Beers with bloggers: Interview with Girls Gone Sports

Today I start a new feature of interviewing fellow bloggers...and I start off with two women who do the blog ...Girls Gone Sports ....Lauren (whose photo is on the left) is from Dallas writes that she is "a short girl, however, what I lack in height I make up for in breast."....her co-blogger is Mandy (below) who is 23-years-old and a native of Pittsburgh...Mandy now lives in Texas...

Before I begin, I would like to thank Mandy and Lauren for taking the time to respond...it is much appreciated...

Q1. First off, why did you ladies decide to start a blog that focuses on sports?
Mandy - We just loved the sports humor blogs we read and decided that we wanted to do it too. That, and we have incredibly overinflated egos and we thought that everyone else would find us as funny and insightful as we find ourselves.

Lauren – Yeah, we figured that we had just as much knowledge and opinions on stuff and our sex wasn't as represented in the blog world. Therefore we decided we'd scream until our blog was read.

Q2.Before I go any further, I have to ask, whose chest is that on the top of your blog page? How did you choose between the two of you, whose chest to use for the photo?
M - A lady never poses topless and tells.
L – Where are your manners sir?

Q3. This question is for Mandy. I read that even though you currently live in Texas, you are a native of Pittsburgh. What are your thoughts of the Steelers this past season under new head coach Mike Tomlin?
M - I saw a lot of promising stuff under Mike Tomlin. The fact that as a rookie coach he managed to transform an 8-8 team plagued with injuries, an awful O-line and a dismal special teams unit into division champs was pretty darn impressive. The regime change certainly seemed to do Ben Roethlisberger good. However, I think Tomlin needs to gain better control over his players (we got killed by stupid penalties this season and he allowed that fracas with the Patriots to happen) and make some smarter play calling in high pressure situations (the 3 runs and out during the Steelers' final drive of the Jaguars playoff game is a good example of some of his not so great play calling).

Q4. For you Lauren, you write that you are a fan of all Dallas teams. So, what is your opinion of Tony Romo? The guy gets all this publicity, but he has yet to win a playoff game. Is he the right quarterback to lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl?
L – Well, I don't know if he is the right guy but he's the guy we got. I support him and have all my eggs in his basket. A lot of people want to rag on him for his no winning playoff games, and the stupid mistakes he's made on the field. But he also seems to make miracles happen on there too (like the crazy "kick the bad snap" and still get away with the win during the Rams game). I do think he gets way to much publicity for his off the field antics and I think that there are other players on the team that should be given more of the spotlight.

Q5. This is for both of you, both Pitt and Texas have good basketball teams this year who will make the Big Dance. Right now, who are your picks for the Final Four?
M - Despite the fact that I came in 2nd in the Pittsburgh Celebrity NCAA Pool last year, I don't follow college hoops and I'm really awful at this stuff. So, umm... Memphis, UCLA, Kansas, Georgetown?

L- In my Facebook pool I just picked teams that had the coolest mascots and/or hottest players.

Q6. I have to get a girl's opinion, who do you think are the hottest female athletes out there today?
M - The ladies of tennis - Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Kirilenko, Daniela Hantuchova - kind of have a corner on the market, but I think Milene Domingues, Tanith Belbin and Missy Gibson need some love too.
L – The ladies of American Gladiators.

Q7. So Lauren, you write that Erin Andrews and you are from the sorority. Did you ever meet her? If so, tell all us men about her.
L – Um no. I was a ZTA at a school in Texas, she was one in Florida. But we're all sisters. (GAG)

Q8. Real quick - you have to choose just one for a hot date - Tom Brady, Tony Romo, or Jeremy Shockey?
M - Hmmm...which is worse - an illegitimate child, an association with a Cowboy, or whatever V.D. Shockey's carrying? I guess I'll go with Tom Brady. Those are probably some pretty sweet child support checks.
L – Can I choose none of the above?

Q9. Growing up, did either of you play sports? How did you learn about sports - father or a brother?
M - I had quite an illustrious basketball career in middle school/high school. They called me Mandy Jordan. True story. My entire family watched the Steelers growing up, so I couldn't really say who introduced me to sports, but football was definitely the first sport I was interested in. I'm the biggest sports fan in my family by far; my brothers could care less.

L – This may be a shock to you but ladies don't really need that male influence in their life to learn about sports. Yes I have a father that loves football and a brother who played in high school, but I learned about sports on my own. We have fully functioning brains that are completely capable of forming sporting opinions just like the opposite sex. My grandmother loves baseball and she got me my first tennis racquet. I guess if anything my mom was the one who encouraged me to learn about sports when I was younger. I took dance for 9 years and got tired of it so she let me pick some other kind of activity to do seeing as how I had no desire to be a cheerleader like she was.

Q10. Last question, what is the worst part about blogging?
M - Well, we don't earn much money off the blog, so unfortunately it takes a backseat to our day jobs. It's hard for us to compete with the "pro" bloggers out there and keep up a readership when we can only post once or twice a day. But we try to keep posting regularly for the few loyal readers that we have. They rightfully berated us back into blogging when we took a hiatus at the end of last year.

L- I agree with what Mandy said. The money thing is a problem and it's hard to balance school, work and the blog everyday. There are so many blogs out there so it's tough to compete. Staying fresh and coming up with new things that no one else is doing can also be challenging, mainly because we both read a ton of other witty and creative writers out there that are trying to be just as clever and attention grabbing as we are. Hopefully one day someone will discover how awesome we are pay us to this or something equally as cool.

Once again, I would like to thank Mandy and Lauren for their time....and I encourage everyone to check out their blog...

Five Good Questions with Joe Rexrode about Michigan State Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal.....Joe took the time to respond to some questions about Michigan State basketball.....

Q1. How good is this Michigan State team compared to some of coach Tom Izzo's other great teams?
A. This team is a cut below Izzo's best teams. It certainly doesn't compare with the 1999-2001 squads that went to three straight Final Fours and won the 2000 national title. That team was led by Mateen Cleaves, of course, and the 2001 team was Izzo's most talented, with Jason Richardson as a sophomore, Charlie Bell as a senior and Zach Randolph as a one-and-done freshman. This team could match up with the 2004-05 Final Four team (Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager, Paul Davis), but as of yet it does not deserve that comparison. The talent and depth are there, the chemistry is not.

Q2. What areas must they improve upon?
A. Turnovers have been a problem. It's never an Izzo strength because he prefers an up-tempo style of play, but this team has been especially sloppy at times. Other than that, the Spartans defend, rebound and shoot well, and they get assists on nearly 70 percent of their baskets, a very impressive number that suggest unselfishness. But this team has been inconsistent. Drew Neitzel's (photo) shot is there one game, gone the next. He's playing well overall -- near the lead nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio -- but MSU needs him to hit shots. Raymar Morgan was dominant in the nonleague season, but he has been erratic and foul-prone in Big Ten play. The big men are up and down. And the three freshman perimeter players are big helps on offense, liabilities too often on defense. The pieces are there, but a lot of things need to come together soon if this team is going to reach its potential.

Q3. How do you see the Spartans match-up against the likes of a Memphis or Duke?
A. Those two teams, in particular, would be tough matchups because they're filled with big perimeter players who can drive to the basket. MSU would match up much better with top teams such as UCLA (which edged MSU in November after trailing by 13) and North Carolina. The Spartans are better off against teams with "two big" lineups because MSU has frontcourt depth. And although Raymar Morgan is an effective power forward in a small lineup, that lineup doesn't work unless the freshmen are playing well. Freshmen Chris Allen and Durrell Summers bring a lot of firepower off the bench. Their defensive progress in the next month will have a lot to say about how MSU does in March. In general, when this team is playing its best it can hang with anybody. The UCLA game and a convincing win over Texas in December are indications of that.

Q4. Do the Spartans still have a shot at a number 1 seed? If not, how high do you see them being seeded?
A. It's not likely at this point. The Spartans would have to win out, or close to it, and get some help. I think they're in the 3-4 range right now, although their schedule finishes with several tough road games, which is a chance to move up.

Q5. Real quick, at this moment, who are your Final Four teams? And why?
A. Kansas. The most talented team. You've got to get it done this year, Bill Self. Memphis. Against my better judgment, but the Tigers have the chops to get to San Antonio. UCLA. When it comes down to it, the Bruins will get there because they defend. Tennessee. Should have been there a year ago. This team has tons of weapons, and Tyler Smith makes the difference.

