Playoff Pigskin Pickin Machine

The Machine has been in the shop for a while,but here are 4 quick picks for the playoffs and BCS title game!

Oregon over Auburn 42-39
Saints over Seahawks 32-10
Jets over Colts 17-14
Ravens over Chiefs 24-13
Packers over Eagles 20-17

Langenbrunner to Dallas,Devils lose again

In a game filled with bad breaks and some fortunate plays for both sides,the New Jersey Devils lost to the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 at the Rock.

Devils goals to David Clarkson (5) and Dainius Zubrus (5).
The same two teams face off tomorrow in Philly at one o'clock....

Earlier today,the Devils shipped their captain and (in my opinion) one of their biggest malcontents on a team seemingly filled with them in Jamie Langenbrunner back where he began to the Dallas Stars.
The Devils are receiving what is reported to be a conditional third round pick.
That doesn't sound great until you hear the conditions,which have the pick becoming a second rounder if Dallas wins a first round playoff series or if Langenbrunner re-signs with Dallas after the season.
Pretty reachable conditions and the pick would put the Devils back into the second round after trading their 2 to Nashville for Jason Arnott.

Hell Raisers

1) We start with a thought on Jamie Langenbrunner,who certainly had his share of up times with the Devils,although his listless play over the last two seasons tarnished his reputation a bit among Devils fans.
At his peak,Langenbrunner was a hard working grinder,good for 15-20 goals and the type of third line winger that successful teams need to have.
Langenbrunner's attitude soured over the last two seasons and his play followed suit.
I cannot say that I will be missing him very much,even in a season such as this.
Now,I am a Dallas Stars fan in round one of the Western playoffs!

2) Two goofy plays last night in the loss,one resulting goal for each team.
The Devils got a break when David Clarkson rang one up and around Brian Boucher that the refs called no goal.
By the time play continued,about 90 seconds had come off the clock before a review was possible.The replay showed the goal and the time was put back on the clock from the point of the goal.

3) The Flyers got a goal on yet another crazy bounce off the boards.
Johan Hedberg left the net to play the puck,the puck went off the boards straight to the front of the net to Scott Hartnell,who slammed the puck into the unprotected net.
Pretty similar to the goal Hedberg allowed against Minnesota.

4) Johan Hedberg had a tremendous game up to that point having stopped numerous Flyer chances caused by Devils mistakes and bad defense.
After that goal,Hedberg's play slipped a bit.
No word on the starter for tomorrow's game.

5) Colin White basically allowed the game clincher as Daniel Briere's shot deflected off the skate of White and in the net.This things happen,but White didn't exactly look aggressive on the play.

6) Mattias Tedenby a healthy scratch again.
No reason given,but if he isn't going to play,ship him back to Albany.
Tedenby is a key part of the future and he needs ice time-no matter the location.


Photo Credit-AP

Cleaning out the Inbox

Sweeping the inbox starts off with a Devils alert as they start the first of back to back meetings with Philadelphia tonight.

I missed the 2-1 loss to the Wild that was due to an unlucky bounce of the puck by Johan Hedberg,who was about the only player that played well according to ILWT.

One note from the baseball world as the Pirates sent pitcher Joe Martinez to the Indians for a player to be named or cash.
One possible return could be for the Indians to allow Josh Rodriguez to be sent to the minors in the event that would be needed....

I suppose dealing Martinez and the lack of a shot that John Bowker would be appear to getting when you look at the Pirates roster makes the Javier Lopez trade of little return.
I really liked the deal with the Giants when they made it,but if the return players aren't going to receive a chance to play then the return will always be lacking....

Sorry to hear of the passing of perhaps the best middleweight never to have won the world title as  "Bad" Bennie Briscoe passed on at the age of 67.
Briscoe fell short in three tries at the world title,back when the world title had just one or two claimants instead of the 512 that we have today.
Briscoe fought just about every middleweight you could list from the 1970's including all time greats Carlos Monzon and Marvin Hagler and won most of those bouts.
Had there been the plethora of belts then that there are today,Briscoe would have certainly been a world champ and had Briscoe been born later,there could have been quite a series for the world belts between Briscoe and fellow Philly warrior Bernard Hopkins.
Much of life is timing and luck and in the boxing game,Bad Bennie had little of that.



The Cleveland Cavaliers finally have a Cavalier for a mascot instead of a dog,which I could never figure out as they have added Sir CC to the fold.
Never fear though,as Moondog is still around though,although I don't know why a team needs two especially when one isn't really part of the teams nickname.
I remember going to Washington Bullets games as a kid and wondering why the team mascot was a live dachshund named Tiny that ran all over the floor (Literally at times,I'd bet).
I know a Bullet would be a awkward looking mascot,but a dog?

