Kobe vs. Lebron. The debate has raged on in the social media universe for years now, each side with countless numbers of rabid supporters. Kobe bricks a game winner, you can bet there'll be sarcastic status updates questioning his "closer" status. Lebron falls short in the playoffs again, more statuses pop up proclaiming him to be the "Regular Season Warrior". The two fan bases are for the most part bitter enemies, yet in reality, they're really the exact same in nature. By this I mean that the grand majority of them fall into the category of "casual fans" of the NBA, and a subcategory of that which I like to call "mercenary fans".
The definition of a "casual fan" is one who has a passing interest in the NBA, for example. They may have a favorite team, but they don't live and die by that team. Just about every Timberwolves fan I know is a "casual fan". There's nothing wrong with this distinction. In fact, I'd put most of the blame for this trend in fandom squarely on the Timberwolves. Such has their floundering been that it's hard to blame the fans for losing interest. This can lead to many things though. One is that the fans outsource their fandom to another team. This can lead to there being a lot of Lakers "fans" or Celtics "fans" in Minnesota. They may even throw themselves into that team as if it were their own from the beginning, but I find this to be rare. What is much more common is when fans identify with a certain superstar in the league and become a "fan" of solely that player. This is certainly understandable in a sport where superstars are created and promoted more than any other in the US. This is indeed where we see people who are Lebron "fans" and Kobe "fans", or fans of any other superstar in the NBA.
The Lebron group are an example of the people who weren't so much Cavalier fans, but Lebron "fans" while he played in Cleveland. As soon as he jumped ship to Miami, they were right there with him. Now, they're Heat "fans" because that's where Lebron plays. Another instance of this is if a favorite college player gets drafted by a team, then the person becomes a "fan" of that team. These fans are the definition of "mercenary fans". They have a roving allegiance to whomever their player plays for. They aren't tied down by the passion one feels as a true fan of a team rather than a player. They could care less about the Mario Chalmers, James Jones, or Joel Anthonys of the world. If tomorrow Lebron got shipped to the Pacers, we'd see a fresh Pacer's jersey on the mercenary fan in a matter of weeks. And they'd be all in on the Timberwolves bandwagon if they should turn it around, dropping their flimsy allegiance to their favorite player on the spot in favor of greener pastures.
Mercenary fans are harmless for the most part, and are mostly the byproduct of a population of sports "fans" that are slowly becoming less and less die-hard. Everyone knows the people who seem to have a new favorite team every year. They rationalize their allegiance in someway or another which never makes much sense but everyone goes along with it rather than call them out because they end up just getting defensive. This mode of fandom is very attractive to any casual fan. They can exchange their crappy team for a brand spanking new one every year! In a way, this is all fine. It could be said that any interest in the league is good, even if it is just casual rather than die-hard. Yet, I still feel bad for those "fans", simply because they never get to go through the trials and tribulations that the die-hards go through. Since they never have any real connection to a team, they never feel the agony of a defeat, and most importantly, the ecstacy of a triumph. I once likened the plight of a die-hard fan as being something like a pot of food being prepared. Sometimes fans of a team get the dish as it is, they're spoiled by success. Other fan bases go through agony after agony. These agonies are like spices added to the pot, which make the meal taste even better once it's finally finished. The mercenary fans never get to experience any of these meals. With their hollow interest in their teams (or their players), they only get to be in the company of the die-hards while never actually being a part of any of it.
Even I got accused of being a mercenary fan, though not in those terms of course. A while back on Facebook someone challenged me by saying that if Kobe Bryant got traded to the Jazz, I would be a Jazz fan the moment it occured. Basically, they accused me being just a Kobe "fan". I explained to them that no, I would not then become a Jazz fan all of a sudden. I was a Lakers fan, I had been since my Mom bought me a Magic Johnson jersey in kindergarden. Since my aunt and uncle from Anaheim sent me Lakers gear for Christmas soon after. Since I traveled out West during the '99 NBA Finals with my family and counted driving by the Staples Center as being one of the best things about the trip. I went on to tell the person that as a kid my favorite player was Shaquille O'Neal. I may have been a bigger fan of him as a Laker than any other athlete ever, yet when he got traded to the Heat, I didn't all of a sudden become a Heat "fan". If his claim of me being a mercenary fan was true, wouldn't I have become a Heat fan then? I assured him that I was just as big a fan of Shaq then as I am of Kobe now. I'm not a fan of just players, I have a team and I stick by it. It's not coincidence that my favorite players have always been Lakers, because my favorite player's will always play for the teams I'm a fan of. It's simple like that. You stick by your team throughout anything. Even if they have a Smush Parker/Kwame Brown period, you're there with them, adding spices to the dish and waiting to savor the meal when you're done. Mercenary fans will never experience this, and I think they're worse off for it.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Super Bowl XLV: Why Big Ben is Overrated
America's biggest sporting spectacle has all the makings of a memorable game. A high-flying offense against a bruising defense and two historic franchises searching for yet another ring to add to their collections. I am in particular interested in the QB battle. I recently had a debate about the merits of Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers. It's often stated that quarterbacks are ultimately measured by how much they win. In particular, Super Bowls. This would clearly make Big Ben one of history's best right? Indeed, if he wins tonight, he'd join Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and Troy Aikman as winners of 3 or more titles. Truly elite company. Yet I will contend that Big Ben has no business being listed among those elites, that he's actually overrated, and that wins are not the be-all and end-all with which to measure a QB's career. Let me now explain why.
9-21, 123 yards, 0 Touchdowns-2 Interceptions, QB rating-22.6
Those are the stats for Ben Roethlisberger's first Super Bowl win. Pretty bad right? You may relay the common respone of "who cares what his numbers were? He won". He did win, or more specifically, the Steelers won. The numbers, however, can't be ignored. Especially when they are among the worst QB numbers in Super Bowl history. Time will likely forget these numbers though, and only the fact that Ben Roethlisberger won that year's Super Bowl will remain in our minds. We won't remember the actual fact that he did just about everything he could to lose his team that game, or that the refs were simply awful. Nope, all we'll know is that Big Ben and the Steelers beat the Seahawks.
Football is often used as the gold standard for team sports. 11 men fulfilling different roles to accomplish a team goal. So why then, in this "ultimate team sport" do we only hand the QB the distinction of the win? Why don't we ever see stats on how many postseason wins Troy Polamalu has? Isn't his role on the defense just as big as Big Ben's on offense? We never compare running backs by number of wins. It's almost entirely based on actual stats. So why should quarterbacks be any different? You might say that QB's are easily the most influential position in football. You'd be right, but they have zero influence on defense. You know, only 50 percent of the game. Similar to how a pitcher in baseball relies on his batters for him to get the win, QB's need the defense to get wins, usually anyway. A perfect example of this is Aaron Rodgers playoff game against the Cardinals last year. He had 4 TD's to 1 INT, yet the Packers lost 51-45 to the Cardinals. Aaron Rodgers surely did enough to help his team to the win, but his defense let him down. This year, the Packers D is vastly improved, and the results show it. Big Ben on the other hand has always had the safety net of an elite defense. It bails him out if he has a bad game (which is fairly often). The perfect example of this is of course the above mentioned Super Bowl. Being a QB for the Steelers is the football equivalent of being a pitcher for the Yankees.