I want to thank Joe once again for his time.....it is much appreciated.....

Five Good Questions with Jeff Walker about Bob Knight

Today’s Five Good Questions is with Jeff Walker of the Lubbock Avalanche Journal....Jeff covers Texas Tech basketball and was kind enough to respond concerning former Red Raider head coach Bob Knight and his sudden retirement....

Q1. What is the feeling down in Lubbock now that Coach Knight has retired?
A. Honestly, I don't know because the team has been on the road for two games this week. I think the general sentiment was shock ... not that it happened this year, but that it happened before the season ended. I think Pat has said and done some things in this short time that has most fans willing to keep an open mind about him.

Q2. Coach Knight has a bad reputation in dealing with the media. How was your relations with him?
A. He hated me. No, I'm kidding. We got along well. He treated me fairly and I believe I did the same.

Q3. What did it mean to Texas Tech and its basketball program to have Bob Knight as its coach?
A. I have been saying for quite some time that Bob Knight and Mike Leach have brought more exposure, more attention, more publicity to Texas Tech than anyone has before. Knight took four teams to the NCAA Tournament, brought repeated nationally televised games, while Leach has taken Tech to eight consecutive bowls -- two on New Year's Day -- and has an offense that is appealing to most.

Q4.When he took the job at Texas Tech, many believed that Coach Knight had one good run left in him. Why did he have a difficult time taking the Red Raiders deep into the NCAA Tournament?
A. If you aren't Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, et al, how many times do you really take a team deep into the NCAA Tournament? His team went to the Sweet 16 three years ago and was close to going to the Elite Eight. If you look at the history of Tech's program, one other coach (AD Gerald Myers) took Tech to as many as four NCAA Tournaments and he coached here for 20 years. Knight did it in six.

Q5. Some media people up north here are ripping Coach Knight for "quitting on his team." What are your thoughts?
A. I've found there are people that either like him or don't and your opinion probably won't change on that no matter what he does ... good or bad. His players have said they don't feel he quit on them, so if they don't feel that way, why should anyone else?

Once again I would like to thank Jeff for his time....it is much appreciated.....

This week's big games

Here are some of the big games this week in college basketball....(the ranking is the latest RPI)

Monday
#5 Kansas (22-1) @ #10 Texas (18-4)
The Jayhawks will need their A game in Austin if they want to beat B.J. Augustin and the Horns...this is the only regular season meeting between these two...

Tuesday
#12 Michigan State (20-3) @ #40 Purdue (19-5)
Purdue has real quietly become a solid team in the Big 10...Sparty beat the Boilermakers 78-75 in early January...

Wednesday
#20 Wisconsin (19-4) @ #35 Indiana (20-3)
These two faced off on January 31st and the Badgers smoked Indiana 62-49...the Hoosiers are 20-3, but the strength of schedule (SOS) (ranked 131st) is what is holding them back in the RPI...this is the first of three straight big home games for IU...following the Badgers, Michigan State and Purdue come to Assembly Hall...

#54 Maryland (16-8) @ #2 Duke (21-1)
It doesn't matter what the records are when these two play each other...Maryland hates Duke with a passion...the Terps lost to Duke 93-84 a few weeks back in a game in which they led most of the way...a win here for Maryland would ease a lot of concerns they may have come Selection Sunday...and remember, the Terps went into Chapel Hill and beat UNC earlier this season....

Kansas Jayhawks - 20 years ago

It has been 20 years since head coach Larry Brown and All-American Danny Manning led the Kansas Jayhawks to the National Title in basketball.....the Lawrence (Kan) Journal World did a special anniversary feature on that title team....

Mark Fagan

Sunday Stories

New York Times reporter John Branch writes how former N.Y. Giants general manager never stopped believing in Eli Manning..... "Accorsi paced in a tiny circle in front of his seat. Manning lurched the Giants forward in fits and starts. A fourth-down conversion moved the chains once. They moved again on the game's most memorable play, when Manning escaped the clutches of two pass rushers, then lobbed a wobbly pass that David Tyree caught 32 yards downfield by momentarily wedging the ball against his helmet with one hand." ....

John Branch

New York Times reporter Jack Curry writes how new Yankees manager Joe Girardi is dealing with his ailing father..... "As Girardi raved about embarking on a new beginning with the Yankees, he meandered into an emotional discussion about a possible ending. After Girardi drives to Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday for spring training, he is not sure when or if he will see his ailing father again." ....

Jack Curry

Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke writes that the time is right for the Dodgers to leave Dodgertown... "The Dodgers had 51 wonderful years in Dodgertown. The problem is, they've been there 61 years. Those good old days are long gone, and it only makes sense that the Dodgers disappear with them. Like an aging Brooklyn snowbird exchanging blank stares with a kid Los Angeles outfielder, the Dodgers and Vero Beach no longer fit. The Dodgers don't have many fans there. Their players no longer feel a connection there. Those 10-a.m.-back-home game broadcasts feel alien from there. Dodgertown has become less a "town" than a museum." ......

Bill Plaschke

Los Angeles Times reporter Chuck Culpepper travels to Barcelona, Spail to get the lowdown on the newest Laker - Pau Gasol..... "That's the fairy-tale name of the industrial, 80,000-strong suburb where Gasol's hands began their two-decade love affair with the basketball. That's where the fenced-in schoolyard of his childhood sits in a back corner of town, beyond the streets with local shops and the bus stops with "Juno" ads." ....

Chuck Culpepper

Washington Post reporter Daniel LeDuc writes how 2,500 people applied for jobs at the new Washington Nationals ballpark.... "Applicants began lining up more than three hours before the doors opened, stretching around the block; many people wore Nationals caps or shirts." ....

Daniel LeDuc

Washington Post reporter Les Carpenter writes about the late Sean Taylor - off the field.... "To those who knew him, Taylor's appearance at his great-grandmother's house was Sean: impulsive, mysterious and yet sincerely heartfelt." ....

Les Carpenter

Wonder whatever happened to Tonya Harding?.....well last night she was in Louisville....

Louisville Courier-Journal

Michigan gets great crop of recruits, even without Pryor - - yet

2008 University of Michigan Football Recruiting Class
(As of 10 p.m. EST, Feb. 6, 2008)

Ricky Barnum OL 6-2 265 Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson)
Boubacar Cissoko DB 5-9 175 Detroit, Mich. (Cass Technical)
Mike Cox RB 6-0 206 Dorchester, Conn. (Avon Old Farms)
Kenny Demens LB 6-1 226 Oak Park, Mich. (Detroit Country Day)
Justin Feagin QB 6-0 190 Deerfield, Fla. (American Heritage)
J.B. Fitzgerald LB 6-3 230 Princeton Junction, N.J. (West Windsor Plainsboro)
J.T. Floyd DB 6-0 190 Greenville, S.C. (J.L. Mann)
Taylor Hill LB 6-2 205 Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney)
Rocko Khoury OL 6-5 280 Traverse City, Mich. (Traverse City West)
Kevin Koger TE 6-4 220 Toledo, Ohio (Whitmer)
Mike Martin DL 6-2 285 Redford, Mich. (Catholic Central)
Sam McGuffie RB 5-11 185 Cypress, Texas (Cy-Fair)
Elliott Mealer OL 6-6 280 Wauseon, Ohio (Wauseon)
Brandon Moore TE 6-6 221 Trotwood, Ohio (Trotwood-Madison)
Patrick Omameh OL 6-4 260 Columbus, Ohio (St. Francis DeSales)
Dann O'Neill OL 6-7 295 Grand Haven, Mich. (Grand Haven)
Terrence Robinson ATH 5-9 170 Klein, Texas (Oak)
Roy Roundtree WR 6-0 154 Trotwood, Ohio (Trotwood-Madison)
Michael Shaw ATH 6-0 185 Trotwood, Ohio (Trotwood-Madison)
Brandon Smith DB 6-3 210 New Brunswick, N.J. (New Brunswick)
Darryl Stonum WR 6-3 185 Stafford, Texas (Dulles)
Kurt Wermers OL 6-5 260 Crown Point, Ind. (Crown Point)
Marcus Witherspoon LB 6-2 225 Atlantic City, N.J. (Holy Spirit)

Roster by State
Connecticut: Mike Cox
Florida: Ricky Barnum, Justin Feagin
Indiana: Kurt Wermers
Michigan: Boubacar Cissoko, Kenny Demens, Rocko Khoury, Mike Martin, Dan O'Neill
New Jersey: J.B. Fitzgerald, Brandon Smith, Marcus Witherspoon
Ohio: Taylor Hill, Kevin Koger, Elliott Mealer, Brandon Moore, Patrick Omameh, Roy Roundtree, Michael Shaw
South Carolina: J.T. Floyd
Texas: Sam McGuffie, Terrence Robinson, Darryl Stonum

Five Good Questions with Paul Kenyon about Rhode Island Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal-Bulletin....Paul covers the Rhode Island Rams who are 19-3 and ranked 19th in the RPI....

