Thoughts on The Derby

It's time for My Old Kentucky Home, Mint Juleps, and discarded tickets...the Kentucky Derby is here...

This year's Derby is wide open with no clearcut favorite...since 2000, the favorite has won three times: Fusaichi Pegasus (2000), Smarty Jones (2004), and Street Sense (2007)...even the great Barbaro was not the favorite...

This year's favorite, Big Brown (3-1), is coming out of the 20th post position and has only raced three times...Big Brown is followed by Colonel John (4-1) and Pyro (6-1)...after that, every other horse is double digits in odds...

I like to play trainers...Bob Baffert has no horses this years...Todd Pletcher has two horses (Cowboy Cal 20-1 and Monba 15-1)...the trainer that I am looking at this year is Barclay Tagg...

Tagg has two horses - Tale of Ekati (15-1) and Big Truck (50-1)...the one that is piquing my interest is Big Truck who looked fast and had a good workout the other day...Big Truck got noticed after pulling an upset at the Tampa Derby in mid-March...however, he came back with a clunker 11th place finish at the Toyota Blue Grass in mid-April...

But in a year where there is no clear favorite, I'll throw a few bucks on Big Truck in the upset...

Check back Saturday for my complete predictions...

Rachel Ray - Is She Hot or Am I Missing Something?

Today, "Is She Hot or Am I Missing Something?" is looking at the peppy and often annoying kitchen wiz Rachel Ray...

Dunkin Donuts Gal
Ray was born in 1968 and is part Sicilian and Cajun...she grew up in the New York City area and worked at the candy counter at Macy's in the Big Apple...she married John M. Cusimano, the lead singer of the rock band The Cringe...as you know, she is everywhere - from cookbooks, to commercials, to talk shows, to her own show...

She is often ripped for not being a "true cook" because of her 30 minute meal recipes...and her recent allegiance with Dunkin Donuts have health nuts criticizing her for promoting an unhealthy food chain...

My thoughts - Ray is an interesting woman...sometimes she looks hot (photos) and sometimes she doesn't...I could understand where she would be annoying with her constant chatter...I would say she is hot in a "bad girl" kinda way - but not in the class of Giada or the Money Honey...this leads to the questions:

Do you think Rachel Ray is hot?

If so, why doesn't she get the publicity?

Am I missing something?

Leave your comments

Lloyd Carr - Michigan Man or Ohio State Man?

On Monday I gave my thoughts about Justin Boren transferring from Michigan to Ohio State...today I want to tackle the alleged issue of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr helping Boren get released from his scholarship at Michigan in order to transfer to Ohio State...

Last week, Rob Oller of The Columbus Dispatch wrote in a column that Carr worked behind the scenes to help Boren obtain his scholarship release from Michigan...Oller also wrote that Carr allegedly encouraged Boren to transfer to Ohio State because "Ohio State is the closest thing to Michigan that he would find and that there are "good people" in Columbus."...

Since this was reported, Carr denied that he was involved in Boren's transfer...this is a matter of "he said, she said"...

I know that Carr cares deeply for his all his former players...he is like a grandfather to them...however, he also has a responsibility to the University of Michigan and its thousands of alumni and fans who loyally pack The Big House on Saturdays every fall...he has a responsibility to us Michigan fans who bleed Maize and Blue...it is unthinkable that Carr would encourage Boren to transfer to Ohio State, especially after Ohio State and Jim Tressel basically cost Carr his job...

If this is true that Carr encouraged Boren to transfer to Ohio State, then Bill Martin, director of athletics at Michigan, must ask Carr to remove himself from all matters involving Michigan football - immediately...

Carr is a good person...in fact, he is too good of a person...he lacked that conniving deceit that permeates within the Woody Hayes Center in Columbus...Carr is a grandfather to his "boys"...but if this is true, it is time to put grandpa into a nursing home and get him out of the way of helping Ohio State on an annual basis...

Justin Boren is a TRAITOR!!!!

Justin Boren is a traitor....flat out!!!....