I am not saying that Big Ben is not a good QB. He's easily a top ten quarterback. It's just when people start to overrate him that I take exception. He is not a top 5 QB in the league, and he's nowhere near a top QB in the history of the league. I am not alone with this line of thinking. In 7 seasons in the league he's made one Pro Bowl. Despite having plenty of team success and being in an era where making a Pro Bowl is not that hard (Matt Cassel anyone?), he's made just 1. It was 4 years ago. To put it differently, he's just once been considered one of the top 3 QB's in the AFC! "So what if the fans don't like him.", you might say. Well, they aren't the only ones not so high on Big Ben. He was also voted among the top 5 most overrated players by his peers in a Sports Illustrated poll in 2009. That's not so long ago. I must be on to something, as neither the fans nor his peers rate him as high as his reputation merits. I think pro-football-reference.com rates Big Ben correctly using their "Similar Players" calculation. This lists players with careers of similar quality and shape. Big Ben's career is comparable to Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, David Gerrard, Jake Delhomme, etc. All pretty good to good quarterbacks, but not exactly a who's who of best QB's in the history of the game.
I contend that the only reason Big Ben finds himself with a much better reputation than the others is because he was fortunate enough to have been drafted by a great franchise. Doesn't mean he's not good, just that he's not as good as people think he is. If he indeed does win tonight, he will be a member of that elite group in name only. Winning should not define the quarterback position just like stats shouldn't. It's the overrall body of work that needs to be taken into account when comparing Big Ben to the greats. Keep that in mind tonight. Just know that no matter what happens in the game, he's still not in the category of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
Prediction for Super Bowl XLV
Green Bay: 31
Pittsburgh: 24
It really does pain me to even think that the Packers will win, but I think their offense is too good in the dome setting for anyone to stop them.
9-21, 123 yards, 0 Touchdowns-2 Interceptions, QB rating-22.6
Those are the stats for Ben Roethlisberger's first Super Bowl win. Pretty bad right? You may relay the common respone of "who cares what his numbers were? He won". He did win, or more specifically, the Steelers won. The numbers, however, can't be ignored. Especially when they are among the worst QB numbers in Super Bowl history. Time will likely forget these numbers though, and only the fact that Ben Roethlisberger won that year's Super Bowl will remain in our minds. We won't remember the actual fact that he did just about everything he could to lose his team that game, or that the refs were simply awful. Nope, all we'll know is that Big Ben and the Steelers beat the Seahawks.
Football is often used as the gold standard for team sports. 11 men fulfilling different roles to accomplish a team goal. So why then, in this "ultimate team sport" do we only hand the QB the distinction of the win? Why don't we ever see stats on how many postseason wins Troy Polamalu has? Isn't his role on the defense just as big as Big Ben's on offense? We never compare running backs by number of wins. It's almost entirely based on actual stats. So why should quarterbacks be any different? You might say that QB's are easily the most influential position in football. You'd be right, but they have zero influence on defense. You know, only 50 percent of the game. Similar to how a pitcher in baseball relies on his batters for him to get the win, QB's need the defense to get wins, usually anyway. A perfect example of this is Aaron Rodgers playoff game against the Cardinals last year. He had 4 TD's to 1 INT, yet the Packers lost 51-45 to the Cardinals. Aaron Rodgers surely did enough to help his team to the win, but his defense let him down. This year, the Packers D is vastly improved, and the results show it. Big Ben on the other hand has always had the safety net of an elite defense. It bails him out if he has a bad game (which is fairly often). The perfect example of this is of course the above mentioned Super Bowl. Being a QB for the Steelers is the football equivalent of being a pitcher for the Yankees.
I am not saying that Big Ben is not a good QB. He's easily a top ten quarterback. It's just when people start to overrate him that I take exception. He is not a top 5 QB in the league, and he's nowhere near a top QB in the history of the league. I am not alone with this line of thinking. In 7 seasons in the league he's made one Pro Bowl. Despite having plenty of team success and being in an era where making a Pro Bowl is not that hard (Matt Cassel anyone?), he's made just 1. It was 4 years ago. To put it differently, he's just once been considered one of the top 3 QB's in the AFC! "So what if the fans don't like him.", you might say. Well, they aren't the only ones not so high on Big Ben. He was also voted among the top 5 most overrated players by his peers in a Sports Illustrated poll in 2009. That's not so long ago. I must be on to something, as neither the fans nor his peers rate him as high as his reputation merits. I think pro-football-reference.com rates Big Ben correctly using their "Similar Players" calculation. This lists players with careers of similar quality and shape. Big Ben's career is comparable to Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, David Gerrard, Jake Delhomme, etc. All pretty good to good quarterbacks, but not exactly a who's who of best QB's in the history of the game.
I contend that the only reason Big Ben finds himself with a much better reputation than the others is because he was fortunate enough to have been drafted by a great franchise. Doesn't mean he's not good, just that he's not as good as people think he is. If he indeed does win tonight, he will be a member of that elite group in name only. Winning should not define the quarterback position just like stats shouldn't. It's the overrall body of work that needs to be taken into account when comparing Big Ben to the greats. Keep that in mind tonight. Just know that no matter what happens in the game, he's still not in the category of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
Prediction for Super Bowl XLV
Green Bay: 31
Pittsburgh: 24
It really does pain me to even think that the Packers will win, but I think their offense is too good in the dome setting for anyone to stop them.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Voice of the Bluestreaks
The Chisholm basketball program can be difficult to describe to an outsider. Nowhere else in Minnesota will you find the tradition and storied history found in this small town. A town pure from the transfer sagas of metros yet dynastic in it's dominance of the Iron Range over the years. With such great history comes a closeness of the characters involved whether they be fans, managers, coaches, or players. This closeness is like that of a family. Chisholm lost a member of it's family today.
Howard "Howie" Janesich passed away today. Howie had the distinction of being a player, coach, and play-by-play man for the broadcasts of the Chisholm games. He's been a staple in the program for a countless number of years, often volunteering his time to help coach the B team. I can't even begin to imagine the number of hours he put into helping the young men in the basketball program.
I am stricken with sadness over Howie's passing. He kept himself in tip-top shape whether it was walking or biking. I recall mowing the grass around the lake this past past summer and talking to Howie as he walked by. He always wore a smile on his face to greet me and I could tell he loved running into his former players. As a coach, he treated me with utmost respect. He knew our teams were capable of great things and wouldn't allow us to underachieve.
Broadcasts of Chisholm's games will certainly never be the same. Through the years both Chisholm and opposing teams in the area knew no other voice calling Chisholm games than Howie Janesich's. He rightly called himself the "Voice of the Bluestreaks". With color-man Tom Gornick, the two formed a duo that was both entertaining and informative. Us players were always interested in hearing some of the "old-school" phrases that Howie would utter during the course of the games.
