Can Stanford really win the Trojan War?

The Prince of Troy is heading to the Farm this weekend, which means he is out of his element.  No throne or castle to be had for Mr. Barkley in Palo Alto, just miles of farmland and a stadium that seats a cozy 50,000.  Stanford may not have the decorated players that highly ranked USC touts, but Barkley won’t exactly be riding in on any Trojan horse.  Coach Shaw knows what he is up against; knows the troops stepping foot on Cardinal turf and knows their plan of attack.  What matters now for the Cardinal is defending against what they know is coming, and managing to strike back.

Stanford presents the toughest team that USC faces so far this year.  Never mind that it’s the third game in both teams seasons and that USC opened with softball Hawaii before moving on to slightly tougher Syracuse.  The Stanford defense is strong, particularly the front seven.  But the USC offense boasts an all-star cast in Woods, Lee, McNeal, Redd, Grimble and Telfer.  Even Skov and all American Chase Thomas can’t handle all that power every play.  The secondary will be key for Stanford. But Barkley is out for blood, having never defeated Stanford in his four years at Southern California and suffering a nail biting triple overtime loss to the Cardinal in his own house last year.

One thing Stanford has going for them is the amount of penalty yards USC has racked up in their two prior games.  The fact that center Khaled Holmes is injured doesn’t hurt either.  Although he is listed on the depth chart, Kiffen is known for playing injuries very close to the chest.  With the kicker also an unknown, not even having made the trip to NYC despite being listed as active, USC has a few key holes in their armor that Stanford needs to capitalize on.

With Nunes now quarterbacking in the absence of Andrew Luck, Stanford relies heavily on their run game, handing off to Taylor and Wilkerson, with standout tight end’s Ertz and Toilolo being thrown to less and less.  Although Nunes and the 6”8 Toilolo connected last Saturday against Duke courtesy of the “Levine lob”, don’t expect that to be a go to play for the Stanford offense this coming Saturday.

All bets are off when Stanford and USC play, whether it’s down on the Farm or in the Coliseum.  All the preparation, all the preview articles, all the predictions and betting odds go out the window.  It comes down to who shows up.  Will it be Matt Barkley’s head or Shayne Skov’s heart that gives their team the edge?  Maybe it will be Redd’s legs or Ty Montgomery’s hands.  Either way, it’s all (body parts) in.  

Project XII.

The Pac-12 has always been about polar opposites. North versus south, wins versus losses, offense versus defense.  Can the wildcat fool the run defense?  Can the blitz foil the pass offense?  Those are the hard questions football asks of its players and teams, not only in the Pacific 12 conference but all across the country.  Opposites are what drive competition; the David and Goliath complex.  Whether your team is a superior powerhouse or a scrappy underdog, the clash of the conflicting playbooks never disappoints.  Sometimes, opposites even attract.  Like Todd Graham and Arizona State perhaps? Only W’s, I mean time, will tell.

This year though, is all about the intangible.  That’s right, the thing that becomes an asset that perhaps a coach or team didn’t even know they had.  That abstract quality in a player or team that gives them the edge.  You can’t see it in a box score and it can’t be measured on a score sheet.  Maybe it’s the fact that Utah plays highly touted USC in their home stadium, a place where the mighty Trojan’s have never set foot.  Maybe it’s that unfamiliar ground that’s a game changer; maybe it’s the Utes even stronger 2012 squad bolstered by standout defensive lineman Star Lotulelei.  We won’t know until the first whistle blows; that’s the beauty of the intangible.  You can’t predict it in a pre-season media guide.

Intangibles are all about the “what if?”  What if USC comes into Utah’s house already one or even two losses down, having fallen to both dynamic Stanford and surprise underdog Cal?  What if Stanford’s star recruit running back Barry Sanders Jr. is even better than anyone expected?  What if he isn’t?  What if UCLA’s old injuries come back to haunt them?  What if Oregon’s sophomore quarterback can’t stand the heat Stanford’s defensive kitchen will most certainly be serving? Or what if Arizona State’s new coach can’t shake his one and done mentality?

It’s easy to reach for the perhaps immanent USC vs. Oregon, north vs. south Pac-12 title game showdown.  Both feature strong 2012 rosters; with Barkley returning for the Trojans and the southern California defect himself, “The Black Mamba” De’Anthony Thomas running the ball for the Ducks.  No doubt the big issue in the North is the search for a second act quarterback, with Luck and Darron Thomas both departed to the NFL.  Advantage goes to Washington as the Huskies eagerly welcome back Keith Price and his experience.  The theme down South seems to be change, which sports fans know is unavoidable.  Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA all underwent coaching changes, bringing in big name, up-tempo leaders which could very well spell out several upsets for rival schools. 

