CALL TIMEOUT!!!)
26 seconds...Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.... Timeout LSU with 9 seconds remaining.
17 painful seconds run off for absolutely no reason. 17 seconds.
Okay, sanity will come back to Miles' planet right? He'll tell Jefferson we're going to throw a Hail Mary, if it's caught outside endzone, we'll :
1) have a quick snap play called to throw it again to endzone or
2) we'll rush Field Goal unit onto field and kick game-winning FG.
Sorry, fans, Miles went with option #3: none of the above, and no plan at all.
Toliver miraculously catches jump-ball with 1 second.
“There was a lot of confusion on the sideline, and we didn’t know what to do,” Jefferson said. "When Terrance caught it, I thought the field-goal unit was going to come out and kick the field goal and we were going to win the game.”
"Confusion on the sideline".. ya think?!
In the bedlam, Jefferson goes deer-in-the-headlights and then beyond comprehension, "clocks it," or in plain-speak takes the snap and grounds the ball, effectively ending the game.
With some justification, Jefferson is getting thrown under the bus for this brain-dead decision. Hundreds of games have to teach you to know not to do this!
But to his credit, Miles fell on the sword today at his post-mortem, completely taking the blame for this 64 second debacle.
Manning up today though doesn't erase the complete gameday incompetence Miles exhibited this past Saturday.
As a youth coach, I try to impart foundational lessons to my players. One of the most basic being, when you're in the game and on the field, you must think one-step ahead, and be prepared for your responsibility. "Before the pitch, if the ball is hit to you, where will you go with it?" I ask.
Great players and great coaches aren't robots, they are game managers ready for all circumstances using their God-given physical talents and their disciplined preparation.
First of all, for 58:44 of the game, LSU was outhit, out-hustled, out-schemed (aka out coached) and overall, just simply out-played.
But as the Fat Lady was stepping onto the stage, LSU got lucky and inexplicably Ole Miss, especially McClusker, seemed to purposely avoid recovering LSU's onside kick.
Then one very good wide-reciever bubble screen and 26 yards later, the horrific unraveling of a miracle comeback began.
LSU fans were salivating: 64 seconds remaining to victory, at the Ole Miss 32 yard line.. without a single-yard more gained we line up for a game-winning 49-yard FG by Jasper, who's already nailed a 50-yarder at this same endzone.
Hand the ball off, run two up-the-gut plays, kick winning FG, go home and prepare for Razorback game next week, right?
Wrong, here's where the Mad Hatter Miles went mad.
1st down: Jefferson drops back to pass (WHAT!!!).. incomplete.
Freeze time.
(Every coach on the planet tells their QB right now: "Son, whatever you do don't take a sack! Step back, do your read, not open, throw it away!")
2nd down: Jefferson take 3-step drop to pass again (ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME!!!), slides back 2 steps too much right into outside rushers path.. SACK!
3rd down: Jefferson throws off-target bubble screen to Ridley, drawing him backward, tackled immediately... (CALL TIMEOUT!!!CALL TIMEOUT!!!)
26 seconds...Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.... Timeout LSU with 9 seconds remaining.
17 painful seconds run off for absolutely no reason. 17 seconds.
Okay, sanity will come back to Miles' planet right? He'll tell Jefferson we're going to throw a Hail Mary, if it's caught outside endzone, we'll :
1) have a quick snap play called to throw it again to endzone or
2) we'll rush Field Goal unit onto field and kick game-winning FG.
Sorry, fans, Miles went with option #3: none of the above, and no plan at all.
Toliver miraculously catches jump-ball with 1 second.
“There was a lot of confusion on the sideline, and we didn’t know what to do,” Jefferson said. "When Terrance caught it, I thought the field-goal unit was going to come out and kick the field goal and we were going to win the game.”
"Confusion on the sideline".. ya think?!
In the bedlam, Jefferson goes deer-in-the-headlights and then beyond comprehension, "clocks it," or in plain-speak takes the snap and grounds the ball, effectively ending the game.