Above all, I believe Howie tried to instill respect and honor in us. He was the first to let me know if my hair was getting long and the last to give us a break in workload. With Chisholm's full press strategy so dependent on fitness, I can certainly understand why. I distinctly remember the times that Howie would tell us about what being a Chisholm player was all about. It was a sense of honor and discipline that wasn't found in other programs in the area. This was what Howie tried to instill in us from 9th grade on.
The main reason I wanted to write this is to thank Howie for all the time he put into us. He volunteered his time simply because he loved the Chisholm program. It's not fair that someone who worked so hard to keep in shape gets unlucky with cancer. I know he fought as hard as he could. I am so proud that Howie got the chance to see his hard work pay off in the form of multiple successful seasons, including two trips to state for our team. I wish I could play one more year just to dedicate the season to him. He deserves it.
Rest in peace Howie. Thanks for all the good times. We'll miss you.
Howard "Howie" Janesich passed away today. Howie had the distinction of being a player, coach, and play-by-play man for the broadcasts of the Chisholm games. He's been a staple in the program for a countless number of years, often volunteering his time to help coach the B team. I can't even begin to imagine the number of hours he put into helping the young men in the basketball program.
I am stricken with sadness over Howie's passing. He kept himself in tip-top shape whether it was walking or biking. I recall mowing the grass around the lake this past past summer and talking to Howie as he walked by. He always wore a smile on his face to greet me and I could tell he loved running into his former players. As a coach, he treated me with utmost respect. He knew our teams were capable of great things and wouldn't allow us to underachieve.
Broadcasts of Chisholm's games will certainly never be the same. Through the years both Chisholm and opposing teams in the area knew no other voice calling Chisholm games than Howie Janesich's. He rightly called himself the "Voice of the Bluestreaks". With color-man Tom Gornick, the two formed a duo that was both entertaining and informative. Us players were always interested in hearing some of the "old-school" phrases that Howie would utter during the course of the games.
Above all, I believe Howie tried to instill respect and honor in us. He was the first to let me know if my hair was getting long and the last to give us a break in workload. With Chisholm's full press strategy so dependent on fitness, I can certainly understand why. I distinctly remember the times that Howie would tell us about what being a Chisholm player was all about. It was a sense of honor and discipline that wasn't found in other programs in the area. This was what Howie tried to instill in us from 9th grade on.
The main reason I wanted to write this is to thank Howie for all the time he put into us. He volunteered his time simply because he loved the Chisholm program. It's not fair that someone who worked so hard to keep in shape gets unlucky with cancer. I know he fought as hard as he could. I am so proud that Howie got the chance to see his hard work pay off in the form of multiple successful seasons, including two trips to state for our team. I wish I could play one more year just to dedicate the season to him. He deserves it.
Rest in peace Howie. Thanks for all the good times. We'll miss you.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Brad Childress reveals true intentions.......
After years of head scratching decisions culminated in the release of Randy Moss a mere four weeks after trading for him, Brad Childress has finally revealed his decision making process to the fans.
"My initial intention when I got this job was to win a Super Bowl here in Minnesota, then I noticed that Los Angeles doesn't have a football team. Can you believe that? I knew I had to do everything in my power to fix this travesty. It's such a big market!"
Childress finds himself under fire after starting the season 2-5 despite having what on paper appears to be one of the most talented teams in the league. It appears that the tumultuous start to the season is no coincidence however.
"It's all part of the plan. I don't want to just hand wins away, but here and there I chip in to make sure we lose. Whether that means wasting time outs on bad challenges or wasting draft picks, I try my best."
Yet the Vikings have had some success under Childress, with multiple playoff appearances and a near Super Bowl berth. How did Childress explain that?
"Hey we have one hell of a team. They amazed me with their ability to win despite my best efforts to steer us down the tubes. Not that I mind it. I have to make sure we win just enough for me to keep my job."
It's thought that a relocation to LA is possible for the Vikings if they don't get a new stadium commisioned in Minnesota. The commision of the stadium is much less likely to occur if the team is struggling. Childress has had a series of decisions and incidents to make sure that the Vikings struggle. The latest incident is perhaps the most curious decision of the Childress era. Randy Moss was let go after just four weeks, after never being incorporated into the offense. Childress has said that even he didn't plan on this move.
"(Releasing him) wasn't my initial plan. Originally, I planned to just never incorporate him into the offense, and it was working, but then he called me out in a press conference. I can't tolerate anything like that. It's one thing for me to call out Brett Favre, but when someone does it to me, not ok."
So it appears that Childress is actually doing a really great job, providing you want to see football in LA county in the near future. Does Childress have any regrets for the ongoing suffering he heaps on Vikings fan?
"No not really. I have a cold heart, probably because of the cold weather. You know what can warm a cold heart? The hot sun of California!"
So there you have it, Childress isn't the dolt that Vikings fans believe him to be.
"My initial intention when I got this job was to win a Super Bowl here in Minnesota, then I noticed that Los Angeles doesn't have a football team. Can you believe that? I knew I had to do everything in my power to fix this travesty. It's such a big market!"
Childress finds himself under fire after starting the season 2-5 despite having what on paper appears to be one of the most talented teams in the league. It appears that the tumultuous start to the season is no coincidence however.
"It's all part of the plan. I don't want to just hand wins away, but here and there I chip in to make sure we lose. Whether that means wasting time outs on bad challenges or wasting draft picks, I try my best."
Yet the Vikings have had some success under Childress, with multiple playoff appearances and a near Super Bowl berth. How did Childress explain that?
"Hey we have one hell of a team. They amazed me with their ability to win despite my best efforts to steer us down the tubes. Not that I mind it. I have to make sure we win just enough for me to keep my job."
It's thought that a relocation to LA is possible for the Vikings if they don't get a new stadium commisioned in Minnesota. The commision of the stadium is much less likely to occur if the team is struggling. Childress has had a series of decisions and incidents to make sure that the Vikings struggle. The latest incident is perhaps the most curious decision of the Childress era. Randy Moss was let go after just four weeks, after never being incorporated into the offense. Childress has said that even he didn't plan on this move.
"(Releasing him) wasn't my initial plan. Originally, I planned to just never incorporate him into the offense, and it was working, but then he called me out in a press conference. I can't tolerate anything like that. It's one thing for me to call out Brett Favre, but when someone does it to me, not ok."
So it appears that Childress is actually doing a really great job, providing you want to see football in LA county in the near future. Does Childress have any regrets for the ongoing suffering he heaps on Vikings fan?
"No not really. I have a cold heart, probably because of the cold weather. You know what can warm a cold heart? The hot sun of California!"