The bowl ban sanctions may be over for USC, but the real sanctions start now.  The problem they face, besides the big red target on their back, is that they have no real depth, particularly on the defensive line and even at running back.  Other teams, such as Stanford, posses a strong defensive line with several of last years stand outs returning, including crafty senior running back Stepfan Taylor.  Kiffin may want to watch his back on the Farm. 

Meanwhile, Oregon may be facing sanctions of their own in the wake of a national statement that perhaps half the team smokes marijuana.  In a report released 4 months ago in ESPN The Magazine, an article stated a member of last season’s Rose Bowl championship team smoked marijuana in the presence of a reporter.  The article also cited “19 current or former Oregon players and officials” in estimating that about 40 to 60 percent of the current team uses marijuana.  In response to the article, Chip Kelly disputed the estimate, but also welcomed random drug testing just to be sure.  The drug testing would be for both illicit substances and performance-enhancing drugs at an unannounced time of the program’s choosing.  Best of luck, Ducks.

More money, more problems.  Isn’t that always the way?  The bigger and badder the program, the more scrutiny you come under.  And no one looks good under a microscope.  That is why I am dubbing this the year of the intangible for the Pac-12.  Whoever can escape the media circus unscathed wins.  Whoever brings the unaccounted for game-changer to the table takes it all.  Could be a stadium, could be one player or a whole crowd on their feet that brings their opponent to their knees.  Let the games begin August 31^st; the Pac-12 network will be watching.  

Is there really such a thing as a “Slump Buster?”

We credit Mark Grace, former first baseman for the Chicago Cubs and then the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the creation of the term.  After being pressed by Jim Rome to define and clarify the expression in a now-famous 2003 interview on Jim Rome’s show, “Rome is Burning,” Grace said:  “A slump buster is if a team's in a slump, or if you personally are in a slump, you gotta find the fattest, gnarliest, grossest chick and you just gotta lay the wood to her. And when you do that, you're just gonna have instant success. And it could also be called jumping on a grenade for the team.”

Now while this may seem offensive, Grace, who is known for his unique sense of humor as well as consistency at bat and on base, sheds light on an elusive subject for baseball players and athletes alike: How do you bust out of a slump?

There is no one size fits all slump busting remedy.  Baseball, in particular, has a way of averaging out over the course of a season and sometimes slumps are just a natural baseball progression that you can blame on statistical averages.  Slumping is a normal part of baseball if you play it for any significant amount of time.  It happens to hall of famers and it happens to little leaguers.  Yogi Berra said: "Everybody has slumps. Hitters and pitchers struggle for no good reason. The big thing is not to change who you are."

Tell that to Tim Lincecum.  Though the media seems less concerned about his lack luster throwing as of late and more concerned with Matt “Mr. Perfect” Cain or even Vogelsong’s All-Star snub, fans are scratching their heads in confusion and wondering should Bochy really “Let Tim Choke?”

High pitch counts and scary walk rates are making it difficult for Lincecum to navigate his way through games lately.  By the numbers, Lincecum is averaging 5.2 innings per start after 8 games, a career low strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.08, a career high walk rate and an alarming 1.58 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched).  All that combined with a 5.77 earned run average makes it hard not to freak out as a fan.  The numbers are bound to improve, but the question on everyone’s mind going into the second half of the season is when?

Do not let his respectable strikeout rate fool you.  Both he and the Giants continue to struggle while fans search for a cause.  One of the most popular scapegoats: his alleged drug use, but where there is smoke, there is not always fire and his numbers are not the only ones going up in flames.   The Giant’s entire outfield is in a batting slump with batting averages the lowest they have been all year.  It won’t be long before even the stubborn Bruce Bochy pulls out his dance card and shuffles the pitchers around, bumping the two-time Cy Young award winner out of his number one spot.  But who steps up to the coveted top of the rotation: Cain, Bumgarner or Vogelsong? My money’s on Mr. Perfect himself.

With the Giants going 46-40 at the All-Star break, some serious changes/efforts/slumpbusting solutions need to happen. The All-Star game was a success for Cabrera, Posey, Cain and especially Sandoval, but will those hits, runs and strikes translate into wins down the home stretch?  If they are going to make a serious playoff push, Lincecum needs to get into gear, the higher ups need to secure a closer and a big time hitter needs to step up and cash in on their RISP (runners in scoring position).