With some justification, Jefferson is getting thrown under the bus for this brain-dead decision. Hundreds of games have to teach you to know not to do this!
But to his credit, Miles fell on the sword today at his post-mortem, completely taking the blame for this 64 second debacle.
Manning up today though doesn't erase the complete gameday incompetence Miles exhibited this past Saturday.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Excuse me Mr. Wizard, do you have a minute???
As a Hornets fan, at this point early in the 2009-2010 season, I want to close my eyes, click my Nike tennis heels together and go back two years.
An all-too familiar thing happened again last night against the Phoenix Suns; in total frustration, I turned off the game at halftime.
The 20-point defecit, the smiling faces of Suns' players as they rollicked unimpeded throught the lane... sleep was a much better option.
West - missed layups and zero effort to block anyone out.
Devin Brown - true colors... awful all-around. Wild drives to hoop that make you want to scream.
Peja - 0 points? Are you serious? And on one wide-open three-pointer, he shot an air-ball.
Posey - it's like he's aged 10 years in one off-season. The once "defensive stopper" and hussle player now has cement in his shoes because he is getting smoked on defense.
When 2 of your "stars" - Peja and Posey - literally give you NOTHING after 9 games, you have to re-consider playing time.
biggest shocker is the Hornets total lack of commitment on defensive end.
For a team to shoot 70% in a half, you have to almost intentionally NOT play defense.
The Suns are good yeah, but come on, they were shooting friggin' layups!!!
Defense takes intensity and heart, and it appears right now, the Hornets need a visit to the wizard for both.
An all-too familiar thing happened again last night against the Phoenix Suns; in total frustration, I turned off the game at halftime.
The 20-point defecit, the smiling faces of Suns' players as they rollicked unimpeded throught the lane... sleep was a much better option.
West - missed layups and zero effort to block anyone out.
Devin Brown - true colors... awful all-around. Wild drives to hoop that make you want to scream.
Peja - 0 points? Are you serious? And on one wide-open three-pointer, he shot an air-ball.
Posey - it's like he's aged 10 years in one off-season. The once "defensive stopper" and hussle player now has cement in his shoes because he is getting smoked on defense.
When 2 of your "stars" - Peja and Posey - literally give you NOTHING after 9 games, you have to re-consider playing time.
biggest shocker is the Hornets total lack of commitment on defensive end.
For a team to shoot 70% in a half, you have to almost intentionally NOT play defense.
The Suns are good yeah, but come on, they were shooting friggin' layups!!!
Defense takes intensity and heart, and it appears right now, the Hornets need a visit to the wizard for both.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Do they give a "it"????
At the Hornets' last home game, Chris Paul played the Toronto Raptors.
Okay, multiple other alleged Hornet players were on the court with Paul, but Paul was the only player anyone would testify under oath that actually gave any real effort.
Byron Scott said about his team's second-half effort, "For the life of me, I can't understand why we came out with that type of energy."
In cliche'sport-speak, energy is synonomous with motivation and effort.
Everyday fans will scream that Scott needs to or didn't motivate his team.
For all you non-athletes and Byron Scott haters, last night's pathetic second-half performance wasn't about coaching.
Agin, for the hard of reading: repeat, last night's loss was NOT about coaching.
What it WAS about was effort or, as Scott said, energy. Really about the lack of effort and energy.
Ask any knowledgable person (unfortunately this excludes more than 90% of anyone reading this post) and they will tell you that coaches should not have to motivate professional athletes.
Motivation/energy/effort comes from within, from the individual.
Paul is the poster child for intensity/motivation/effort/energy. Ditto Brees.
Do you think Scott or Payton has to "motivate" these two?
Motivation is part of the "it" you hear scouts and coaches mention so often.
Armstrong, JuJu, MoPete, Peja --- all either thru age or lack of basketball IQ do not have "it."