So there you have it, Childress isn't the dolt that Vikings fans believe him to be.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Gigantic NBA Preview
Is it possible for the 2 time defending NBA champions to come into a season under the radar? Apparently yes. The Los Angeles Lakers didn't lose any of their core, actually added some valuable pieces, and still come into this season not only an underdog, but an afterthought. The Miami Heat conquered the headlines of the offseason, if only that counted for some NBA titles.
Lost in all the hoopla of the "The Debacle", I mean "The Decision", is the fact that the reigning champs quietly got better. Yes, Kobe won't be at full strength and Andrew Bynum's health is yet again in doubt. But the Lakers improved in the area they most needed to address, the bench. The Lakers bench had been getting by on it's reputation for years now. Gone are the days when Vujacic was a crunch time performer in the 2008 playoffs and Luke Walton could stay healthy. Even the headliner of the group, Lamar Odom, had become inconsistent for much of last season. Indeed, the myth of the Lakers bench being one of the best in the league needed to be put to bed, until now perhaps. Steve Blake and Matt Barnes were brought in to bolster the second line. Blake is a major upgrade at the back up point guard spot. His high basketball IQ and 3 point shooting will be a tremendous asset. Matt Barnes is yet another great perimeter defender added to what the Lakers already had in Kobe and Ron Artest. Add in an exciting rookie in Devin Ebanks and the Lake Show have ample resources at the 3 spot.
With Kobe recovering and Bynum out, the early season may be tougher than expected. Pau Gasol will be the one to pick up the slack. The Spaniard is the most skilled big man in the league. With questions of his toughness put behind him, he will continue to dazzle with his advanced skill set.
What would an NBA preview be without talking about the Miami Heat? Not only did they gain the most bandwagon fans in the league, they also added The Regular Season Warrior (Lebron) and The RuPaul of big men (Chris Bosh). Forget about how Lebron gave up on his team in the playoffs last year, stabbed the city of Cleveland in the heart on live TV, and gained motivation through twitter (For some reason a lot of the other greats like Kobe and Jordan found their own motivation). Forget all that stuff. He spent the offseason planning revenge, training non stop, prancing around on a stage like Miley Cyrus, and being walked around on a leash by Dwyane Wade. Oops, one of those statements isn't true, you decide. Also, forget about how Chris Bosh couldn't even lead his team to the playoffs in the weak East, has never played in a big game (unless you count the time Kobe dropped 81 on his team), and has no business being mentioned as one of the best power forwards in the league. Forget all that I tell you! Because despite all that, the Heat are going to be good. We don't know how good just yet, but we do know they'll be good.
Without further ado, my predictions:
MVP:
Kevin Durant
Lebron's ego trip blurred the news that Durant signed a new deal with the Thunder. Durant may become the best player in the league sooner than anyone imagined. With a young team that's improving rapidly, Durant is primed to win his second scoring title in a row, and first MVP award.
Rookie of the Year:
Blake Griffin
I know I'm not going out on a limb here, but Griffin is back and primed to take the honor he should've had last year. The Clippers will be much improved from last year with a core of Griffina and Eric Gordon. Griffin has impressed in pre-season and if he can survive the ghosts that haunt this franchise, he will be rookie of the year.
Most improved player:
Michael Beasley
Beasley's done all the right things since coming to Minnesota. A change of scenery might be all that he needed. He'll get the touches and the oppurtunities on a poor Timberwolves team and I expect big things from him.
Defensive player of the year:
Dwight Howard
The freak will be extra motivated by his new Floridian neighbors. Leading the league in rebound and blocks seems to be par for the course and should equal another DPOY.
Suprise team:
Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin is back, Eric Gordon spent the offseason improving with team USA, and the rest of the core is suprisingly good. The Clippers are always a little dysfunctional, but if they figure things out, they could raise some eyebrows.
Fall from Grace:
Phoenix Suns
The Suns overachieved just a little by reaching the Western Conference Finals last year, then spent the offseason waving good bye to Amare Stoudamire and overpaying for Channing Frye and Hakim Warrick. I don't see this team sneaking into the playoffs. Steve Nash is another year older and doesn't have the supporting cast of last year. Would I be suprised if he once again carried them to the playoffs? No. Do I see that happening? Also no.
Predicted Standing (by division):
Atlantic:
1. Boston
The Celtics have question marks surrounding their offseason moves, like, "Is Jermaine O'Neal still alive?", and, "Is that Shaq or the Michelin Tire Man?", but I think their aging core has enough in the tank for one more year. Oh, and the Atlantic division is not particularly good.
2. New York
Reuniting Amare with Mike D'Antoni's run and gun style was a masterstroke, but do they have the point guard for the system? Ray Felton was brought in, but time will tell if he's the right fit. Youngster Anthony Randolph has been getting a lot of buzz as well and Danilo Gallinari is the sharp-shooter this group needs. A return to the playoffs is in store for the New York faithful.
3. New Jersey
The Nyets and their crazy Russian owner will not be the laughing stock of the league this year. With one of the best young centers in the league in Brook Lopez and a young core to complement him, the Nets will be one of the most improved teams in the league.
4. Philadelphia
The Sixers are a young team but have some talent. Andre Iguodala is the teams default superstar, which isn't a good sign. Jrue Holiday was one of the most suprising rookies last year and should continue to improve. Evan Turner was a disaster in the pre-season, but surely he can't be THAT bad right? Elton Brand is a shell of his former self. Ultimately, it may be a long winter in Philly.
5. Toronto
Chris Bosh is gone. In retrospect they should've probably traded him before he left for free, but what's done is done. What's left is one of the worst teams in the league on paper. They paid big for Amir Johnson, yet no one is sure why. Demar Derozan might emerge as the star of the team, but other than that, Toronto may want to focus on their other sports franchises this year.
Central:
1. Chicago
The Bulls may have missed out of Lebron, Wade, and Bosh, but they still improved on an already good squad. Carlos Boozer doesn't have the star calibre of the 3 above mentioned players, but he's a good fit at the PF spot alongside the hard working Joachim Noah. Derrick Rose may not be quite as good as his reputation would have us believe, but he's still a great point guard and will lead this team to good things.
2. Milwaukee
One of my favorite teams to watch. Brandon Jennings was a revelation at point guard and will continue to develop into one of the best players in the East at his position. Andrew Bogut is back from his unfortunate injury and John Salmons returns with his "instant offense". The Bucks are a team on the rise and will be in the mix come playoff team.
3. Indiana
The Pacers are led by Danny Granger, a deadly long range shooter. Darren Collison is a player I've kept an eye on for awhile and will be a great upgrade at the point guard spot. The rest of the squad won't wow you but they have some pieces to at least stay in games.
4. Detroit
The Pistons are a mess. Hamilton, Prince, and Ben Wallace are well past their expiration date. Rodney Stuckey can at least give some hope at the point guard spot, but this will be a bad year for Detroit.
5. Cleveland
Poor Cavaliers. It will take years to pry that dagger from their hearts. Mo Williams will take over as the primary scorer, and that's not a good thing. This team will struggle. The most fun Cleveland fans will have this year is booing Lebron's every move.
