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.  

From Grade Books to Play Books.

With the NFL draft looming on the horizon, here is a statistic for all you avid fans: nearly 4% of division one college football players get drafted each year. Does that seem high or low to you?  Think about it like this:  There are 117 division 1 college teams and on average about 80 players per team. That is a little over 9300 players.  There are 250 players drafted each year.  So one could say that on any give team there could be 1-2 future NFL players.  We know that is not the case with every team in division 1 football; some will have more and some will have none.  But 250 seems like a lot doesn’t it?  How does someone poised to break into the “big leagues” turn down being in that coveted 4%?

Maybe they make a “Pro” and “Con” list.

• Pro-College: keg parties, college coeds, big man on campus. 
• Con-College: Early AM classes, term papers, dorm rooms. 
• Pro-Pro: Signing bonuses, financial stability, childhood dream. 
• Con-Pro: little fish in a big pond, CBA, new hometown. 

If only it were that simple.  What we, the public, are not privy to are the factors that go into this heavy hitting decision.  For example, Andrew Luck shocked the nation when he decided to spend one more year on the Farm instead of entering the draft, as THE first round pick.  There have been many articles slamming Luck’s decision as  “rookie-esque”. Turning down an NFL career to finish his degree? Almost unheard of.  While it is true that student-athletes benefit from an education, they can risk injury that subsequently results in damage to their future career.  That is a risk Luck is willing to take.  And why not when you are prepared to return as the number one quarterback, with a 5^th ranked team and a new coach that runs the same Harbaugh-style offense. 

Education was surely not the only factor in Luck’s or any other college football player’s decision.  They have to consider the following:

•                Current draft status

•                Potential to improve draft status by returning to school

•                Potential for injury if returning to school

•                Potential NFL work stoppage/labor issues

•                Personal finances

•                Personal desire to return to school

A player must evaluate how prepared he is to succeed early in his NFL career.  There is no such thing as an absolute certainty in the NFL draft process. Recent history has shown that the odds of failure are far greater for underclassmen quarterbacks taken in Round 1 as opposed to senior prospects, which is something Luck probably factored into his decision.

Busts or disappointing


JaMarcus Russell (No. 1 overall, 2007)

Vince Young (No. 3 overall, 2006)


Alex Smith (No. 1 overall, 2005)

Rex Grossman (No. 22 overall, 2003)

Michael Vick (No. 1 overall, 2001)


Tim Couch (No. 1 overall, 1999)


Ryan Leaf (No. 2 overall, 1998)


Heath Shuler (No. 3 overall, 1994)

Successful


Ben Roethlisberger (No. 11 overall, 2004)




Aaron Rodgers (No. 24 overall, 2005)


Trent Dilfer (No. 6 overall, 1994)

Take Bill Parcells' famous quarterback list, for example:

• ·      He must be a senior
• ·      He must be a graduate
• ·      He must be a three-year starter
• ·      He must have at least 23 wins

Still, percentages and even the criteria of a man like Parcells would not have scared Luck off. The 2009 draft is proof that teams are more than willing to overlook the percentages, if they feel strongly enough about the individual. Matthew Stafford(Lions, No. 1 overall), Mark Sanchez (Jets, No. 5) and Josh Freeman(Buccaneers, No. 17) all failed to meet each of the above criteria, but each has given his team hope early in his career.  Immaturity and/or collegiate systems that did not translate well to the NFL led to most of the aforementioned busts/disappointments. Neither of those things is an issue for Luck, who is mature beyond his years and has played in a pro-style system under a former NFL quarterback. Plus, Luck has 25 starts under his belt at the 2010 season's end and a completion percentage of 70.7%.  He will play in a possible 15-20 games next season under new head coach David Shaw, with a chance to improve all aspects of his game, win that elusive Heisman and take his team to the BCS national championship. What more could a college athlete ask for?

The fact of the matter is that it takes a certain kind of guy to forgo the money and glamour that draws guys to the NFL in favor of what’s right and what is important.  Values are what define us as human beings, and although they differ among us all, we can all agree that sticking to one’s guns is not always the easiest route and definitely the one less travelled.  Just look at Pat Tillman, a true American hero.  It may not have worked out the way he or his family wanted, but he stood by what he believed in, which in this writer’s opinion is priceless.  You can’t put a salary cap on that. 

(All stats, numbers and names are drawn from the ESPN.com database)

It's a Marathon, not a Sprint...

For the next 25 hours or so, yours truly will be attempting the seemingly impossible task of watching and blogging about the college basketball marathon tipoff.  Games every two hours, sometimes every hour for the next two days...shouldn't be too difficult for a die hard like me right?  Only time and the shot clock will tell...see you all on the other side!

Hour Zero:  A game of note that is not being televised is the Stanford Cardinal vs. the University of San Diego Torero's. At the half, Stanford is up 35-19 with 10 points from both Andrew Zimmerman and Josh Owens, whose return to the game has been anxiously awaited by Cardinal fans everywhere. Fear the Tree.