For those who do not know what I am writing about, just a few months ago, Justin Boren started on the offensive line for Michigan when they played Ohio State...he would have been a junior this coming season and the anchor on the line....but things changed...Boren has now decided to leave Ann Arbor and play for Ohio State....

Boren stated that Michigan did not have the "family atmosphere" under new head coach Rich Rodriguez....

There are many facets to this story....first off, I have no problem if Boren, wanted to transfer out of Michigan....when a new coach comes in, often times personalities do not mesh well....quarterback Ryan Mallet transferred to Arkansas in early January because of a difference in offensive philosophy.....I wish Mallet nothing but success at Arkansas and thank him for wanting to play for Michigan.....however, Boren has taken a difference course....he could have transferred to any freakin college in this country....any school!!!!...but no, he choice Ohio State...

To me, Boren was never truly a Michigan Man....no way would any player from Michigan transfer to Ohio State and vice versa...only a true Michigan and Ohio State fan would understand this...I know that Boren is originally from just outside of Columbus, but that should not matter...if he wanted to play closer to his family, he could have transferred to Cincinnati, Purdue, Indiana, Pitt....but no, he chose freakin Ohio State...

Just two months ago this kid was singing The Victors and wearing Maize and Blue....how in the world could he switch to Ohio State and now be singing Carmen, Ohio????...this would be like a North Carolina basketball player transferring to Duke....or an Alabama football player transferring to Auburn.....

This happens often in professional sports when a player and/or coach leaves a team to play or coach for a rival....such the case with Johnny Damon leaving Boston to play for the Yankees....but there is one big difference - MONEY!!!!....in professional sports, money dictates where players or coaches are going to play or coach.....there was no money involved in this situation with Boren....

My personal opinion is that Boren did not want to put in all the work and running that Rodriguez now mandates for the Michigan football program....Rodriguez demands that his players run to the line and from station to station in practice....during winter conditioning players like Morgan Trent and Greg Matthews said they have never run as much as they did during that period.....

So when the score was 14-3 in favor of Ohio State last November, what was Justin Boren thinking?????.....for him to easily turn his back on his Michigan teammates, coaches, and fans and transfer to Ohio State means that he gave up in that game...he did not have the true heart and desire...plain and simple - he quit...the proof of that is when he quit again on his team and transferred to Michigan’s biggest rival...I wish Boren nothing but the worst of luck and hope that Michigan stomps his ass when he comes to Ann Arbor in 2009 wearing the gray helmet...

Tomorrow my thoughts about Lloyd Carr's suppposed behind-the-scenes assistance with this matter

G-men

Nice pick with Kenny Phillips....they were in need of a safety....I was surprised the Dolphins did not go with a QB to open round 2....

Nice pick by Cowboys

I like the pick of Mike Jenkins...he was one of the corners coming into the draft and some publications had him as high as #8 overall....

Also, I thought Green Bay may trade up to get Jenkins after they got toasted by Eli Manning...I was a big surprised there....all the top corners are now gone....

San Diego is coming up and I see them going with DeSean Jackson....

Dan Connor and Kenny Phillips are still out there too...

Chris Johnson

Hold on, I am not going to blast the Titans pick here because I like Chris Johnson A LOT!!!....he is in the Brian Westbrook mold where he can run and catch the ball....the Titans do need wide receiver help, but I cannot bash this pick....Chris Johnson is going to be a nice pro and a player who will help Vince Young....

Titans got to go WR

Tennessee needs a wide receiver badly....and they can get the pick of any receiver they want being that one has not been selected yet....

Great Picks

Great picks by Dallas and Pittsburgh...

Steelers Pick

The Steelers are up after Dallas....Pittsburgh has to take Mendenhall if he is still there....at this point, Mendenhall is a steal at that point...Pittsburgh has needs on both the O & D line, but they cannot pass up Mendenhall...

Sam Baker?

Teams are reaching for offensive tackles....I like Sam Baker a lot, but not to trade up and get him here...

Cowboys take either Felix Jones or DeSean Jackson...