Southeast:
1. Miami
I've already gone over the Heat above. They have too much talent to fail. With the Magic being their only contender in the dismal Southeast, they will rack up a gaudy record.
2. Orlando
The Magic are a talented squad and you have to believe they are motivated by what happened with their southern neighbors. Hopefully Dwight Howard spent the offseason working on some form of a post move.
3. Atlanta
The Hawks are in no mans land. They're good enough to get a 4 or 5 seed, but not good enough to beat the best teams come playoff time. This won't change anytime soon as they paid Joe Johnson more than any other free agent in the offseason. Enjoy your mediocrity Atlanta!
4. Washington
The Wiz will at least be exciting. John Wall is an electifying athlete that may also be in the mix for rookie of the year. If Gilbert Arenas leaves his crazy (and his guns) at the door, he could return to his past form. Javale Mcgee will be one of the most improved players in the league and is a good building block along with Wall.
5. Charlotte
Like Atlanta, in no mans land, but at least they're bad enough to get a good draft pick. Yes, they made the playoffs last year, but don't expect a repeat, though Gerald Wallace is one of the most underrated players in the league. Keep an eye on Shaun Livingston making a comeback from a devastating leg injury as well.
Southwest
1. Dallas
The Mavs were disappointing come playoff time and will look to come back strong this year. Jason Kidd is another year older, but Roddy Beaubois will be an exciting back up. Dirk Nowitzki will continue to add to his hall of fame resume. The bench is one of the best in the league with Jason Terry and Tyson Chandler.
2. Houston
The Rockets are primed for a good year. Luis Scola was one of the best players at the FIBA world championships this summer and will look to continue that form. Yao is back but his minutes will be limited. Kevin Martin is a sharp-shooter and the Battier is still one of the best defenders in the league.
3. San Antionio
Is this the year the aging Spurs show signs of regression? I think so. Tim Duncan is noticeably slowing down, Ginobili can't stay healthy, and Parker was being shopped around this summer. Look out for Tiago Splitter, the rookie big man from Brazil, to open some eyes though.
4. Memphis
The Griz were suprisingly good last year. I expect about the same this year. Rudy Gay got a massive contract to stay. Marc Gasol is a burlier version of his brother and OJ Mayo provides the scoring for this upstart.
5. New Orleans
Chris Paul won't be in NO for long. This team has a mess with contracts and will have a hard time improving. Marcus Thornton had a great rookie year though and is a player to watch.
Northwest
1. Oklahoma City
Kevin Durant is ready to stake a claim as the best player in the game and has a young core to help him stake a claim as one of the best teams in the league. Serge Ibaka is an exciting young big man with explosiveness, while Russell Westbrook is one of the league's best young point guards. This team is one for the future and the present.
2. Utah
The Jazz lost Boozer, but still got better. Al Jefferson is a better low post scorer than Boozer and is was acquired for peanuts. Deron Williams is finally getting respect for being a top 3 point guard in the league. Expect good things from the Jazz.
3. Denver
The Carmelo situation has to be weighing on the minds of this team. They have a lot of talent, but were already somewhat combustible. Ty Lawson will be an exciting player this year as Billups will get more rest.
4. Portland
This division is stacked, so we find Portand down at number 4. I still think they will make the playoffs, however. The Blazers have one of the league's best fan bases and with Brandon Roy, a premier playmaker as well. The Greg Oden situation will be one to follow, as this team's center situation is murky.
5. Minnesota
The Timberwolves might be better than last year, but in this division they don't stand a chance. Head scratching offseason moves, like signing Ridnour, overpaying Milicic, having about a million small forwards, etc. damper the rebuilding optimism. Michael Beasley should be a shining light on this squad, but last place and a high draft pick is the best this team can achieve this year.
Pacific
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The defending champs were covered above, but we gotta think Kobe and Co. are motivated by the happenings out east right?
2. Los Angeles Clippers
It's an LA dominated Pacific this year. Griffin is back and joined by Eric Gordon to form a great young 1-2 combo. They're joined by Baron Davis and Chris Kaman for a solid squad.
3. Sacramento
I picked the Kings ahead of the Suns because I like the potential this team has. Tyreke Evans can get to the rim at will and is joined by Demarcus Cousins. Cousins has drawn rave reviews in the preseason, and the combo with Evans should be intriguing. They're joined by Omri Casspi, the best Israeli basketball player I can think of. This team will be improved, and may turn some heads.
4. Phoenix
My bold predictoin above translates to 4th in the pacific. Nash can make ordinary players good, but I don't see that happening without Stoudamire around. I normally don't bet against Nash, but at 36 he's gotta slow down someday right?
5. Golden State
The Warriors play the worst defense in the league, and added a bad defender in David Lee this offseason. At least they're addressing needs (not). Monta Ellis is fun for a bit, until he jacks up stupid shots time and time again. This will only hurt Stephen Curry's progress. Curry is a player to watch as he's proven he can play the point at a pro level.
Lost in all the hoopla of the "The Debacle", I mean "The Decision", is the fact that the reigning champs quietly got better. Yes, Kobe won't be at full strength and Andrew Bynum's health is yet again in doubt. But the Lakers improved in the area they most needed to address, the bench. The Lakers bench had been getting by on it's reputation for years now. Gone are the days when Vujacic was a crunch time performer in the 2008 playoffs and Luke Walton could stay healthy. Even the headliner of the group, Lamar Odom, had become inconsistent for much of last season. Indeed, the myth of the Lakers bench being one of the best in the league needed to be put to bed, until now perhaps. Steve Blake and Matt Barnes were brought in to bolster the second line. Blake is a major upgrade at the back up point guard spot. His high basketball IQ and 3 point shooting will be a tremendous asset. Matt Barnes is yet another great perimeter defender added to what the Lakers already had in Kobe and Ron Artest. Add in an exciting rookie in Devin Ebanks and the Lake Show have ample resources at the 3 spot.
With Kobe recovering and Bynum out, the early season may be tougher than expected. Pau Gasol will be the one to pick up the slack. The Spaniard is the most skilled big man in the league. With questions of his toughness put behind him, he will continue to dazzle with his advanced skill set.
What would an NBA preview be without talking about the Miami Heat? Not only did they gain the most bandwagon fans in the league, they also added The Regular Season Warrior (Lebron) and The RuPaul of big men (Chris Bosh). Forget about how Lebron gave up on his team in the playoffs last year, stabbed the city of Cleveland in the heart on live TV, and gained motivation through twitter (For some reason a lot of the other greats like Kobe and Jordan found their own motivation). Forget all that stuff. He spent the offseason planning revenge, training non stop, prancing around on a stage like Miley Cyrus, and being walked around on a leash by Dwyane Wade. Oops, one of those statements isn't true, you decide. Also, forget about how Chris Bosh couldn't even lead his team to the playoffs in the weak East, has never played in a big game (unless you count the time Kobe dropped 81 on his team), and has no business being mentioned as one of the best power forwards in the league. Forget all that I tell you! Because despite all that, the Heat are going to be good. We don't know how good just yet, but we do know they'll be good.