Stanford cruises to victory over San Diego, 64-48.

Hour 1-2: Miami (FL) vs. number 19 ranked Memphis....both strong, big, fast teams. One of the better match-ups in my opinion...will come down to who can prevent the penetration. Half time score reflects this at 38-37, Memphis with the lead.  Memphis is looking significantly stronger in the paint, but Miami is looking quicker on the break.


On another note, there has already been a big surprise upset in the ACC...Georgia Tech was defeated 63-80 to the Kennesaw State Owls, a small school only 21 miles from GT...they are in the Atlantic Sun conference and this is this first win over a Power 6 school EVER. The Owls shot 47% over GT for the win. Back to the drawing board for Georgia Tech....


Miami's Reggie Johnson was key on both offense and defense for the Hurricanes.
Memphis's shooting is key in this game; being able to throw down outside the 3 point line and then full court press, causing Miami to burn a time out is really impressive.  Memphis head coach, Josh Pastner, only 33 years old and the 7th youngest coach in NCAA history, runs a slightly different system then his predecessor, the great John Calipari; Pastner incorporates more screenplay.  Good, close game; little preview of how tough this March to madness is going to be, but ultimately Memphis comes out with the "W", which stands for WORK, of the hard variety.  Oh and some clutch free throws.  17 pts for the frosh Jackson..very impressive.  On to the next one...


Hour 3-4: St. Johns vs. Saint Marys Gaels (my old alma mater)...most exciting thing about this game is the return of Steve Lavin to collegiate coaching after a 7 year absence.  St. John's playing the zone in the first half trying to force SMC to try to penetrate and at the same time stretching out their offense.  This game is fast and loud thanks to two very athletic teams and a small, hometown gym.  St. John's up 31-28 at half.
2nd half remained close...both young'ins and vets stepping up big for SMC.  Lavin loves that matchup zone. And SMC loves that inside out pass to Clint Steindel.  Is Saint Mary's australian for recruiting? Maybe, maybe not but Gaels win 76-71 over St. John...and they do it with excellent free throw shooting and not much else.


Hour 5-6: Central MIchigan vs. Hawaii.  Fatigue and mild delusion starting to kick in a bit...time to fire down a red bull and get after it, in the words of the great Brian Wilson.  Might sneak in a quick nap during these few down time games...shhhhhhhh!


So as predicted...I sacked out for a tiny bit...missed a few games but am updating myself on what has gone down now.
Central Michigan fell to Hawaii by 3...65-62...another tough, hard fought game.
Stony Brook rolls over Monmouth 51-49.
Kent State squeaks by Robert Morris, 62-59.
And Northeastern ousts Southern Illinois in OT,  63-62.
Pretty close games all around....now back to the grind....

9 Hours Later.... Oral Roberts vs. Tulsa....heavy shooting game...Tulsa breezes by Oral Roberts, 83-68.
LaSalle vs. Baylor is up next...and this is a great game to watch, as the 17th ranked Baylor is a team to keep an eye on...with their lanky length and quickness.  Baylor beats up LaSalle by 10, 74-64.


Now on to one of my personal favorites, the number 3 ranked Kansas State Wildcats...they are facing off against the number 25 ranked Virginia Tech.  This is truly one of the best matchups thus far...K-State looking to be one of the final four left standing.  This game is going to be very very fast.  K- State has a formidable foundation on returning guard Jacob Pullen, who is supported by forwards Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels.

Take me out of the friend zone (bullpen)....

…..pick me up for your team! I’ll buy you some dinner and drinks after that, I don’t care if you never call back, cause its root, root, root for the nice guy and if he doesn’t win it’s my gain, because its one, two, three strikes your out in the dating game!

The Giants win the World Series.  Fact.  They defeated the Texas Rangers 4 games to 1.  And while most thought this an unimaginable feat for our team of “Freaks”, true Giants fans kept the faith.  While most people who watch baseball credit the offense and the homeruns (Renteria!) with wins, the overlooked aspect of the game lies not only in the rotation of the hitters, but in the depth and rotation of a team’s bullpen. 

On any given Major League baseball team, there are 11 to 12 pitchers on their roster.  On the Giants, we have 11.  The pitchers are divided into 3 roles: the starting lineup (Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, Bumgarner, Zito, who ended up being benched for the post season), the middle-relief or relievers (Affeldt, Casilla, Lopez, Mota, Rameriez, Romo), and the closers (Brian “Fear the Beard” Wilson).  As with the hitters, pitchers can be substituted at any time by another pitcher, and if pitcher is replaced, he cannot then return to the game.  Let’s break down the Giants pen with a different but familiar scenario shall we?

Let’s say you are on a group date. A bunch of your girl friends convinced you to come with the promise of good food, cocktails and a multitude of good-looking, well-versed guys and although the concept seems a little “middle school”, you accept.  There you are, happily ensconced in a corner booth with your friends and a drink, when you turn to your right and are immediately engaged in a conversation with you friend’s friend Tim.  Tim is a fast talker, with steady delivery and doesn’t seem the least bit nervous.  He asks all the right questions with a precision to detail like no guy you have ever met.  He refills your glass often and he refills it quickly.  After several interesting conversation topics, you notice that you are now carrying the conversation, doing that thing where you talk about yourself too much, while Tim is slumped over in the booth, a glazed look in his eyes.  He’s spent.  You excuse yourself to the restroom.