By the way,now that Ted Leonsis owns the "Wizards" as well as the Bullets,how about a return to the Bullets name and red,white and blue unis?
Ryan tells me that both are rumored.
Besides I would like my game used Jimmy Black Bullets jersey to be in style again!!!!

Finally,I was all ready to skip Tiger Woods 2012 for the PS3 in order to save some bucks,but EA Sports did the one thing that made me want to buy-finally adding Augusta National so you can play the Masters.
The course has never been offered before and I cannot wait!
EA has even added the voice of the Masters in Jim Nantz to the game for the first time and paid for the rights to the music that is used during the tournament.
EA is even moving the games release up from its usual June to the end of March so you can play the virtual Masters before the real tournament.

Say whatever you want,but EA Sports puts the money up to do things right.
Now just add the ability to use Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson to the game and it will be just perfect.
This link discusses the amount of work that EA put into adding Augusta National to the game from the video gamer side.

Photo Credit-David Kyle-Getty Images

Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven enter Cooperstown

Roberto Alomar made it in his second try; it took Bert Blyleven fourteen, but both enter Baseball's Hall of Fame as the class of 2011.
Both of these players are deserving, and I have no problem with either.
I have been a champion for Blyleven for years, and perhaps no inductee has gained as much from the sabermetric crowd as Blyleven has over his last few tries.
Alomar was named on 90 percent of voters' ballots, while Blyleven was on 79.7 percent.
Former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin led the other candidates at 62.1 percent.

The steroid era has begun as writers continue to withhold votes from suspected users.

Mark McGwire continues to sputter at around twenty percent, and Rafael Palmeiro put up an eleven in his first appearance, but Jeff Bagwell has just 41 percent of voter support.
Now, Bagwell did change in his appearance as his career went on, his name was not one that came up all the time, and no accusers ever "outed" Bagwell for PED.
Bagwell could get in eventually, but it may take him quite a while.

I have always been a fan of Dave Parker and Dale Murphy, and both are borderline candidates, but their lack of support is surprising, with Parker at 15 and Murphy at 11.
I wouldn't argue with anyone who didn't vote for them, but those numbers seem a bit low....

I do have an issue with Larry Walker (20 %) receiving more support than either Parker or Murphy.

Want to know why some of this is bunk anyway?
Check this "voter," Barry Stanton's vote out.
Stanton passes on Alomar, Blyleven, Larkin, and Lee Smith.
Stanton does vote for -Jack Morris (Arguable, but not bad), Edgar Martinez (the beginning of the DH era), Don Mattingly (New York guys love him as the Mantle of their childhood), Tino Martinez, and B.J. Surhoff.
Tino Martinez and B.J. Surhoff????
And this guy votes on the Hall of Fame!
Give me a !@#$ing break!!!

Underrated players on the ballot that didn't get as many votes as they deserve:
Lee Smith- If we are putting closers in, Big Lee needs to be there.
Tim Raines- A borderline candidate, but better than 37%, but he wasn't a Tino Martinez either!

Overrated players that received too many votes
None that were super egregious, but to name two, Larry Walker (20) and Fred McGriff (17) getting more support than Dave Parker, Dale Murphy, and even Don Mattingly seems a little overboard to me...

Hope to be back later with a sweep of the inbox....

Photo Credits

Blyleven:Topps
Alomar:Phil Long-AP

Hey,it's Franklin!!

No,this isn't about the cartoon turtle that most of you with pre-schoolers know so well,but about the firing of ESPN play by play announcer Ron Franklin for comments towards colleague Jeannine Edwards.
Now I am not going to touch the harassment in the workplace issue,but what has been absolutely hilarious has been the back and forth on this issue on ESPN's own site.
It seems like Edwards looks (she isn't unattractive) are being attacked as well the job she does as sideline reporter.
I haven't seen Edwards doing very many football games,but I do remember her often on ESPN's Horse Racing coverage and found her to be quite knowledgeable and more than competent in that role.
What seems to be a bigger deal to many is women covering football games.
Here is my issue with that-women doing play by play? No problem with that.
ESPN has two women doing football play by play,one that I would say was pretty good (Beth Mowins) and another that I rank among the worst (Pam Ward).
Women being the color analyst on a football (note,not all sports) game? Bigger issue as the color analyst should be someone that can bring some experienced insight to the job such as being a player or coach and on that part,a female would be lacking a bit.