Without further ado, my predictions:
MVP:
Kevin Durant
Lebron's ego trip blurred the news that Durant signed a new deal with the Thunder. Durant may become the best player in the league sooner than anyone imagined. With a young team that's improving rapidly, Durant is primed to win his second scoring title in a row, and first MVP award.
Rookie of the Year:
Blake Griffin
I know I'm not going out on a limb here, but Griffin is back and primed to take the honor he should've had last year. The Clippers will be much improved from last year with a core of Griffina and Eric Gordon. Griffin has impressed in pre-season and if he can survive the ghosts that haunt this franchise, he will be rookie of the year.
Most improved player:
Michael Beasley
Beasley's done all the right things since coming to Minnesota. A change of scenery might be all that he needed. He'll get the touches and the oppurtunities on a poor Timberwolves team and I expect big things from him.
Defensive player of the year:
Dwight Howard
The freak will be extra motivated by his new Floridian neighbors. Leading the league in rebound and blocks seems to be par for the course and should equal another DPOY.
Suprise team:
Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin is back, Eric Gordon spent the offseason improving with team USA, and the rest of the core is suprisingly good. The Clippers are always a little dysfunctional, but if they figure things out, they could raise some eyebrows.
Fall from Grace:
Phoenix Suns
The Suns overachieved just a little by reaching the Western Conference Finals last year, then spent the offseason waving good bye to Amare Stoudamire and overpaying for Channing Frye and Hakim Warrick. I don't see this team sneaking into the playoffs. Steve Nash is another year older and doesn't have the supporting cast of last year. Would I be suprised if he once again carried them to the playoffs? No. Do I see that happening? Also no.
Predicted Standing (by division):
Atlantic:
1. Boston
The Celtics have question marks surrounding their offseason moves, like, "Is Jermaine O'Neal still alive?", and, "Is that Shaq or the Michelin Tire Man?", but I think their aging core has enough in the tank for one more year. Oh, and the Atlantic division is not particularly good.
2. New York
Reuniting Amare with Mike D'Antoni's run and gun style was a masterstroke, but do they have the point guard for the system? Ray Felton was brought in, but time will tell if he's the right fit. Youngster Anthony Randolph has been getting a lot of buzz as well and Danilo Gallinari is the sharp-shooter this group needs. A return to the playoffs is in store for the New York faithful.
3. New Jersey
The Nyets and their crazy Russian owner will not be the laughing stock of the league this year. With one of the best young centers in the league in Brook Lopez and a young core to complement him, the Nets will be one of the most improved teams in the league.
4. Philadelphia
The Sixers are a young team but have some talent. Andre Iguodala is the teams default superstar, which isn't a good sign. Jrue Holiday was one of the most suprising rookies last year and should continue to improve. Evan Turner was a disaster in the pre-season, but surely he can't be THAT bad right? Elton Brand is a shell of his former self. Ultimately, it may be a long winter in Philly.
5. Toronto
Chris Bosh is gone. In retrospect they should've probably traded him before he left for free, but what's done is done. What's left is one of the worst teams in the league on paper. They paid big for Amir Johnson, yet no one is sure why. Demar Derozan might emerge as the star of the team, but other than that, Toronto may want to focus on their other sports franchises this year.
Central:
1. Chicago
The Bulls may have missed out of Lebron, Wade, and Bosh, but they still improved on an already good squad. Carlos Boozer doesn't have the star calibre of the 3 above mentioned players, but he's a good fit at the PF spot alongside the hard working Joachim Noah. Derrick Rose may not be quite as good as his reputation would have us believe, but he's still a great point guard and will lead this team to good things.
2. Milwaukee
One of my favorite teams to watch. Brandon Jennings was a revelation at point guard and will continue to develop into one of the best players in the East at his position. Andrew Bogut is back from his unfortunate injury and John Salmons returns with his "instant offense". The Bucks are a team on the rise and will be in the mix come playoff team.
3. Indiana
The Pacers are led by Danny Granger, a deadly long range shooter. Darren Collison is a player I've kept an eye on for awhile and will be a great upgrade at the point guard spot. The rest of the squad won't wow you but they have some pieces to at least stay in games.
4. Detroit
The Pistons are a mess. Hamilton, Prince, and Ben Wallace are well past their expiration date. Rodney Stuckey can at least give some hope at the point guard spot, but this will be a bad year for Detroit.
5. Cleveland
Poor Cavaliers. It will take years to pry that dagger from their hearts. Mo Williams will take over as the primary scorer, and that's not a good thing. This team will struggle. The most fun Cleveland fans will have this year is booing Lebron's every move.
Southeast:
1. Miami
I've already gone over the Heat above. They have too much talent to fail. With the Magic being their only contender in the dismal Southeast, they will rack up a gaudy record.
2. Orlando
The Magic are a talented squad and you have to believe they are motivated by what happened with their southern neighbors. Hopefully Dwight Howard spent the offseason working on some form of a post move.
3. Atlanta
The Hawks are in no mans land. They're good enough to get a 4 or 5 seed, but not good enough to beat the best teams come playoff time. This won't change anytime soon as they paid Joe Johnson more than any other free agent in the offseason. Enjoy your mediocrity Atlanta!
4. Washington
The Wiz will at least be exciting. John Wall is an electifying athlete that may also be in the mix for rookie of the year. If Gilbert Arenas leaves his crazy (and his guns) at the door, he could return to his past form. Javale Mcgee will be one of the most improved players in the league and is a good building block along with Wall.
5. Charlotte
Like Atlanta, in no mans land, but at least they're bad enough to get a good draft pick. Yes, they made the playoffs last year, but don't expect a repeat, though Gerald Wallace is one of the most underrated players in the league. Keep an eye on Shaun Livingston making a comeback from a devastating leg injury as well.
Southwest
1. Dallas
The Mavs were disappointing come playoff time and will look to come back strong this year. Jason Kidd is another year older, but Roddy Beaubois will be an exciting back up. Dirk Nowitzki will continue to add to his hall of fame resume. The bench is one of the best in the league with Jason Terry and Tyson Chandler.
2. Houston
The Rockets are primed for a good year. Luis Scola was one of the best players at the FIBA world championships this summer and will look to continue that form. Yao is back but his minutes will be limited. Kevin Martin is a sharp-shooter and the Battier is still one of the best defenders in the league.
3. San Antionio
Is this the year the aging Spurs show signs of regression? I think so. Tim Duncan is noticeably slowing down, Ginobili can't stay healthy, and Parker was being shopped around this summer. Look out for Tiago Splitter, the rookie big man from Brazil, to open some eyes though.
4. Memphis
The Griz were suprisingly good last year. I expect about the same this year. Rudy Gay got a massive contract to stay. Marc Gasol is a burlier version of his brother and OJ Mayo provides the scoring for this upstart.
5. New Orleans
Chris Paul won't be in NO for long. This team has a mess with contracts and will have a hard time improving. Marcus Thornton had a great rookie year though and is a player to watch.