Q1. The Rams have three losses so far, but I noticed that one of their wins came against Syracuse earlier this season. What did the Rams do in that game to beat a team from one of the major conferences, the Big East?
A. Good shooting can cover a lot of bases. The Rams made their first nine 3-pointers in the Dome _ so much for the difficult background in the big arena _ and finished the game 12-for-18 on threes. The starting guards, Jimmy Baron and Parfait Bitee were a combined 10-for-13. URI had trouble stopping Syracuse. The Orange scored 89. But URI got 91.

Q2. Who are some of the Rams players we should get familiar with?
A. Will Daniels, a 6-8 forward, is having a tremendous season. He's a senior who had gotten better every year. He's averaging 18 points and nearly seven rebounds. Baron, the coach's son, is one of the best shooters in the country, with range as deep as anyone. He regularly shoot from 28 and 30 feet and is in the top 30 in the country for the second straight year in both 3s made and 3-point percentage. Bitee, the point guard, is a natural off guard who has learned a new role with on-the-job-training. He's having an excellent year, too, leading the A-10 in 3-point percentage and being in the top five in assists and assist/turnover ratio.

Q3. What area(s) must the team improve upon?
A. The team gambles a lot on defense, in part because it feels it has to. It is not strong overall defensively and is particularly vulnerable to a good big man who works inside. It also is a very average rebounding team.

Q4. What are Rhode Island's strengths?
A. As noted above, the team can put points on the board. As we stand today it is 13th in the country at just over 82 a game. Another strength is depth. Coach Jim Baron uses a nine-man rotation. Because the teams pushes the pace so much at both ends, that has helped wear down some teams. They've been a good second-half team.

Q5. What does this team have to do if they want to have a long tournament run in the Big Dance?
A. They have to keep pushing the pace, keep putting points on the board. They have scored at least 80 in 15 of their 22 starts thus far. They win by outscoring people, not out-defending teams.

I want to thank Paul for taking the time to respond....it is much appreciated...

Minnesota quietly gets a running quarterback with loads of potential

Terrelle Pryor has been the talk of the recruiting season, but real quietly, the University of Minnesota may have gotten a Pryor Jr in Marqueis Gray a 6'5" quarterback from Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis...here is what was written about Gray:

MarQueis Gray - Ben Davis H.S.
6-5 225 Class of 2008
Gray is the enigma of the class of 2008. He has tremendous athletic ability and talent. MarQueis plays in the premiere conference in Indiana. He has shown shades of ability cut in the mold of Vince Young. When he runs he is a load to bring down, when he throws he does so with strength and has a fluid type motion. But can he win and play with heart and desire? Those high school coaches who have seen him play know that he has all the tools to be a great one. But, not sure he wants it bad enough. He has the physical capability of taking over a game. His signature game this year was against Lawrence North where he ran for 199 yards and threw for 130 yards. He is capable of dominating and he is capable of flopping. 2007 could be his breakout year if he discovers consistency.

An Indiana College Coach says: “Gray could be the most physically dominating quarterback in Indiana. He had D1 size, speed, strength, but he is also a Jekyl and Hyde. You never know who is going to show up each week. From a physical point of view, he has everything.”

Five Good Questions with Sean Keeler about Drake Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Sean Keeler of the Des Moines Register about Drake Basketball....Sean took a few minutes to respond about a nationally ranked Drake team that is 20-1 going into its game tonight against Illinois State.....the Bulldogs have an RPI rating of #8....

Q1. Many people in the country do not know about Drake basketball and their impressive record. Is this team for real? Why?
A. Real enough to win the Missouri Valley Conference, that’s for sure. This team shoots the 3-ball, defends, rebounds and closes games — tight games — as well as any I’ve seen in six years of covering this league. They’re doing it with seniors. They’re doing it with two former walk-ons in the starting lineup. They’re doing it with a first-year head coach. They’re doing it at a school where sports come a distant second to academic responsibilities. And they’re doing it in the best mid-major conference in the country. If there’s a better basketball story going than Drake right now, brother, I’d like to see it.

Q2. Who are some of the players that we should get familiar with?
A. + Adam Emmenecker, senior point guard, former walk-on. Only just put on scholarship before this season. He’s a 3.9 GPA student with four majors/concentrations, already has a job with a major Des Moines company (Principal) wrapped up for next year, and in his first year as a starter, he’s become the best point guard in the MVC not named Daniel Ruffin. I think even some of Adam’s coaches are surprised a little at how well he’s played. And more than a few MVC coaches think, if Drake hangs on to win this league, he’ll be the conference’s player of the year. This from a kid who had baseball scholarship offers from Boston College and Michigan out of high school in Saginaw, Mich., and elected to walk on at a little private school in Des Moines so he could play basketball, his first love, at a Division I level.

+ ‘Bucky’ Cox, junior power forward. If Adam isn’t the most valuable player on this team, then Bucky is. Another former walk-on, the 6-foot-8 Cox has built himself into the prototype MVC big man: Strong enough to clean up down low, versatile enough to pop out and knock down clutch 3-pointers. They use him everywhere on the floor — and he’s comfortable shooting from just about anywhere on the floor.

+ Josh Young, sophomore guard. The budding star, the team’s best long-range rhreat. Drake went 3-0 without the 6-1 Oklahoma native in the rotation, but they’re a much better team when he’s healthy. No fear. He’d shoot from mid-court if his coaches would let him.

+ Klayton Korver, senior forward. Two bad knees, one sweet shot, one incredible senior season. The little brother of NBA standout Kyle is the 6-6 heart of this team. He’s quicker than he looks defensively and has his older brother’s range. Always has a green light. And when he’s on, it’s a lot of fun to watch.

+ Leonard Houston, senior guard. The 6-3 Michigan native is Drake’s captain on the court, especially defensively. Good on-the-ball defender, quick hands. Clutch, too. His putback at Creighton last month forced overtime and his trey from the corner in the rematch iced the Bulldogs’ first sweep of their MVC rivals in more than a decade.

Q3. What area(s) must the team improve upon?
A. Getting to the paint. Like a lot of mid-majors, this is a perimeter-oriented team. When the shots are falling, they can blow you out of the gym. When they’re not, things tend to get bogged down a bit. Teams are going to start challenging Drake to beat their guys off the dribble and drive inside. Will the Bulldogs be able to take advantage? There’s a some good quickness here, but not a heck of a lot of size. They tend to live or die by the trey.

Q4. What kind of coach is Keno Davis? What can you tell us about him?
A. Reserved, smart, driven, and self-depreciating. Basically, he’s is father’s son. He learned a lot from watching his dad, Dr. Tom Davis, growing up. But you can also see some of the things he picked up as an assistant to Bruce Pearl, although I don’t expect him to come to a Drake women’s basketball game with his shirt off and his body painted blue.

Q5. Last question, how well do you think Drake can match-up with the "Dukes and Memphises" of the college basketball world?
A. Physically, not all that well – the size and depth differential would probably do them in against bigger, stronger teams from power conferences (Memphis, Kansas, UCLA, etc.). But if you try to get into a game of ‘H-O-R-S-E’ with this team, you’re going to lose. They’ve got four starters who are comfortable from the beyond the arc and a point guard who loves to drive and kick to any one of them. I don’t know how many of those battles the Bulldogs would win, but it would be an awful lot of fun watching them try.

Once again I would like to thank Sean for taking the time to get us up-to-date with the Drake Bulldogs....

She's at it again - Hillary goes to the tears just one day before Super Tuesday

Hillary Clinton cries in Connecticut
by Jason George

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sen. Hillary Clinton teared up this morning at an event at the Yale Child Study Center, where she worked while in law school in the early 1970s.