First rape of the day

OMG!!!!....the Panthers OVERPAID for Otah....a 2nd, 4th, and next year's 1st!!!!

Andy Reid raped them!!!

I missed a pick!!!!!

WHAT THE HELL....The Lions were on the clock and commercial came on...so I put my head down to read Kiper's book...next time I look up, I see the Texans were on the clock...while we were at commercial, the Lions made their selection...and ESPN did not bring it to us live...that is bullshit!!!

Bucs have to take a wide receiver...DeSean Jackson or Devin Thomas...

Dallas is sitting nice with Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, and either Jackson and Thomas there...

Picks 10-15

I love the agressiveness of the Chiefs to move up two spots and secure the offensive lineman they need in Branden Albert, a player who Mel Kiper had them selecting at #5 overall...

The Broncos got a steal in Ryan Clady...many projected Clady to be a top 10 pick...

Jerod Mayo to New England...hmmm, the guys on ESPN thought it was a good pick...but I have seen Mayo's name as low as mid second round...

Dallas is coming up at #22 and Felix Jones is still there...

Yes the Eagles need offensive line help, but with Albert now gone, they have to go with DeSean Jackson...I say that Jackson will be the first wide receiver taken in the draft at #19 to the Eagles...

Picks 7-9

New England did a nice job in picking up another 3rd round pick just to slide down 3 spots...

There is no doubt the Ravens are taking a quarterback at #26...Henne, Brohm, and/or Flacco should be there...

Jacksonville must think highly of Derrick Harvey...I had him going #10 to the Saints...the kid plays big in big games - ask Troy Smith...

The Bengals are on the clock and both Ellis and Harvey are gone...the Bengals may jump one of the corners...

First 6 picks

The first six picks were not a surprise...the Chiefs had to take Dorsey even though they have bigger needs...

New England is on the clock...look for the Patriots to take Ryan Clady, og, Boise State at number 7...

The latest

It looks like I was right with the Falcons taking Matt Ryan with the 3rd overall pick...Glenn Dorsey will then be a Raider...even though Al Davis likes Darren McFadden, he cannot pass up Dorsey who would replace Warren Sapp...

The Ravens were interested in moving to the #2 spot to get Matt Ryan but the Rams wanted too much in return...I have a feeling the Ravens will select Chad Henne from Michigan...then it will be another Michigan-Ohio State battle as Henne will compete with former OSU quarterback Troy Smith to be the starter for the Ravens...

The NFL Draft - A day off from school for me

Just a quick note about college basketball...ESPN is reporting that longtime Duke assistant basketball coach Johnny Dawkins has accepted the job to be the next head basketball coach at Stanford...

We are about an hour from the start of the Annual NFL League Meeting...or whatever is the official title of The Draft...

My best draft day memory is when I was in high school...back in those days, the draft was held at 8:00 a.m. on a Tuesday...my mom knew I was all into the draft and followed it closely, so she would always let me stay home from school and watch it...every hour or so I would get calls from my friends, and even teachers, Mr. Ryan and Mr. Barber, asking what was the latest...everyone in the school knew I was at home watching the draft...she would get me the morning newspapers and a bacon-egg biscuit with the hash rounds from Hardees...then it was TV time for the rest of the day...all I have to say - THANKS MOM!!!...

Chris Berman will be getting on my nerves within the first hour...

I love Mel...Kiper is the epitome of the American Dream...just a Joe Average fella who worked hard and became a success...

I hope ESPN cuts Ryan Leaf some slack this year...sure Leaf was an arrogant ass who was one of the biggest flops ever in the NFL...but everything I have read about Leaf recently seems as though he has his life on track and he is a productive person in society...he enjoys working as an assistant football coach for some small college up in Montana or Idaho...sometimes they make it like Leaf killed someone...\

Remember when Dr. Z would be on ESPN's coverage?....

Thoughts on defensive players

About two hours from The Draft...the one thing bugging the hell out of me today are my allergies...the pollen count here in N.E. Ohio is in the freakin dangerous level or something and it seems like all my neighbors are cutting grass...I have already loaded up on Allegra but it is not working today...anyway, here are some players that I like on the defense...