Northwest
1. Oklahoma City
Kevin Durant is ready to stake a claim as the best player in the game and has a young core to help him stake a claim as one of the best teams in the league. Serge Ibaka is an exciting young big man with explosiveness, while Russell Westbrook is one of the league's best young point guards. This team is one for the future and the present.
2. Utah
The Jazz lost Boozer, but still got better. Al Jefferson is a better low post scorer than Boozer and is was acquired for peanuts. Deron Williams is finally getting respect for being a top 3 point guard in the league. Expect good things from the Jazz.
3. Denver
The Carmelo situation has to be weighing on the minds of this team. They have a lot of talent, but were already somewhat combustible. Ty Lawson will be an exciting player this year as Billups will get more rest.
4. Portland
This division is stacked, so we find Portand down at number 4. I still think they will make the playoffs, however. The Blazers have one of the league's best fan bases and with Brandon Roy, a premier playmaker as well. The Greg Oden situation will be one to follow, as this team's center situation is murky.
5. Minnesota
The Timberwolves might be better than last year, but in this division they don't stand a chance. Head scratching offseason moves, like signing Ridnour, overpaying Milicic, having about a million small forwards, etc. damper the rebuilding optimism. Michael Beasley should be a shining light on this squad, but last place and a high draft pick is the best this team can achieve this year.
Pacific
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The defending champs were covered above, but we gotta think Kobe and Co. are motivated by the happenings out east right?
2. Los Angeles Clippers
It's an LA dominated Pacific this year. Griffin is back and joined by Eric Gordon to form a great young 1-2 combo. They're joined by Baron Davis and Chris Kaman for a solid squad.
3. Sacramento
I picked the Kings ahead of the Suns because I like the potential this team has. Tyreke Evans can get to the rim at will and is joined by Demarcus Cousins. Cousins has drawn rave reviews in the preseason, and the combo with Evans should be intriguing. They're joined by Omri Casspi, the best Israeli basketball player I can think of. This team will be improved, and may turn some heads.
4. Phoenix
My bold predictoin above translates to 4th in the pacific. Nash can make ordinary players good, but I don't see that happening without Stoudamire around. I normally don't bet against Nash, but at 36 he's gotta slow down someday right?
5. Golden State
The Warriors play the worst defense in the league, and added a bad defender in David Lee this offseason. At least they're addressing needs (not). Monta Ellis is fun for a bit, until he jacks up stupid shots time and time again. This will only hurt Stephen Curry's progress. Curry is a player to watch as he's proven he can play the point at a pro level.
Friday, October 8, 2010
There and Back Again: A Randy Moss Tale
A few weeks ago the Vikings were 0-2. In an effort to get this out of my mind I began to think about the offseason. No, I hadn't given up on the season already. I wrote that it was far too early to judge this team around that time in fact. I was just excited about some of the free agents that might be available this offseason. With this (apparently) being Favre's last season, and Michael Vick lighting up the league, can you blame me for dreaming of getting him in the purple and gold next year? Vick wasn't the only player I dreamt of. One Randy Moss was in the last year of his contract. It was just a pipe-dream at the time, something that would never happen, but hey wouldn't it be great to see my childhood hero return? I didn't know if he wanted to come back, or if the Vikings wanted him back, it was just a dream. I planned to write about picking up Vick, Moss, or even McNabb once the season was over.
A week ago, out of nowhere I decided I wanted a Randy Moss jersey. My old Randy Moss jersey resembled one of those pink women's jerseys because it had been washed so much. It was also a couple sizes too small. So I went on eBay to browse for a new one. There were plenty, so I decided I would get one eventually. Heck it wasn't like Randy Moss Viking jerseys were going out of fashion, since they already were out of fashion.
A day ago, Randy Moss spoke to the media for the first time since officially being traded here. When I first heard the rumors, I was hesitantly excited. I texted a bunch of people just to tell them how much I would love this move. I hoped that it wasn't just a rumor. Then, Wednesday morning, I woke up to the good news. It was official. Moss was a Viking again. It takes quite a bit to make me put a Twins playoff game in the back of my mind, but Moss has that ability. No player captured my imagination quite like Moss. I wrote extensively about the 1998 season in the past, but never really mentioned how big a fan of Moss I was. I remember the Thanksgiving game of '98 against the Cowboys. That was definitely the point where we realized that this guy was like nothing we'd ever seen. We went from saying, "he might become the best receiver in the NFL", to, "he already is the best receiver in the NFL". The combination of speed, size, and hands was a nightmare to any defensive back. Cunningham to Moss will go down as my favorite duo of all time.
It took me years to forgive the Vikings for trading Moss. Whether I like it or not Moss can do no wrong in my book. I'm admittedly blind in my devotion. I loved the water bottle squirting, fake mooning, etc. I defended him the times he seemed to give up on the team and the legal issues he got into. I couldn't help it then and I can't help it now. I'm a Moss fanatic.
This is not just about my favorite player of all time returning, but also a significant part of my childhood returning. Whether I like it or not, I am a nostalgic person. Moss represents a return to some of my favorite sports memories from my youth. That first long bomb to Moss for a touchdown will bring me back to the magic of '98. The ironic part of that is that no matter how painful '98 was, it's also the year with my best memories as a Vikings fan.
In case you haven't noticed, I'm very high on this move. Hearing Moss say all the right things in his first press conference made my day. His repeated use of the word "home" to describe Minnesota affirms what I believed the whole time, that he never wanted to leave here. Welcome home Randy, if it's just this one season, let's make it memorable.
A week ago, out of nowhere I decided I wanted a Randy Moss jersey. My old Randy Moss jersey resembled one of those pink women's jerseys because it had been washed so much. It was also a couple sizes too small. So I went on eBay to browse for a new one. There were plenty, so I decided I would get one eventually. Heck it wasn't like Randy Moss Viking jerseys were going out of fashion, since they already were out of fashion.
A day ago, Randy Moss spoke to the media for the first time since officially being traded here. When I first heard the rumors, I was hesitantly excited. I texted a bunch of people just to tell them how much I would love this move. I hoped that it wasn't just a rumor. Then, Wednesday morning, I woke up to the good news. It was official. Moss was a Viking again. It takes quite a bit to make me put a Twins playoff game in the back of my mind, but Moss has that ability. No player captured my imagination quite like Moss. I wrote extensively about the 1998 season in the past, but never really mentioned how big a fan of Moss I was. I remember the Thanksgiving game of '98 against the Cowboys. That was definitely the point where we realized that this guy was like nothing we'd ever seen. We went from saying, "he might become the best receiver in the NFL", to, "he already is the best receiver in the NFL". The combination of speed, size, and hands was a nightmare to any defensive back. Cunningham to Moss will go down as my favorite duo of all time.