A doctor, who was introducing Clinton, began to choke up, leading Clinton's eyes to fill with tears, which she wiped out of her left eye. At the time, the doctor was saying how proud he was that sheepskin-coat, bell-bottom-wearing young woman he met in 1972 was now running for president.

"Well, I said I would not tear up; already we're not exactly on the path," Clinton said with emotion after the introduction.

Clinton is holding a roundtable discussion with Connecticut women to talk about childcare and healthcare.

When Clinton got misty-eyed at an event in New Hampshire on Jan. 7, politicos and pundits filled hours discussing if it helped her, and Clinton eventually pointed to the moment as when she "found her voice" and turned the corner in the Granite State.

At the time, there was much debate if the candidate's emotional response to a question -- "How do you do it?"" -- was genuine or calculated.

Let the conversation begin again...

Stiles Points Comment - SHE IS MORE FAKE THAN A $3 BILL....HOW ARE PEOPLE BUYING HER SHIT????

Super Bowl Thoughts

The New York Giants win is considered an upset, but when you think about it, it was not that big of an upset...1) the Giants were a road tested team; 2) just a month ago, the Giants lost a close game to New England, so they knew the Patriots and knew they could hang with them; 3) the Giants had one of the best defenses in the NFL....so yes, it was an upset in the sense that New England was 18-0....

This is probably one of the few instances when a New York sports team was cheered by many in the nation....usually most sports fans hate New York City sports teams, but because Americans love to hate winners and success, the Giants were the darlings of the Super Bowl...if a rematch was played next week, the Giants would be hated by everyone....

Take that Tiki Barber!!!....it was sweet that the Giants won the Super Bowl the year after Barber retired....Barber was a jerk earlier in the season when he ripped former teammate Eli Manning of not being a leader....he also layed into head coach Tom Coughlin for being a tyrant...it looks like it was YOU Tiki who was the problem....

Bill Belichick made a mistake by not wearing his traditional gray hoodie...he looked out of sync with the red hoodie...

The game had good pace....there was not a lot of delays and penalties...

There is no doubt the Patriot players who made the Pro Bowl do not want to play in that meaningless game....

Whether you love or hate the Patriots, think about it, they were 35 stinking seconds from having a perfect season....all that work since September, week after week after stinking week, and it all came down to 35 seconds....a place in history was lost in 35 seconds....a perfect regular season is now meaningless....the Patriots have to be sick...

The talk around the water cooler will be "what was the best commercial?"....who cares?!?!?!....plus, we don't have a water cooler in our office...

I was rooting for the Patriots because I wanted to see history be made, but it was nice to see Eli Manning win the Super Bowl and be the MVP....earlier this season I had doubts if Eli would ever get it done in New York....but he proved me and all his critics wrong...

NFL needs to release classic games on Itunes

The NFL should move the Super Bowl to Saturday night instead of Sunday....with the game set to kick-off at 6:17 p.m., that means the game will not be over until around 10:30 or so....who feels like staying out and partying when you have to be at work in the morning?....by having it on a Saturday night, the NFL would be helping the economy because more people would be partying.....plus, the NFL could move the game right into primetime at 8:00.....

The NFL is always looking to market its product and make money...then why the heck are they hoarding away all the classic NFL games at NFL Films?...Major League Baseball and the NHL are way ahead of the NFL in releasing its classic games from the past on Itunes...for $1.99 I am able to download historic games from the World Series or Stanley Cup playoffs...when is the NFL going to jump in and start releasing past games?...I know many football junkies would be downloading great games such as The Ice Bowl, the Drive, the Catch, the Immaculate Reception, among many others....

Because I don't have a favorite NFL team, the Super Bowl is not that big of a deal to me...

The last Super Bowl to be played entirely in daylight was Super Bowl XI between Oakland and Minnesota...

I won't be watching all that pre-game crap...I'll turn on my television at 6:00...

The New York Times has some interesting feature stories about both teams this week...

Boston Globe reporter Kevin Paul Dupont tries to find out who Bill Belichick really is..... "Who is Bill Belichick, the one so few of us see? In some ways, according to those who have spent time around the highly successful Patriots coach, he is precisely the guy in those oft-painful press conferences, when he says little, smiles less, and reveals next to nothing about his team, his thought process, or himself." .....

Kevin Paul Dupont

Boston Globe reporter John Powers writes how Giants first year defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been a man on the move..... "His pigskin odyssey began in Central Massachusetts three decades ago, when Steve Spagnuolo was calling signals for the Grafton High Indians." ....

John Powers

Oh, by the way - Patriots 38-23

Is Terrelle Pryor and Tressel scheming against Michigan?

It was reported last night that high school stud Terrelle Pryor may be delaying his announcement of where he will be attending college.....he is supposed to announce it on Wednesday.....if there is a delay, this is not good for Michigan.....if he does delay his announcement then eventually declares to Ohio State, it would not surprise me if the Snake Oil Salesman Jim Tressel had something to do with it.....

Michigan is in desperate need for a quarterback.....so, if Pryor does not choose Michigan, that means the Wolverines have to scramble in their search for a quarterback recruit.....by delaying his decision by even one week, Pryor and Tressel could set back Michigan in this search.....

Prior to the LSU game, a newspaper did a featue on Tressel and what he is like off the field....it went on to say that in his spare time he often just sits around the house and thinks......scoff if you want about my theory, but it would not surprise me if Gentleman Jim came up with this plot....

Kirk Herbstreit can go to hell
Earlier this week, Tressel's bitch - aka Kirk Herbstreit - was on the Colin Cowherd show in which he stated that Michigan will go 6-6 next season....

First off, who the hell is Kirk Herbstreit?....this is the same moron who announced back in November that Les Miles would be the Michigan head coach at the end of the day only to have his "scoop" blow up in his face....Herbstreit is supposed to be the top college football media man in the country, so how did he screw up that "scoop"...

You know what Pretty Boy Kirk, you may be right, Michigan may go 6-6 next season....but as long as one of those 6 wins is against your alma mater...

I want to go on a date with Dana Jacobson!!!

ESPN's Dana Jacobson has been in hot water of late after her drunken tirade at a Mike and Mike Roast in Atlantic City.....who cares!!!.....we all have been drunk a time or two or three and have done stupid stuff....

I am officially declaring that I want to go on a date with Dana....she is single, loves sports, likes to drink, and most of all, she is a Michigan Woman....everyone knows I am a Michigan fan through and through....plus, we are both single and in our late 30s....this is perfect!!!....

So yes, forget about stickwoman Erin Andrews - you can have her.....forget about Bonnie Bernstein.....give me Dana Jacobson!!!!....so if any blogger out there knows the lovely Ms. Dana, please forward this to her....

GO BLUE DANA!!!!

Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists - My vote

The following are the 17 finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame....the NFL writers will vote on this year's class on Saturday....
- Cris Carter - wide receiver - Eagles, Vikings, Dolphins
- Fred Dean - defensive end - Chargers, 49ers
- Richard Dent - defensive end - Bears, 49ers, Colts, Eagles
- Marshall Goldberg - back - Cardinals
- Randy Gradishar - linebacker - Broncos
- Darrell Green - cornerback - Redskins
- Russ Grimm - guard - Redskins
- Ray Guy - punter - Raiders
- Bob Kuechenberg - guard - Dolphins
- Randall McDaniel - guard - Vikings, Buccaneers
- Art Monk - wide receiver - Redskins, Jets, Eagles
- Andre Reed - wide receiver - Bills, Redskins
- Paul Tagliabue - commissioner
- Derrick Thomas - linebacker - Chiefs
- Emmitt Thomas - cornerback - Chiefs
- Andre Tippett - linebacker - Patriots
- Gary Zimmerman - tackle - Vikings, Broncos

There is no doubt that all 17 people are deserving to make the Hall of Fame....in fact, it is an honor to be a finalist...all these athletes made Pro Bowls and All-NFL Teams, therefore I made my own criteria in determining who I would vote for...I asked myself two questions, "Did this person make an impact?" and "Were they a difference maker?"....here is who I would vote into this year's class...

Paul Tagliabue - it is not if he will make the Hall, but when...he missed out last year...Tags was a good commissioner in which there was no work stoppage during his tenure and the NFL became global....

Ray Guy (photo) - he is overlooked and not respected because he was a punter....but Guy was the best punter ever...he was instrumental in the Raiders winning three Super Bowls over a stretch in the late 70s and early 80s....