With the All-Star break almost over, San Francisco Giants players, Lincecum in particular, need to figure out a solution to their pitching and hitting woes.  They could take advice from arguably one of the best starting pitchers in the history of the games, Tom “The Franchise” Seaver: “Slumps are very difficult things to try to decipher or decide which way to go to get out of them…The thing is to discipline yourself mentally, to build on what's positive and dismiss what's negative...”

If all else fails they should consider calling up Mark Grace to hang out.  Or at the very least contemplate his slump busting advice. After all, October is right around the corner and high-octane baseball is crucial for post-season play.

The BCS Song

'Tis the season, so I thought I would re-write an old classic to reflect the college football bowl games ahead...enjoy!  And Happy Holidays!

(To the tune of “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire))

Bowl Game Rankings, Every team’s desire

Saben nipping at your heels

LSU and Honey Badger will never tire

But ‘Bama’s defense is dressed to kill

Everybody knows Oregon and LaMicheal James

Helped to make the title game a fight

Pac-12 fans with their eyes on these games

Will find it hard to sleep on selection night

They know that Larry Scott is on his way

Armed with stats that give Stanford a say

And every Cardinal player is going to spy

To see if Phoenix is where they will fly

And so I’m offering this simple phrase

To fans of Boise State and Arkansas too

Although it’s been opposed many times, many ways

A very merry Bowl Series to you!

When Fantasy (football) Becomes Reality

Dating is a lot like Fantasy Football: you have to rotate your most viable options in their most favorable positions for maximum output.  Put simply, you try to get the most from your roster of men.  Maximum effort from your starting players + strategic placement by you, according to their statistics and performance = best results (hopefully.)   All this strategizing and searching is for one thing: that elusive, consistent, dependable starting quarterback. 

For those of us unfamiliar with the world of online fantasy sports, here is a quick cheat sheet to help you organize your own all-star roster.  We have the illustrious Lance Mathes to thank for the creation of this seriously addictive online community in the 1980’s, but we have the majority of the men in our lives to thank for making it a cult classic.  Basically, the league was born from the ashes of fiery sports feuds between athletic enthusiasts arguing the dominance of one player over another.  Thus the need for a point system was established; a way to rank players based on simple performance ground rules.  These ground rules morphed into league rules and became a Mecca for sports fans everywhere as well as the athlete’s they rank, who both fear and respect the fluctuating rankings.  Today it is estimated that over 19 million people compete in public and private leagues online nationally.  Which means that it is easier to get a guy to compete with you head-to-head in fantasy football than to ask you out on a date.

Head-to-head fantasy football is the kind I am talking about, as I believe it is the only type worth playing.  It is a lot like taking your roster of men and comparing them to your friend’s; winner takes all.  Before we get to that elusive victory though, we have to start where all leagues start: the draft.  The fantasy draft is a lot like the NFL draft, picking up players when it is your turn, with the option to drop or trade later on.  The dating draft is more like a free for all.  While some “leagues” of friends honor “dibs,” usually it is every girl for herself.  While drafting is key in fantasy football and requires intensive research and planning, in the dating world, there is definite strength in numbers.  Statistically speaking, the more options you have, the more likely you will find that franchise player to build your strategy around.

Once you have filled your roster with a number of viable players, then comes the hard part: assessing each players strengths and weaknesses to figure out where and what their roles on your team will be.  They way to do this is through observation and research, logging as many viewing hours as you can.  Now, I’m not recommending you become a stalker, but recon work is a must if you want to avoid any unsuitable players.  There are no scouting reports in life, so it’s up to you ladies. 

After all this research, you must divide your players into “starters” and “bench” players.  Whether to sit or start a player is based on several factors: past performance, expected performance, who they will be up against, what atmosphere they will be in and so on.   After that, you have to divide the players into 7 generally accepted groups:

(1) Quarterback

(2) Running Backs

(3) Wide Receivers

(1) Tight End

(1) Placekicker

(1) Team defense/Special Teams

(6) Bench players

You must think carefully about what each guy on your roster brings to the table.  Does he seem like a leader, someone other guys look up to?  If so, then he’s a quarterback.  Can he “carry” conversation even when others try to interrupt him?  If so, then he is a running back.  Is he capable of catching anything you throw at him and running with it?  He is clearly a wide receiver then.  Can he tackle difficult problems and situations, thus paving the way for you?  If so, then he is definitely a tight end.  When putting players into each of these designated spots, use careful consideration, because although they can be moved around after each week, you want to try and get it right the first time around. Bragging rights are worth their weight in points in any league. 