When you return, Javier is waiting with an inviting smile and a wicked twinkle in his eye. Your sense of hope is renewed and you quickly sidle up to him and loop your arm through his.  Javier manages to hold your attention for a while with his curveball questions and cutting remarks about society and the like.  But you soon find yourself tired of conversation and scan the group for a more physical, direct option. 

Enter Brian.  His hand on the small of your back and his eyes locked on yours, fire dancing beneath the surface of his smirk, offer you just the right amount of danger and drama you are looking for.  Although you know that several of the girls in your circle have been charmed by Brian in much the same way and you are acutely aware of their jealous stares as he leads you outside and hails a cab, this direct approach is exactly what need after all the teasing conversation.

That, ladies, is why the Giants pitching and bullpen rosters are so valuable.

Ins and Time Outs, Ups and 4th Downs.

(Based on ESPN and BCS rankings from the past several weeks and one humble sports writer’s opinion.)

Ok girls, here is what you need to understand: Watching college football is the same as watching your favorite romantic comedy.  All the elements are there; the plays that make you laugh, that make you cry, that make you say “awwww” and that fill your heart with the longing to start a love story of your own.  All you need to do is follow the equation, namely break down each guy’s role in the movie using yourself as the girl character and then superimpose the guy with the correctly corresponding football team. It’s easy.

First, pick your favorite romantic comedy.  For me, it is He’s Just Not That Into You. 

Let’s start at the beginning; opening scene with the drop-dead gorgeous, obviously over-confident but still trying to be sweet (Ahem…Bradley Cooper).  This is Alabama. They are the clear winner, the obvious front-runner for your affection and in college football’s case you are the BCS bowl, which is the national championship game between the number one and number two ranked teams. Now this Alabama team has a lot going for them, strength, speed, the ability to pick up the check on the first date, but just because they do everything right from the get go, doesn’t mean they have the longevity to keep you happy. Also, they come with a smarmy, sleazy dad (Nick Saben) who will most likely hit on you when his son’s head is turned the other way. Ew. So even though they have a Heisman winner (think academy award for sports performance) in Mark Ingram, they are most likely not going to be the guy for you.

Every Mr. Perfect in the movies has an equally perfect best friend with less screen time that he not so secretly competes with.  This best friend is Ohio State. And Alabama and Ohio State both open car doors for you and offer you their jacket when you are cold, but will lose interest in you once there is something else to compete over, because it is never really about you; its about them.

Now, in every Rom-Com, there is the “good guy; the underdog,” the one you are rooting for, but who never seems like they will end up with the right girl. In college football this guy is Nebraska.  His southern charm combined with his strong, rippling biceps makes him a likely candidate for your affection.  Probably not right away, but after a few games you begin to take notice. Not to mention their freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez is putting up good numbers and calling all the right plays, he is even being talked about for that Heisman award I mentioned.  Don’t count out plucky Nebraska just yet.

Then we have the douchebag.  Every rom-com has one.  The guy who goes out with you for one reason only and once he gets it, never calls you again.  Or even if you don’t give him what he wants, he tells everyone you did anyway.  This guy is Oregon.  Slanderous, petty, dirty but devastatingly good at what he does.  His dad (Chip Kelly) makes Alabama’s dad look like a saint.  He will yell at his son in public, bash anyone that gets in his way and even make lewd gestures at you.  Steer clear and watch out because the only thing slicker than the quarter backs hand offs are their onside kicks.

We can’t forget about the “Bad boy.”  Rugged exterior, cuddlier on the inside.  He will pretend he doesn’t care in public, but is all whispered words and furtive, longing glances in private.  This is Boise State.  They never go anywhere without their signature “bad-boy” black, or in this case, royal blue.  They have been in several notable skirmishes, one even in the national spotlight (a fistfight of sorts with the aforementioned Oregon).  They even have the longest “winning” streak, 19 games to date, and trust me ladies, you do not want to be lucky number 20.

Lastly, we have The Nerd.  Stanford.  The team you and others often overlook due to their quite nature, their lack of trash talking and opponent bashing.  The guy you didn’t even believe could be a contender for your heart, until he up and knocked out several of the bully’s friends and classmates (other teams from the pac-10 like USC and UCLA) for you, defending your honor.  Lead by the aptly named quarterback Andrew Luck, Stanford boasts a strong O-line with wide receiver Ryan Whalen and his sure hands.  Also, Stanford has the only player in the BCS to play both offense and defense, Owen Marecic.  Stanford is the old-fashioned guy, steeped in tradition, and though his personal hero may be a goofy looking redwood tree, there is nothing more honorable than bleeding Cardinal.