Richard Dent - Dent was the best defensive end pass rusher that I have ever seen...Bruce Smith has more sacks than Dent...but just like Smith, Dent was a difference maker....as an extra boost, he was also a Super Bowl MVP...that surely can't hurt his case...

Russ Grimm - Grimm has been at this spot a few times and has never made it in...he was the anchor of the great Redskins offensive line known as the Hogs...

Darrell Green - this should be a no-brainer...Green was a shutdown corner who had the speed to rundown anyone who broke loose...Green also served as a punt returner...in his first NFL game, Green made an impact when he chased down Dallas running back Tony Dorsett, on Monday Night, to prevent a sure touchdown....

Randy Gradishar (photo) - the young bucks may have forgotten about this warrior...Gradishar was not flashy, but he was a rock solid linebacker who often did not get the recognition he deserved...

Five Good Questions with Tony Grossi about the Pro Football Hall of Fame Voting

This Saturday, the football writers will be selecting the latest class to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame....The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi is one of the 44 voting members....he was kind enough to take a few minutes to respond to our Five Good Questions....

Q1. On average, how long of a process is it in deciding who will be the new enshrinees? Should there be any changes in the process?
A. It's a gruelling process. The selection meeting lasts more than 4 hours and increases every year because there is so much discussion on every one of the 17 finalists. After all the discussion, there are two votes to whittle down the finalists to seven. And then there are separate votes on each of final seven. There are about a half-dozen accountants in the room collecting ballots and then counting them. It's like electing seven popes a year. Just draining. Painstakingly thorough.

Q2. In your opinion, who are three players, coaches, and/or administrators who should be in the Hall of Fame but aren't?
A. Randy Gradishar, Derrick Thomas and Blanton Collier.

Q3. In the past, you have been an opponent of Art Modell making the Hall of Fame. Do you see any chance of Modell ever making the Hall of Fame, say even 15-20 years from now?
A. Oh, there's always a chance. But in my opinion, nothing will change to rewrite his legacy. I suppose he will get some sympathetic votes when he passes. But his passing will not change what he did -- nor should it. His supporters say we in Cleveland should forgive him. I think we have forgiven him, but we should not forget.

Q4. In the recent Pro Football Weekly, it ran a story about current and past head coaches and their chances of getting into the Hall of Fame. Two of the head coaches who were borderline possibilities were Don Coryell (photo) and Marty Schottenheimer. What is your take on these two former coaches? Would you vote in favor of them being in the Hall of Fame?
A. Right now, no. I would need to hear a really good argument for Coryell. As for Schottenheimer, his postseason record -- using his own words -- is what it is.

Q5. The same article mentioned that Bill Belichick is a lock for the Hall of Fame despite the Spygate scandal. What is your take on Belichick making the Hall of Fame? Your thoughts on Spygate.
A. It's incomprehensible to think a coach can win three Super Bowls -- it may be four soon and there may be even more up ahead -- and not be a slamdunk for the Hall of Fame. As for Spygate, I would love to hear all the facts, but the NFL has seen fit to destroy all the evidence. I've said this for a while now -- Belichick is the closest thing in this era to Paul Brown.

Once again I would like to thank Tony for taking the time to respond....

Five Good Questions with Jack Daly about North Carolina Basketball

Today's Five Good Questions is with Jack Daly of the Durham Herald Sun....Jack took the time to respond about this year's North Carolina Tar Heels.....

Q1. What are the Tar Heels strengths?
A. UNC has perhaps the best college player in the country in Tyler Hansbrough, who goes all out on every play. The Tar Heels have the fastest point guard in the country in Ty Lawson. They have one of the better scorers in Wayne Ellington. And they have sixth-man extraordinaire Danny Green coming off the bench. So UNC doesn't lack in talent, which means they have little trouble scoring. UNC has the second best offense in the country.

Q2. What area(s) must North Carolina improve upon?
A. Defense. Focus to a certain degree (Losing to Maryland at home? Really?), but defense is the obvious one. This has been a recurring problem and has flared up especially in recent weeks. UNC's opponents have shot at least 50 percent in one half in six of the Tar Heels' last seven games. The only team not to do that was Maryland, which, of course, beat the Tar Heels. With Bobby Frasor's injury (he tore his ACL on Dec. 27 and will miss the rest of the season), UNC's depth isn't as overwhelming as it's made out to be.

Q3. Most of the country knows Tyler Hansbrough (photo) and Wayne Ellington, but who are some other players on this team that people should not overlook?
A. Ty Lawson and Danny Green. Most of the country probably knows Lawson as well. But Green's a key player for the Tar Heels, giving the team an offensive threat off the bench. And he's a really good dancer.

Q4. What has Hansbrough done over the last year to improve his game? Is he an all-around player now?
A. I think you could call Tyler an all-around player. His defense is the only thing may cause hesitation. Hansbrough generally doesn't shut down an opponent's big man if that player is talented and as tall as Hansbrough (6-foot-9).

Q5. How good is this North Carolina team compared to the team that won the title a few years ago?
A. We'll see. I'm not trying to be flip, but UNC still hasn't played enough top-25 teams to have a great idea. Once the Tar Heels play Duke on Feb. 6, we'll have a much better handle. Considering the way this team plays defense at the6 moment, I think the logical conclusion is this team isn't as good as the 2005 team. That doesn't mean the Tar Heels won't improve and reach the Final Four. When you have a nucleus of Hansbrough, Lawson and Ellington, you have the necessary pieces to be considered an NCAA title contender.

Once again, I would like to thank Jack for his time....

Five Good Questions with Diane Pucin about UCLA Basketball

Today's "Five Good Questions" is with Diane Pucin of The Los Angeles Times....Diane covers UCLA basketball and was kind enough to take a few minutes to respond to these five questions....

Q1. What is your assessment of UCLA so far this season?
A. The season has gone a bit better than I expected because of the injury problems UCLA has suffered. Of its top nine guys six have missed significant numbers of games or practices. Point guard Darren Collison still hasn't reached the physical condition of last year that drew NBA scout attention his way. But he's getting there.

Q2. What area(s) must the team improve upon?
A. UCLA needs to get better operating its offense against zone defenses. The Bruins could struggle against a really good zone defensive team in the NCAA tournament.

Q3. How much of an impact has Kevin Love (photo) been this season?
A. Kevin Love has made a huge impact. He was criticized, rightly, for being a bit out of shape and Ben Howland was criticized for not figuring out how to get Love the ball more in the paint. But when Pac-10 season started, Love has just turned his talent up. People who don't see the Pac-10 much don't know how impressive his 26 points and 18 rebounds were at Oregon Thursday or how he dominated Brook and Robin Lopez at Stanford and DeVon Hardin and Ryan Anderson at California.

Q4. Overall, how would you rate the PAC-10 this season?
A. It may sound homerish but I grew up in Big 10 Country and worked in Philadelphia for 11 years and from what I've seen this year, the Pac-10 is the toughest conference in the country. It has more good players. Oregon State, which hasn't won a conference game yet, has talent. Teams that win at McArthur Court at Oregon or at Maples Pavilion at Stanford or go to Pullman and beat Washington State must play very good basketball.

Q5. Last question, why does the team have a different color in the letter "C" on their uniform?
A. The different-colored "C" is to honor UCLA's having won 100 NCAA sports championships. The "C" stands for 100 in roman numerals.

I want to thank Diane for her time....

Super Bowl Articles

New York Times sports columnist Dave Anderson writes that the ‘72 Dolphins were not the only perfect pro football team..... "But buried in a forgotten pro football graveyard is a forgotten unbeaten and untied team, the 1948 Cleveland Browns." ....

Dave Anderson

Legenday Newark Star Ledger sports columnist Jerry Izenberg writes about New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.... "He had come to a football team whose upper management knew the inmates had been about as disciplined as the Happy Hour Nursery School at recess on a rainy afternoon. They had finished the previous season about six inches this side of anarchy." ....

Jerry Izenberg

New York Daily News sports columnist Mike Lupica writes how Peyton will be part of the conversation all week even though his team lost..... "Peyton Manning is the third quarterback in this Super Bowl. It means one more star quarterback than usual, one more than we really need since we already have his kid brother against Tom Brady." ....