The biggest topic to me is this-sideline reporters in general are a waste of time-male or female.
Put the gender issue aside and tell me what this job brings to the broadcast?
The same coaches interviews at halftime occur whomever the person is goes through this gig-
Reporter-"Coach,you are down 36-0 at the half,what do you think you can do to turn things around in the second half"?
Coach-" Well,obviously (Reporters name) we have some adjustments to make,but we'll get out there and do our best in the second half.
Reporter-"What will you say to your players in the locker room"?
Coach-"We need to play better"
Reporter-"Thanks coach".
Now,some of these reporters I like better than others,but the job really is more of an annoyance than anything else and that is regardless of gender.
I think if networks smartened up and eliminated this job that they would not only improve the quality of the broadcasts,but would lose of much of the dialogue that goes about female sports announcers.
This job will make anyone look less than adequate with the obligatory boneheaded questions that "must" be asked and taking that away will allow the person doing that job to show their sports knowledge in a different job-one that can prove their credentials.

As far as Ron Franklin goes,I always liked his work,but he is reaching his late 60's and comes from the final generation that didn't have to deal with everyone as equals.
One must step lightly in the workplace and I cannot believe this is the first time this has happened or Franklin would have likely gotten off lighter.
ESPN has a sketchy track record in this area between Dana Jacobsen's drunken ramblings,Mike Tirico's 1990's incidents etc (Read this book for more),so they are likely a bit touchy at this particular time on any misdeeds.

This seems also gives me an excuse to re-use what I have been told by three readers is their all time favorite photo blog as well!

Ohio State wins Sugar Bowl Thriller

In a game that featured both the best and worst of Buckeye football,Ohio State sprinted to the lead like a precocious two year old racehorse flashing their speed in a sprint and then staggered to the wire similar to a two year old racehorse going their longest distance in an attempt to outrun their pedigree.
In any event,the "never defeated an SEC team in a bowl" stat that ESPN has pounded for the last month is dead as Ohio State held off a furious late Arkansas charge for a 31-26 Sugar Bowl trophy.
The Buckeyes return to action on September 3rd at Ohio Stadium against the Akron Zips.

Buckeye Leaves

1) The last second interception by reserve defensive lineman Solomon Thomas that put the game finally away seemed to me to be more of a relief than a thrill.
Normally,I would have been off the couch screaming on such a play,but as the lovely Cherie told me as the Buckeyes used the kneel down "this doesn't feel the way a big win usually does,does it?".
It feels better now,but less than 12 hours ago-I know exactly how she felt.

2) This game featured the one glaring weakness in Jim Tressel as a coach-the button down,reign it in aspect of holding a lead.
In other words playing not to lose instead of to win.
Against good programs,that often can be a self fulfilling prophecy..

3) Quick aside,I like Colt McCoy,but if you watch Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett throw the ball and not want him as a Brown,I have to wonder about your thoughts.
What an arm!
The lovely Cherie even was stunned watching Mallett fire a deep ball effortlessly for what seemed to be miles.
I know Andrew Luck is the darling right now and I like him a lot too,but when you play your home games in Cleveland,an arm like this can go a LONG way in your gameplan.
I don't even remember a Cleveland passer with this type of arm and that includes the only candidate the howitzer like arm of Derek Anderson.
I doubt the Browns would go this way,but if A.J. Green is off the board and I was running the Cleveland draft-Ryan Mallett would be my pick.
Colt McCoy or no Colt McCoy.

4) The biggest reason that the Buckeyes won this game?
The receivers of Arkansas.
I counted six passes that were dropped by Arkansas pass catchers with one in the end zone resulting in the Hogs settling for a field goal and another on the first play of the game would have likely been a long touchdown pass.

5) The injury to corner Chimdi Chekwa's wrist was huge and removed the Buckeyes best defensive back from the game,but considering the replacements were freshmen.I didn't think the newcomers played too badly.The experience for those players will be important for next season with Chekwa moving on.

6) Terrelle Pryor was the winner of the MVP,but I thought the best player was clearly Cameron Heyward.
Heyward battled through an elbow and hamstring that he injured in the game and yet still was badgering Ryan Mallett all evening.
The flashy pick for the award was not the right pick.

7) Nice game by Dane Sanzenbacher as well with his fumble recovery in the end zone of a Pryor fumble and a excellent catch for a score against tight coverage.
The senior always played hard and on a team that needs a Jordan Shipley type possession receiver,I could see him sticking in the NFL.

8) Terrelle Pryor played well and with the fortunate exception of the first period fumble didn't make the mistake that turns games around.
Pryor's scrambling was running was the only part of the OSU offense that did anything in the second half and might have made the difference in taking enough time off the clock in the end.