The points system is a little more complicated to explain and can vary from league to league.  Players on your roster earn points each week based on their performance.  In fantasy football, players earn points for touchdowns, passing, rushing and receiving yards.  Players can also lose points for things like turnovers and interceptions.  In dating, the point system is a little more cut and dry: guys earn points for being nice and courteous and lose them for being jerks.  The girl with the most points, earned by having the best and nicest guys with the most thoughtful moves wins.  See, fantasy football isn’t that hard to figure out.

Jump on: How to become a college basketball “Bandwagon” fan in 5 easy steps.

Tis the season!  January, February and March mean many different things to different people: fresh starts, new promises, broken promises, celebrations of love, singles awareness, black history, St. Patrick’s Day and more.  But for me they mean one thing: basketball. Of the college variety.  So what if you haven’t caught the March Madness bug yet?  So what if you are sick of the multitude of games showing on every sports channel in your area any given day or night of the week?  Stop complaining and be proactive.  If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!  Here are my 5 tips to becoming a convincing “bandwagon” fan for the team of your choice.

1.)Location, Location, Location.  Hey, it works for the real estate business.  But seriously, the best way to convince others you are a true fan is to choose a team near where you live.  People are less likely to question your loyalty if you share the same state, area code or zip code of your school de jour.  For example, when I meet Yankee’s fans that live in my bay area, I always call into question their loyalty, being that they live in Giants and Athletics territory and are cheering for a team all the way across the country.  If you choose to represent a team that falls in this category, which I only encourage at your own risk, there are two acceptable options to back up your credibility.  The first is to claim that you are originally from this far away place, which is risky given that you may run into someone who knows more about your supposed “old home town” then you.  The other option is to say that your parents raised you as a fan of said far away team.  Most people will not question familial ties.  If you are reading this and live in the Bay Area, I recommend Stanford, Cal or St. Mary’s in that order.

2.) Mascot.  This is important because people WILL test your knowledge on this subject, so make sure you choose a school whose mascot you can pronounce, remember and explain if the occasion calls for it.  One way to ensure success in this area is to choose a college that has the same mascot as the high school you attended.  Not only will you remember, but also as a bonus you can re-use your old gear and pass it off as support for your new school.  For example, if your high school mascot was the wildcat, take a look at Kentucky, who is also the Wildcats.  If you were the Spartans, then Michigan State is the team for you.  If you do decide to go the more obscure route, like the St. Mary’s Gaels or the University of San Francisco Dons, it would help to know that a Gael is a British knight and a Don is Spanish bandit, much like Zorro. I would like to put to bed the myth that all girls pick their favorites by choosing the team with the “prettiest” colors.  This is outrageous.  While there are some girls that do that, most of us are a little more knowledgeable.  Give us a little credit.  When choosing a team, the mascot and color scheme go together.  I suggest again looking at teams that had similar colors to your high school for an easy and inexpensive way to “show your colors.”  Also if you are a professional sports person and already have a steady team, it’s not a bad idea to match up colors.  For example, if you are a Lakers fan, purple and gold, then you might want to consider LSU.  Or if you prefer Celtics green, then check out the Oregon Ducks. 

3.) Terminology.  Now that you are fitted to walk the walk, you have to outfit your vocabulary so you can talk the talk.  Even if you know nothing about basketball, there are several key words and phrases to learn that can hide your ignorance.  First, rankings refer to the number in front of the team’s name, indicating how good they are and where they stand on a national level.  Rivalry week is pretty self-explanatory, as long as you know who your rival is.  A “bucket” is a basket and generally worth two points.  A “technical” is an especially aggressive and abrasive foul, causing the other team to shoot 2 free throws unguarded.  “And one” means that a player was fouled going to the basket and managed to get their shot off, make it and get a free throw in the process.  And if you cant pronounce Mike Krzyzewski, the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, then forget about it. (Its said like Sha-shef-ski)  Just call him Coach K.

4.) Research.  Now that you have chosen your school, we come to the most important step in this process: inform yourself so you can defend your choice to others.  I’m not talking about extensive research, but the more you know the less your loyalty will be called into question and the more debates and spirited conversation you can join in.  The basic information you should know is this: what league they play in (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-10), who their biggest rival is (Cal v. Stanford, Duke v. North Carolina), best and most notable player or players, their record (wins and losses) and strength of schedule (who they play that is ranked or outside their conference).  Other than that, how deep you go is up to you.  But the more tidbits and smaller facts you can remember, the better off you are.