Mike Lupica

New York Daily News sports reporter Hank Gola compared Bill Belichick's best offense (‘07 Pats) vs. his best defense (‘86 Giants)..... "Take the best defense he ever coached, the '86 Giants under Bill Parcells, and pit them against the best offense he ever coached, this year's record-setting Patriot bunch. Lawrence Taylor running down Tom Brady. Randy Moss working his way deep. Harry Carson against the Patriots' running game. It would make one heck of a video game or electric football game for you old-timers." ....

Hank Gola

Boston Globe sports columnist Jackie MacMullen writes about New England's fourth receiver..... "Gaffney represents a unique distinction that would have sent Dickens scrambling for his inkwell: He was a card-carrying member of the dubious Patriots receiving corps last year that endured the worst of times, as well as the current elite group, which has enjoyed the very best of times." .....

Jackie MacMullen

Arizona Republic sports columnist Dan Bickley writes how Las Vegas is predicting a big day come Super Bowl Sunday.... "I've already talked with the directors of most major books in town, and this will be the largest wagered Super Bowl in the history of legal sports gambling," said renowned handicapper Brandon Lang . . . " .....

Dan Bickley

Random Thoughts - Clinton bashing and other things

I haven't written anything in a few days....plus I need a break here at work....so here it goes:

- What is such the big fuss about Heath Ledger dying?.....he made one big movie in which he portrayed a gay cowboy.....the media is making a bigger deal about Ledger's death than they did about Johnny Podres.....and let me tell you, Podres will always have more status in Brooklyn than this Ledger kid....

- Straight-up Hillary Clinton cannot beat Barak Obama.....that is why she brought her husband into the fray....so basically Obama has to beat both Hillary and Mr. Ego.....

- I love how the Clintons act like this is not about them - they are for the people.....yeh right, it has always been about the Clintons and will always be about the Clintons.....

- Bill Clinton is making himself out as some egomaniac jerk who is power hungry.....

- Remember when the talk shows used to rip on Chelsea Clinton when she was a little girl.....she's not bad looking now....

- I hate it when black people say that Bill Clinton is more black than Obama.....Bill Clinton is WHITE.....deny it all you want, the fact remains that Bill Clinton is WHITE....Hillary Clinton is WHITE.....they will always be WHITE.....

- Is Ed Rendell positioning himself to be Hillary's vice-president?....

- If she does become president, is Hillary going to shed a tear whenever things get tough for her?......ohhh booo hooo....poor Hillary.....

- If you are leading in the polls, expect to get ripped by your opponents and the media.....that's the way it goes.....

- Is the Democratic Party in such poor shape that they have to have another Clinton represent their party?......you mean there is not one other viable, qualified Democrat in this nation?......

- I just used the men's room here at work....I hate it when there is still a lingering smell of a dump with a hint of aftershave mixed in....

- Remember, eat fish on Friday.....

- Remember when Fred Thompson was going to be our next president?.....

- Whatever happened to Donna Rice?.....

- Why doesn't Dennis Kucinich just go away already?.....

- I love it when Tim Russert stuck it to Hillary.....

- Poor Hillary.....we can't blame her though.....we all know that she was born with a silver broomstick stuck up her ass.....

Thoughts on the Championship Games

Thoughts on yesterday's Conference Championship Games
- Fox's Joe Buck is an idiot as a play-by-play football announcer...during the fourth quarter he made an idiotic comment that Eli Manning was doing a good job "managing the game"....WHAT?!?!?....Eli was not "managing the game"....he was kicking ass out there and leading his team to victory with his precision passing...Buck better learn what the term "managing the game" really means...someone like Trent Dilfer "managed the game" when he was with the Ravens when he didn't screw up and allowed his great defense to win the game...

- After a great season, Brett Favre turned back into the Favre of old - a gunslinger who tried to win the game on his own...to me it looked like the cold weather affected Favre more than it did Eli...

- Tom Brady did not play well but the entire Patriots team helped win that game...

- Kevin Faulk was my MVP of the Patriots-Chargers game with his key receptions of poorly thrown balls during the fourth quarter...

Boston Globe's Bob Ryan writes that New England is just not some aerial circus team.... "The fact is they've been playing trench warfare football for the past eight weeks. An additional fact is that in the last two weeks they have been a classic playoff team; i.e. one that wins with defense and smashmouth offense." ....

Bob Ryan

New York Daily News' Mike Lupica writes how the Giants win over Green Bay is one for the ages..... "When it was over, finally, as they were filing out in a Green Bay night that now made this seem like the coldest place on Earth, here outside the Giants locker room was Eli Manning, the best quarterback in the game last night, by a lot, standing with his mother and his fiancée and his father, Archie Manning, who never came close to a day like this in pro football. Archie hugged Eli, then pulled away and said, "I'm awful proud of you." .....

Mike Lupica.

New York Daily News' Filip Bondy writes that the Patriots had a "dirty" win.... "If you want to hate the Patriots - and who doesn't? - then here was yet another reason to gnash your teeth and curse the scoreboard. The Pats won ugly Sunday, and maybe a little dirty." ....

Filip Bondy

Sports Illustrated's Peter King gives his thoughts on the two games and the cold.... "I decide to do my own test. I place an unopened can of LaCroix sparkling water on the window sill of my room. The Weather Channel had predicted minus-34 wind-chill temperatures for daybreak Sunday. I figure: Modern, new hotel. Thick glass. New insulation. And the room's heating unit is directly below the sill. There's no way the LaCroix is going to freeze overnight. Way. Sunday, at 7:25 a.m. Central Time, I pop the top of the LaCroix, take a swig, and semi-coagulated chunks of ice come through the hole. Then nothing. Frozen." ....

Peter King

Chicago Sun Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti writes how the Patriots celebrated, but did not party after their win.... "But if you were waiting for an outbreak of raw, unruly exhilaration, you were sorely disappointed. The Patriots are so methodical, so meticulous and so focused, they've reduced even the traditional title party to a formality." ....

Jay Mariotti

Conference Title Game Predictions and Articles

Championship Game predictions and a few thoughts:
New England 27 San Diego 10
- New England came this far, there is no way they lose this game - NO WAY!...
- I want the Patriots to win for 2 reasons 1) stick it to those miserable cranky '72 Dolphins; and 2) it would suck if the Chargers made the Super Bowl the year after Marty Schottenheimer got fired...
- Philip Rivers has been running his mouth, but at least he won two playoff games...that is something the great Tony Romo can say...
- On the flip side, Romo is banging Jessica Simpson and did bang Carrie Underwood...

Green Bay 21 N.Y. Giants 16
- I wish Pat Summerall was doing the play-by-play instead of Joe Buck....Summerall's voice would fit great with this match-up of Packers/Giants...
- Is it me or is Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy not getting enough credit for Green Bay's success this season?...
- The Giants have not missed a beat without Jeremy Shockey at tight end...that rookie, Kevin Boss, is one bad ass himself...
- What makes this Giants team a little more effective in the passing game this year is that Amani Toomer is healthy...Toomer missed most of last season with a knee injury...
- Tiki Barber?....who needs stinking Tiki Barber?...

San Diego @ New England
San Diego Union Tribune sports reporter Bill Center writes about Bill Volek's sudden thrust into the spotlight..... "Over the NFL's past 39 seasons, no quarterback has thrown for more yards in his first 10 starts than Billy Volek. Problem is, Volek has made only 10 starts in his eight professional seasons – and only one since 2004." ...

Bill Center

Boston Globe sports columnist Jackie MacMullen writes how Randy Moss has been spectacular on the field and an enigma off it..... "His performance has made him millions of dollars, but also made him a public figure, whose mistakes have been highlighted nearly as much as his accomplishments." ...

Jackie MacMullen

N.Y. Giants @ Green Bay
New York Daily News sports columnist Mike Lupica writes that a Giants-Packers match-up just feels right.... "This one at Lambeau Field feels as if it comes out of the days when big championship games seemed to come along all the time for Giants fans. This one feels like all the old rivalries, Giants-Colts in the '50s and Giants-Packers again in the early '60s, the Giants against the Bears in any NFL decade." ....

Mike Lupica

Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter Brett Christopherson writes how the 1961 NFL Title Game between the Packers and Giants set the Lombardi Dynasty in motion..... "While the 1967 title game between Green Bay and Dallas — known to the world as the Ice Bowl — often is thought of as the signature game of the Lombardi dynasty, it's the Dec. 31, 1961 matchup that launched one of the most dominant eras of modern football." ....