It took me years to forgive the Vikings for trading Moss. Whether I like it or not Moss can do no wrong in my book. I'm admittedly blind in my devotion. I loved the water bottle squirting, fake mooning, etc. I defended him the times he seemed to give up on the team and the legal issues he got into. I couldn't help it then and I can't help it now. I'm a Moss fanatic.
This is not just about my favorite player of all time returning, but also a significant part of my childhood returning. Whether I like it or not, I am a nostalgic person. Moss represents a return to some of my favorite sports memories from my youth. That first long bomb to Moss for a touchdown will bring me back to the magic of '98. The ironic part of that is that no matter how painful '98 was, it's also the year with my best memories as a Vikings fan.
In case you haven't noticed, I'm very high on this move. Hearing Moss say all the right things in his first press conference made my day. His repeated use of the word "home" to describe Minnesota affirms what I believed the whole time, that he never wanted to leave here. Welcome home Randy, if it's just this one season, let's make it memorable.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Football in Minnesota in a dire state?
The two premier football teams in Minnesota, the Gophers and the Vikings, lost this weekend. Minnesota is notoriously fickle when it comes to football, one loss and we think the sky is falling. Is it too early for such conclusions?
For the U of M, losing to South Dakota is nothing short of embarrassing. The worst part of it is that I'm not at all suprised. The Gophers probably should've lost to SDSU last year. Losing to SD is an upset in name value alone. Perhaps I have my expectations set too high for my alma mater. We build a gorgeous stadium, interest in the team is high, and we expect the team to be worthy of such a grand structure. Unfortunately, that's nowhere near the case. After a loss like this you start to look at the upcoming games and wonder where the wins will come from. I don't think anyone can envision the Gophers beating USC, Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State, or Iowa. That's 6 losses total right there. Add in iffy games like Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois and we may be in for a very long year. Even the game against Northern Illinois isn't a guarenteed win at this point. At the very least, I think most Gopher fans expect a bowl appearance. Sure the Who Cares Bowl isn't anything to brag about, but it's the least the team can do. Even that might be a stretch this year.
So is it too early to sound the alarm in the Gophers case? Absolutely not.
The Vikings, on the other hand, are an entirely different story. Losing to the Saints felt like a much bigger deal than it actually was. A lot of emotion goes into playing a rival like that, but remember it was just one game. Still, I have my reservations. Injuries and rustiness can be partly to blame but the cohesion just wasn't there.
The laundry list of problems is a long one. Favre looked like he spent most of the offseason lounging in Mississippi (oh he was doing that? Ohhhhhh....), Harvin looked like he wasn't on the same planet as Favre, Childress forgot that he had Adrian Peterson on his team, Berrian does a really bad Sidney Rice impression, and the secondary's bend-not-break approach to coverage doesn't soothe anyone's fears. Luckily, much of these issues can be solved. As much as it peeves me, Favre will play himself into game shape. Harvin and he will develop chemistry over time. AP will hopefully introduce himself to Coach Childress before next week. Yet all of these are not foregone conclusions. Favre is another year older with a gimp leg coming off perhaps the best year of his career. We can't possibly expect a year like last year from him. Harvin played slot last year. Maybe he's just not as effective as a wide-out. Childress is......frustrating. I am the last person to blame a coach for the problems of a team, but he just seems out of his depth at times. Very similar to Mike Tice. You know how much you dislike Chilly when you have AP on your fantasy team. For stretches they will get away from the run for no apparent reason. We weren't in a situation where we needed to score fast with the pass. The Saints seemed to get this memo. They passed the ball the whole first first only to wear down our D with Pierre Thomas in the second half. There was no better time than the second half to establish the run, yet time after time Childress had Favre drop back.
Of course the Vikings were always going to stutter a little bit while they wait for injured players to return. Sidney Rice will give us that extra dimension we need, Ced Griffin will relieve some of the secondary concerns. Yet will it be too late? The Packers aren't going away anytime soon and could have a big lead on us if we don't get our act together. Only time will tell, another game may give us some answers.
So is it too early to panic? Yes, it was a game against the defending champs and for all our concerns, we still nearly won. Still, we're in need of a good game on Sunday to alleviate some of the fears.
For the U of M, losing to South Dakota is nothing short of embarrassing. The worst part of it is that I'm not at all suprised. The Gophers probably should've lost to SDSU last year. Losing to SD is an upset in name value alone. Perhaps I have my expectations set too high for my alma mater. We build a gorgeous stadium, interest in the team is high, and we expect the team to be worthy of such a grand structure. Unfortunately, that's nowhere near the case. After a loss like this you start to look at the upcoming games and wonder where the wins will come from. I don't think anyone can envision the Gophers beating USC, Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State, or Iowa. That's 6 losses total right there. Add in iffy games like Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois and we may be in for a very long year. Even the game against Northern Illinois isn't a guarenteed win at this point. At the very least, I think most Gopher fans expect a bowl appearance. Sure the Who Cares Bowl isn't anything to brag about, but it's the least the team can do. Even that might be a stretch this year.
So is it too early to sound the alarm in the Gophers case? Absolutely not.
The Vikings, on the other hand, are an entirely different story. Losing to the Saints felt like a much bigger deal than it actually was. A lot of emotion goes into playing a rival like that, but remember it was just one game. Still, I have my reservations. Injuries and rustiness can be partly to blame but the cohesion just wasn't there.
The laundry list of problems is a long one. Favre looked like he spent most of the offseason lounging in Mississippi (oh he was doing that? Ohhhhhh....), Harvin looked like he wasn't on the same planet as Favre, Childress forgot that he had Adrian Peterson on his team, Berrian does a really bad Sidney Rice impression, and the secondary's bend-not-break approach to coverage doesn't soothe anyone's fears. Luckily, much of these issues can be solved. As much as it peeves me, Favre will play himself into game shape. Harvin and he will develop chemistry over time. AP will hopefully introduce himself to Coach Childress before next week. Yet all of these are not foregone conclusions. Favre is another year older with a gimp leg coming off perhaps the best year of his career. We can't possibly expect a year like last year from him. Harvin played slot last year. Maybe he's just not as effective as a wide-out. Childress is......frustrating. I am the last person to blame a coach for the problems of a team, but he just seems out of his depth at times. Very similar to Mike Tice. You know how much you dislike Chilly when you have AP on your fantasy team. For stretches they will get away from the run for no apparent reason. We weren't in a situation where we needed to score fast with the pass. The Saints seemed to get this memo. They passed the ball the whole first first only to wear down our D with Pierre Thomas in the second half. There was no better time than the second half to establish the run, yet time after time Childress had Favre drop back.
Of course the Vikings were always going to stutter a little bit while they wait for injured players to return. Sidney Rice will give us that extra dimension we need, Ced Griffin will relieve some of the secondary concerns. Yet will it be too late? The Packers aren't going away anytime soon and could have a big lead on us if we don't get our act together. Only time will tell, another game may give us some answers.
So is it too early to panic? Yes, it was a game against the defending champs and for all our concerns, we still nearly won. Still, we're in need of a good game on Sunday to alleviate some of the fears.
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