5.) Conviction.  The last step involves taking all the information you have garnered about your new bandwagon team and putting it to good use.  Always defend your team, even when they lose and do so passionately.  Stick to your guns.  The more emotion you convey when talking about your team, the more believable you will be.  It is ok to get visibly upset when your team loses or overly excited when they win.  Throw around some of your new vocabulary, make confident comments about the game you are watching and stand by what you say, even if there is suspicion that you may be wrong.  Sports fans are a stubborn bunch so don’t back down until someone pulls up Google or Wikipedia on their cell phone. 

Welcome to my world!  Fake it until you make it, and I guarantee that when March rolls around you will find yourself getting caught up in the magic of the tournament.

The Road to March is paved with….

…good percentages.

Take the number one team in the nation, Ohio State.  The Buckeyes are approximately 50% (field goal percentage), 68% (free throw percentage), and 40% (3 point percentage) while they average 78 points per game, they only turn over the ball on average 11 times per game and they have only 259 turnovers total this season.  This is why they are 24-0, undefeated and ranked as high as they are, holding their own in the fierce Big 10. It doesn’t hurt that their best player, Jared Sullinger, averages 18 points per game.  Percentages are everything in college basketball; you can boast an all-star roster, but if you can’t keep your turnover ratio low and your field goal, 3 point, and free throw percentages high…forget about it! 

I don’t care if you average an impressive 27.6 points per game, Jimmer Fredette, and if your Cougars are ranked number 7 in the nation; you still play in the Mountain West and when you step into the big arena come March, bring your stat book.  While BYU is 45.4%, 74.5% and 36.6%, they do have a comparable 11 turnovers per game and only 262 turnovers for the season so far.  Their points per game is a high 83, but given the conference and strength of schedule, I am not surprised. 

The team that is going to give Ohio State the most trouble in the polls and on the court, when they eventually meet, is Kansas.  Percentage wise, they are right on Ohio State’s heels with a 52% field goal percentage, a 66.7% free throw percentage and a 38.6 three point percentage.  They have a high 83 points per game and twin brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris averaging 16.7% and 13.1%, respectively.  Their weakness is clear though in the 14 turnovers per game average, the highest of the top 7 ranked teams and the 312 turnovers they have accumulated this season.  I have faith in Bill Self’s ability to rectify these sloppy numbers come tournament time. 

Close behind the Jayhawks is Texas.  The Longhorns are averaging 46.6% field goals, 46.7% free throws and 38.5% three pointers. Solid numbers, though slightly lower than the top two teams above them.  They average 76 points per game, which is good given their tough Big 12 conference.  The turnovers per game are high at 13, with 289 total turnovers for the season.  Texas’s leading scorer is Jordan Hamilton, averaging 18.9 points per game so far this season and a player of special note is freshman Tristan Thompson who also contributes an impressive 12.7 points per game for the Longhorns. 

Another Mountain West darling, San Diego State University graces us with their presence in the top 10, coming in at number 6 this week in the polls. Everyone’s favorite Cinderella team is taking off their glass slipper and standing on their own merit.  They average 48.1% field goal points, 67.2% at the free thrown line and a bit of a low 35% from the three point arc.  They are averaging 73 points per game, respectable for the Mountain West team and their high scorer is Kawhi Leonard with 15 points per game contributed.  The numbers that’s et them apart is their low turnovers: only averaging 11 per game with a total of 264 for the season.  Their 23-1 record is notable, with their only loss to fellow conference members and 7^th ranked BYU in a heart breaking game for the Aztecs.

Last but not least, the reigning kings of March, the Duke Blue Devils.  Many think that Coach K’s team can’t repeat again, given the quality of teams they are stacked against this year, but percentage wise they are more than capable.  They average 47.8% field goals, and impressive 74.1% from the free throw line and 39.5% from the arc, which is just behind Ohio State.  They average 73 points per game, which is good for the ACC.  They only turn the ball over an average of 12 times per game with a total of 283 for the season so far.  Notable players include Nolan Smith and returning senior Kyle Singler, who average 21 and 18 points per game respectively. 

As an avid college basketball fan, I can attest to the fact that come tournament time, all these number can all but be thrown out the window, so to speak.  But they are important until then; they pave the way.  Percentages lead to good RPI and high rankings, which in turn leads to good seeding come tournament time.  So sharpen your pencils and get out your comp books and keep track.  I know I will be.