Brett Christopherson

Conference Championship Game Trends

The Conference Championship Games will be played on Sunday....interestingly, The Gold Sheet published an article this week about how these title games are often times not competitive....

The Gold Sheet

Since 2000, the home team is 5-2 Straight Up (SU) in the NFC while the home team does not fare so well in the AFC with a mark of 3-4 SU....

Over that same time span, the NFC Underdogs are 4-3...however, the favorite has covered the last three years in the NFC: Chicago -2.5 over New Orleans; Seattle -3.5 over Carolina; and Philadelphia -5.5 over Atlanta....

On the AFC side, the Dogs are 4-3 over the last seven years...

Here is the most interesting trend...since starting the season 8-0 Against the Spread (ATS), the Patriots have struggled ATS with a mark of 2-7 including four straight losses....on the flip side, San Diego is read hot ATS...the Chargers have won their last eight games ATS....

In the NFC, the Giants are 6-1 in their last seven games ATS including winning their last four games...the Packers are just as good as they have posted a 9-2 mark ATS...

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has a special section devoted to the NFC Championship Game....

Green Bay Packers Special Section

Ohm Youngmisuk of the New York Daily News writes how both teams are preparing for the cold weather.... "While Sunday's game won't approach that or the coldest NFL game ever played - the legendary 1967 "Ice Bowl" NFL Championship Game at Lambeau between the Packers and Cowboys played in minus-13 degree weather with a wind chill of minus-48 - it will still be freezing." ....

Ohm Youngmisuk

The Boston Globe's Mike Reiss breaks down each position and see who has the advantage between the Patriots and Chargers....

Mike Reiss

The San Diego Union-Tribune's Nick Canepa tells the national media to deal with the fact that the Chargers, not the Colts, are in the conference title game..... "I'm sick of it all. Why play the games? Why bother? Just get those "American Idol" idiots to pick the Super Bowl finalists. Don't have a regular season. Don't have playoffs. Go straight to the Roman numerals." ....

Nick Canepa

Former Brooklyn Dodger hero Johnny Podres dies

On Sunday, former Brooklyn Dodgers hero Johnny Podres died....everyday I look through various newspapers on the internet, including the New York City papers.....but I did not find out until a few minutes ago when a small note was in today's USA Today on page 5.....Podres' death deserved more attention than being in the notes section....steroids and Congressional hearings were on the front of the sports sections....I also did not see it on ESPN.com.....

For those who are not familiar with Podres, he brought Brooklyn Dodger fans their only World Series title while in Brooklyn when he beat the hated cross town Yankees in game 7 of the 1955 World Series....he is not in the Hall of Fame, but Podres did not need that honor....by beating the great New York Yankees, he was a hero to all in the borough of Brooklyn.....it is just ashame that today's media relegated his death to the inside of the sports page...

New York Times Obit

Championship Game Stories

San Diego Union-Tribune Tim Sullivan writes that somehow, the Chargers keep surviving.... “In Greek myth, these tag-team monsters are known as the Scylla and the Charybdis. In the NFL, they are the defending champion Indianapolis Colts and the so-far unbeaten New England Patriots.” ....

Tim Sullivan

Boston Globe’s Mike Reiss gets a variety of opinions about the Chargers.... “Former NFL head coach Dennis Green, whose background was on the offensive side of the ball, has spent considerable time inspecting the defenses of both clubs in his role as an analyst for Westwood One radio.” ....

Mike Reiss

New York Daily News’ Mike Lupica talked with former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi about Eli Manning’s growth..... “So Accorsi, who was taping the game, hoping to watch all of it later secure in the knowledge that the Giants had won, was in church when he found out that somehow the Giants had gone down the field in the last minute of the first half and scored.” ....

Mike Lupica

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Greg Bedard writes how Green Bay’s defensive front has been playing big.... “The Packers ended up giving up just 28 yards rushing in 18 carries, by the far the lowest mark of the season. They sacked Matt Hasselbeck twice and officially registered five additional pressures. But it felt like more. The Packers' front dominated the Seahawks' offensive line and set the tone for a defense that essentially yielded just three points and gave up a season-low 200 yards of total offense.” .....

Greg Bedard

Thoughts on this weekend's games

Here are a few thoughts from each of this weekend's NFL Playoff games....

Seattle @ Green Bay
- I am not a big Brett Favre fan, but it was nice to see the "old man" win....
- Greg Jennings is fast becoming a star in this league
- Just two years ago Shaun Alexander was the league MVP....his star has fallen fast....

Jacksonville @ New England
- New England's fake Statue of Liberty play was a thing of beauty....
- Jacksonville needs to get the ball in Maurice Jones-Drew's hands a few more times during a game....

San Diego @ Indianapolis
- It has been a lost season for Marvin Harrison
- The Colts need to re-work their defense...sure Dwight Freeney was lost for the season, but there is no way they should have let Billy Volek beat them...
- I hope New England kicks the shit out of San Diego for Marty Schottenheimer's sake...Norv Turner does not deserve to go to the Super Bowl...

New York @ Dallas
- I wish the media and fans would stop making Tony Romo to be some super stud quarterback....don't get me wrong, he's a nice quarterback, but damn it, stop praising this guy already....he has never won a playoff game yet....he is 0-2 in the playoffs....Tony Romo is NOT Brett Favre....he is NOT Tom Brady...and he is NOT even Matt Hasselbeck....
- The New York Giants are a better football team without Tiki Barber....it looks like last year's implosion was centered around Barber and his ego....

Sunday Stories of Note

Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star writes that life has changed for Michael Vick now that he is in the famous Leavenworth pen... "Over that fence and wall, past the guards and gates, it will probably be impossible for Vick to truly be treated like the other inmates. He will be asked for autographs and singled out for fights. He will be given first dibs on the weight bench and randomly told to get to the back of the line at supper time." ....

Sam Mellinger

George Vecsey of The New York Times writes how two southern announcers were music to northern baseball fans ears..... "They were two of the distinctive American voices, born 97 miles apart as the catbird flies. Red Barber and Mel Allen spoke the language of baseball in Southern cadences to Northern ears." ....

George Vecsey

Bill Reiter of The Kansas City Star writes how new Kansas State basketball coach Frank Martin met his father after years of not seeing him..... "He was barely 20, with little money in his pocket and less of an idea of what was going to happen next in life. His father — the man he was named after — had left the family when young Frank was 9, and things had been tough ever since. He had seen him only once in nearly 15 years." ....

Bill Reiter

Karen Crouse of The New York Times writes how tennis star Maria Sharapova was awed by meeting Michael Jordan..... "The story revolved around an airport, which figures, because Maria Sharapova lives out of a suitcase, crisscrossing the globe to play tennis. As she told it, the man walking to the car on the tarmac in Miami looked really familiar." ....

Karen Crouse

Michelle Kaufman of The Miami Herald writes how motherhood has not slowed down Lindsay Davenport..... "Davenport was known to get down on herself during matches, sometimes for something as trivial as one bad shot. Her body language would change. Her textbook ball-striking would disappear. Now, she is playing looser, having fun, and her results have been the talk of tennis for months." ....

Michelle Kaufman

Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times writes that people should watch the Patriots make history, even if they believe the team cheated.... "I hate the New England Patriots because they are convicted cheaters. But I can't stop watching them because, in a brilliant 31-20 divisional playoff victory over Jacksonville on Saturday night, they never cheated themselves or their fans or the game." .....

Bill Plaschke

Anne Blythe of the Raleigh News and Observer writes that even though Marion Jones is heading to prison, her records will still be upheld at North Carolina..... "Her No. 20 basketball jersey hangs from the Carmichael Auditorium rafters in recognition of the contributions she made to the 1994 NCAA championship team. There will be no erasing of records still standing from her days as a lightning-quick basketball point guard or as a college long-jumper or sprinter." ....

Anne Blythe

Bryan Burwell of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes the St. Louis coach Rick Majerus may not be pleased after his team scored only 20 points the other night, but he is happy back at coaching..... "He loves the gym. He loves the smells, the sounds of basketballs and sneakers squeaking and screeching across the hardwood. He loves practice. He loves the games. He loves the game films. He not only loves it, he probably needs it." ....