Scott could strap to each of their heads a tape recorder, turn the volume dial clockwise to the max, and blare into their ears, with screaming, yelling, motivational speeches, etc... and you wouldn't see one more lick of motivation. Why? Because these guys dont' have "it."
Yes, ultimately Bower and the Hornets management must take blame for assembling this group, but the bottom line is each Hornet player must look in the mirror, evaluate their commitment to winning and giving this organization their money's worth of "it."
Okay, multiple other alleged Hornet players were on the court with Paul, but Paul was the only player anyone would testify under oath that actually gave any real effort.
Byron Scott said about his team's second-half effort, "For the life of me, I can't understand why we came out with that type of energy."
In cliche'sport-speak, energy is synonomous with motivation and effort.
Everyday fans will scream that Scott needs to or didn't motivate his team.
For all you non-athletes and Byron Scott haters, last night's pathetic second-half performance wasn't about coaching.
Agin, for the hard of reading: repeat, last night's loss was NOT about coaching.
What it WAS about was effort or, as Scott said, energy. Really about the lack of effort and energy.
Ask any knowledgable person (unfortunately this excludes more than 90% of anyone reading this post) and they will tell you that coaches should not have to motivate professional athletes.
Motivation/energy/effort comes from within, from the individual.
Paul is the poster child for intensity/motivation/effort/energy. Ditto Brees.
Do you think Scott or Payton has to "motivate" these two?
Motivation is part of the "it" you hear scouts and coaches mention so often.
Armstrong, JuJu, MoPete, Peja --- all either thru age or lack of basketball IQ do not have "it."
Scott could strap to each of their heads a tape recorder, turn the volume dial clockwise to the max, and blare into their ears, with screaming, yelling, motivational speeches, etc... and you wouldn't see one more lick of motivation. Why? Because these guys dont' have "it."
Yes, ultimately Bower and the Hornets management must take blame for assembling this group, but the bottom line is each Hornet player must look in the mirror, evaluate their commitment to winning and giving this organization their money's worth of "it."
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Lessons from a 3-year-old son
Again and again, God always implores us to slow down, to rest in His peace.
His Spirit constantly taps me on the shoulder and says, "Join me for a little visit," or "Why don't you to put your thoughts down in a blog?"
For a split second, I think,"Yeah, Spirit, that's a great idea!' (How funny is that, me telling God He has a great idea!)
But then I shoo away the great idea with one I just know is better.... like read Sports Illustrated or check on the latest Michael Jackson rumor.
Then last night, I'm reading Kade, my 3-year-old son, the book, "If you give a moose a muffin" (a must read!). I'm tired, need a shower and just want to zoom through this classic.
But Kade wants to jump ahead, go back, jump back ahead, tell me side stories. I'm feeling my weariness and frustration rise up.
In this moment, God speaks to me.
Appreciate this moment.
Slow down.
Love on your son like I want to love on you.
This is pure love, the no rush, just enjoy the moment innocence Kade has.
At this moment, all Kade wants is my time and love.
In this moment, I feel God and His unconditional love.
His Spirit constantly taps me on the shoulder and says, "Join me for a little visit," or "Why don't you to put your thoughts down in a blog?"
For a split second, I think,"Yeah, Spirit, that's a great idea!' (How funny is that, me telling God He has a great idea!)
But then I shoo away the great idea with one I just know is better.... like read Sports Illustrated or check on the latest Michael Jackson rumor.
Then last night, I'm reading Kade, my 3-year-old son, the book, "If you give a moose a muffin" (a must read!). I'm tired, need a shower and just want to zoom through this classic.
But Kade wants to jump ahead, go back, jump back ahead, tell me side stories. I'm feeling my weariness and frustration rise up.
In this moment, God speaks to me.
Appreciate this moment.
Slow down.
Love on your son like I want to love on you.
This is pure love, the no rush, just enjoy the moment innocence Kade has.
At this moment, all Kade wants is my time and love.
In this moment, I feel God and His unconditional love.
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