9) The blocked punt looked to me that the Arkansas player might have been able to scoop the ball up and romp into the end zone for a game winning score,but two things to remember-replays show the he was a bit off balance and he might have thought considering that that falling on the ball was the better idea.
Keep in mind,most of the time that coaches drill "fall on the ball" into their defensive players heads and the smart play was to fall on the ball with Arkansas being out of time outs.
Also,and I cannot be sure of this,but I believe that the player that blocked/recovered the boot was one of the two Hogs that wiped each other out on the Pryor fumble that resulted in a Sanzenbacher  TD recovery.
Considering all that,tough to be too hard on the player...

10) Boom Herron rushed for 80+ yards and a score,but his fumble and later inability to get a first down allowed Arkansas two late game attempts to win the contest.
I just never can understand why Jim Tressel thinks so highly of what I consider to be an average back to the detriment of better backs on the bench...

11) I did think Herron's safety was a bad one,how many times have you seen similar plays throughout the years and it is ALWAYS called forward progress.
Just a bit of consistency,please!

12) Onto the suspensions,which I bet will be reduced to at least four games (gives the returnees the entire Big 10 schedule) or possibly three.
The non-conference list has games against Akron and Toledo at home,a visit to Miami and a home game against Colorado before the fifth game starts the Big Ten season against Michigan State.


13) The biggest issues to me are these-Who replaces Terrelle Pryor at QB?
Veteran Joe Bauserman or heralded freshman Braxton Miller?
Who gets the carries for Boom Herron and hopefully plays so well that Jim Tressel wakes up a bit?
Jordan Hall,Jaamal Berry or Carlos Hyde all return and there could be a freshman entry although Tressel usually goes with the older player unless a huge difference is seen.
Big questions to be answered,especially with a road game in Miami with the lesser experienced players in the lineup.

14) Finally,one last note-Mark May-Thanks for showing again just how little you know about the game.ESPN would improve overnight with the removal of May,who seems to think the Big East is superior to many including the Big Ten.

Photo Credits:Marvin Fong-Cleveland Plain Dealer

Maryland fumbles the football

The Maryland Terrapin athletic program fumbled away a huge chance to make an impact on the national scene with the hiring of Connecticut's Randy Edsall over former Texas Tech boss Mike Leach.

I don't have anything against Randy Edsall, he did a solid job in moving the Connecticut program from 1-AA to a BCS bowl team (Of course, he did it with an 8-4 team in the Big East, the weakest conference in the BCS and one that should be booted from the monopoly) and certainly makes sense to be a mentioned candidate for the Maryland job.

However, Mike Leach battled in the toughest state to recruit in the country (Texas) kept Texas Tech in bowl consistently and in the toughest division of any conference in the country (the now defunct Big 12 South) had the most exciting offense in the country.

Detractors of Leach argue that he never won a conference title, but Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, and Texas A & M are quite a cut above the likes of Rutgers, Syracuse, and Louisville.
Anyone that looks at recruiting at Tech knows the issues that coaches battle there and Mike Leach succeeded there beyond anyone's hopes.
This comes from someone that was not always a Mike Leach fan and was questioning his hire in replacing the retiring Spike Dykes.
Maryland had a chance to finally hire a reasonably young and innovative coach with a track record and finally had an opportunity to become the boss of the ACC, which lives one step above the Big East of BCS conferences.

Football would become a hot ticket again in College Park for the first time in years.
Hell, I was even planning on getting to a game or two with the hiring of Leach.
All looked to be going in the direction of Mike Leach and suddenly, one day after Connecticut's expected BCS drilling against Oklahoma, Randy Edsell is in Maryland.

Edsell seems like an ok coach and is certainly a safe hire, but can Maryland and its football budget that ranks behind every ACC state school except N.C. State afford a safe hire?
Maryland needs the home run, not the infield single.

Edsell seems much like Ralph Friedgen-a good coach, a less than exciting x and o guy, and an average recruiter.
When you consider the clumsy manner that Maryland chopped Friedgen at the block and the PR hit that the school took from the firing, was it worth all of that and the upset alumni that loved Ralph Friedgen-was Randy Edsall worth all that and is he even an upgrade?
Our answer is no and no and that isn't a shot at Edsall, who could keep Maryland football on the current track that sees bowl bids to the ACC's sixth and seventh team.

Maryland clearly got cold feet from the media that were hitting them for the release of the popular Friedgen and figured that hiring the controversial Leach would lead to more hammers from ESPN among many despite the positives that the program would receive from the paying customers and boosters, someone got jumpy and Edsall was the best they could get.
No guts No glory-typical Maryland......