Defensive end
- Chris Long - I think he is the best player in the draft and will have a solid NFL career - barring injury...
Sleeper
- Calais Campbell, The U - this dude is freakin 6'8"...he lacks speed, but with his height and talent...he can be a difference maker...
- Tommy Blake, TCU - last year at this time, he was projected as a first rounder...but Blake suffers from depression and quit the team during the fall...at workouts, Blake had a gut on him and did not move well...he is worth a gamble late in the draft...if he could get on the right meds, he can be a steal...

Defensive tackle
- Glenn Dorsey, LSU - how can you not like this kid...he is solid as heck...he plays through injuries...he is one tough sumbitch...
Sleeper
- Red Bryant, Texas A&M - this 6'4", 320 Aggie has everything to make it in the NFL...he just needs to put it all together...he is not going to be an All-Pro, but he could be a quality back-up and a worthy pick if still around in the 4th round...

Inside linebacker
I am not really high on a specific ILB....
Sleeper
- J. Leman, Illinois - Leman suffered an injury in the Rose Bowl which hurt his pre-draft workouts...the kid is a flat out football player...
- Ben Moffitt, South Florida - Moffitt was always right in the middle of every play...he will not be selected until late, but I would roll the dice on this kid...

Outside linebacker
- Keith Rivers, Southern Cal - he is solid...he was always making plays...
Sleeper
- Shawn Crable, Michigan - some publications have him going as high as early third round and as low as 7th round...the kid is an imposing figure...he has the size and speed...in the right situation, he could be the steal of this draft...he can play either D-end or OLB...sounds like someone Belichick or Tomlin would love...

Cornerback
- Aqib Talib, Kansas - the kid is playmaker...but he could get burned in bump and run coverage...he definetly needs help over the top...
Sleeper
- Justin King, Penn State - the kid ran a 4.31 at the Combine...he had some off the field issues at Happy Valley, but the beat writer for the local paper said that King was a good kid and not a troublemaker...
- Orlando Scandrick, Boise State - he is 5'10" and runs the 40 on 4.32...
- Tyvon Branch, U.Conn - 6'0" and runs the 40 in 4.31...
- Dwight Lowery, San Jose State - I saw him in a bowl game two years ago...he was impressive...had an average senior season...worth a gamble late...

Safety
I'm not high on a specific safety...
Sleeper
- Corey Lynch - Appalachian State - this kid makes plays...he is a beast on special teams too - just ask Michigan...

Pre-Draft Thoughts - Atlanta Falcons

I already went to the gym and worked out on the weights and stairmaster for an hour...just finished my pregame meal of Uncle Nick's Greek Fried Chicken, a salad. and a baked potato (need the carbs for the big day)...took the dog for a walk...and now its time for the Draft pregame...

While finishing my meal, I was pondering the Atlanta Falcons pick at number three...I believe they will take Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan...however, all indications from the national circuit speculate the Falcons are going with Glenn Dorsey, the big D-tackle from LSU...

I have nothing against Dorsey...I think he will be a solid pro...but how can the Falcons pass up the best quarterback in the draft when they ahve bums like Joey Harrington and Chris Redman at the helm...

If the Falcons do indeed take Dorsey, that will drop Ryan to the Chiefs at the four spot...earlier this week I had the Chiefs taking offensive lineman Ryan Clady from Boise State...the Chiefs desperately need O-line help...but after trading Jared Allen to Minnesota for the Vikings #16 pick, the Chiefs now have some options...

And I believe if Ryan is there at #4, the Chiefs will select him...K.C. has Brodie Croyle who is nothing more than a second string NFL quarterback and Damon Huard who is like 40-years-old...the Chiefs cannot pass up Ryan at #4...they will then address their O-line needs at #16...

At #16, the Chiefs can possibly get Jeff Otah from Pitt or Gosder Cherilus from Boston College...there is even a chance Branden Albert from Virginia can slide to them...