Bryan Burwell

Stories on Sunday's Playoff Games

San Diego Chargers @ Indianapolis Colts - 1:00
Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes how the Chargers mid-season improvement on defense has led to the team's resurgence..... "And it can be traced back to an increased emphasis on the sheets this defensive coaching staff prepares for the linebackers and defensive backs that show the upcoming opponents' tendencies in certain formations and different downs and distances." .....

Kevin Acee

Indianapolis Star sports columnist Bob Kravitz writes that he thinks Tony Dungy will be leaving.... "He has acknowledged, between the end of last regular season and a week after the Super Bowl victory, he went back and forth on the issue of retiring three or four times before deciding to come back. This time, he doesn't come back." ....

Bob Kravitz

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys - 4:15
Vic Ziegel of the New York Daily News writes that he is "surprised" the Giants are only dogs by seven points.... "The Cowboys are sending 12 players to the Pro Bowl. The Giants have one representative, Osi Umenyiora. Sure sounds like the league thinks the world of Dallas." ....

Vic Zeigel

Dallas Morning News sports columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor writes how a Cowboys win will be nice for two veterans.... "Ellis and Adams, the Cowboys' first two selections in the 1998 draft, have played a combined 296 games. Yet, neither has ever won a playoff game." ....

Jean-Jacques Taylor

Will Terrelle Pryor be wearing the Maize and Blue in 2008?

A shake-up took place in Ann Arbor on Wednesday when wide receiver Adrian Arrington officially declared that he is leaving Michigan for the NFL.....it is also speculated that fellow wide receiver Mario Manningham will soon follow....the other official announcement was that quarterback Ryan Mallett is transferring out of Michigan, presumably to Tennessee....

Before I go on, I want to wish all three players the best in their future endeavors....Arrington and Manningham will always be Wolverines and hopefully they can make the football program proud at the next level....as far as Mallett, I wish him nothing but the best....only 1 quarterback can be on the field at one time and Mallett must have felt that he does not fit in with new head coach Rich Rodriguez's system.....Below is an article by John Borton of Rivals.com and his thoughts on Mallett leaving....

John Borton
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor
Rich Rodriguez wants a Michigan quarterback to quarterback Michigan. And if there's any doubt, hesitation, missed meetings, etc., on the part of those who might apply, well … don't let the door sack you on your way out.

Rodriguez tried to sell freshman Ryan Mallett on the new staff's ability to structure its offense to meet the strong-armed passer's talents. He made several efforts to try and sway the long, tall Texan, as he told Jim Rome yesterday.

"I talked to him and all our quarterbacks about how our system adapts to the quarterback," Rodriguez said. "If we get a throwing quarterback, we've had ones who have gone on to have great careers and to the NFL and all that. "But I [spoke to Mallett] a couple of times. I recruited him once. I recruited him twice, but after the third call, it's 'Okay, three times is enough for me.' It's three invitations. If somebody doesn't want to be here, then we should all move along."

Rodriguez left no doubt at halftime of the Michigan-Indiana basketball game last night. He noted Mallett missed a team meeting the day before, and when asked whether he is waiting to hear what the young quarterback has to say, Rodriguez responded with words that made all but the most diehard recruiting guru sycophants smile. "Don't care," the new sheriff said. "He's not playing for Michigan. I'm concerned with who's playing for Michigan. That's my concern."

DON'T CARE? Don't you understand, Coach? This is RYAN MALLETT, the greatest quarterback-to-be in the history of college football, the torpedo-launching Texan who shreds receivers' gloves and who once chucked an armadillo 85 yards without breaking a sweat!

This is the kid who was about to make Tom Brady look like Marcia Brady! This is the once-in-a-lifetime, surefire, Heisman-ready architect of multiple national championships – not to mention the guy whose poster replaced that of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders on the walls of aging recruiting "gurus." DON'T CARE?

Don't care. Just that easily, the new era begins. Oh, and by the way, it was a short lifetime. The next once-in-a-lifetime QB prospect watching the Wolverines closely isn't far behind.

Now, for anyone taking this as Mallett bashing (Mallett hammering? Mallet malleting?) – breathe deeply and listen. The kid came here under one system, believed fervently in his position coach, and saw those very important elements change in the span of 12 months. Wherever he goes (within reason), we wish him well. No hard feelings. It should probably be noted – for the sake of perspective – that the two most glorified quarterbacks in the history of Michigan football recruiting (Mallett and Drew Henson) combined for a total of 11 career starts.

Meanwhile, someone who generated little more than a shrug upon arrival in Ann Arbor has three Super Bowl titles in his back pocket, with another on the way. But we digress. Most importantly, the new boss is concerned about who is playing for Michigan.

And losing Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Jake Long, Adam Kraus, Mario Manningham, Adrian Arrington and Ryan Mallett off the offensive roster in a fortnight didn't make him blink. Now, "Don't care" doesn't quite carry the same ring as "Those Who Stay Will Be Champions." But the intent is the same, and the edge carried by the man delivering the message can't be mistaken.

Stiles Points Thoughts
With Mallett leaving Ann Arbor, there is a very good chance that Michigan may land super-stud quarterback Terrelle Pryor from Jeanette, PA.....Pryor was the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year and is being labeled as the next Vince Young....of course, Michigan has to battle Mr. Sweatervest for Pryor's services....it is believed that Pryor has narrowed his choices down to Michigan and Ohio State.....with Mallett gone, Pryor would be able to start from day one at Michigan....check out the links to read more about Pryor.....

Scout.com

Terrelle Pryor

Take that Ohio State fans!!!!

BEST DAMN TEAM IN THE LAND

Michigan Man Shuts Up Ohio State Fans!!!!

A MICHIGAN MAN
FINALLY BEATS TRESSEL

New Passcode at Hayes Center 38-24!

Thoughts on the BCS Title Game

Here are my keys for tonight's BCS Title Game.....

For Ohio State to win
1. Run, run, run - OSU must get Chris Wells started early and often...
2. Surprise, surprise - I'm not talking Gomer Pyle here....but look for OSU to throw some type of trick play to keep LSU off balance...a flea flicker could be big - especially if LSU is determined to stop the run...don't be surprised if they go with a deep pass early to show LSU that they are here to play....
3. Stay close - if Ohio State is close at halftime, they will be a threat in the second half...Tressel wants to stay close then grab the lead in the second half and play Tresselball....

For LSU to win
1. Stop the run - Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, must stop the Ohio State running game....if OSU can run the ball and then get the lead in the second half, Tressel will go into Tresselball mode and shorten the game....force Boeckman to beat you!!!...
2. Over the top - Juice Williams and Illinois proved that Ohio State cannot play the deep ball well...LSU needs to throw in some playaction and go for the big play....
3. Keep your foot on their throat - if LSU gets an early lead, they cannot let down for 1 second...if you do, Tressel will grab momentum...LSU must play 60 minutes of hell...not 59 minutes and 59 seconds....60 minutes!!!

Prediction
If this game was played immediately following the regular season, my pick would have been Ohio State because LSU was banged up...Glenn Dorsey and Matt Flynn were hurt...the Tigers are now healthy....

Sure Ohio State has all the "motivation" after what happened last season to Florida....and I believe all coaches need to motivate their players, but Tressel goes overboard....in August, he made the passcode 4114 to get into the Hayes Center (the score of last year's Florida loss)....then he gave his team these DVDs about all the negatives that the national media are saying about OSU...motivation is good, but Tressel lives off it....

I pick LSU to win a close game....not only does Les Miles want to win this game, but so does Pelini who can use this victory for recruiting purposes when he becomes head coach at Nebraska...a healthy LSU will be difference....

LSU 27-16

BCS Stories - LSU vs. Ohio State

BCS Title Game - LSU vs. Ohio State - New Orleans - Fox
Rob Oller of the Columbus Dispatch reveals the real Jim Tressel..... "When Jim Tressel enters a roomful of Ohio State fans, the floor immediately tilts in his direction. Worshippers flow toward him like water rushing to a drain." ....

Rob Oller

Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch writes that being an underdog is good in the BCS Title Game..... "Of the previous nine title games of the Bowl Championship Series, six were won by the underdog." ....

Tim May

Doug Lesmerises of the Plain Dealer writes about Road Warrior Animal's son..... "On the road for 250 to 300 nights a year, wearing those same red and black tights, pulling on the spiked shoulder pads and applying the face paint that disguised who he really was, Road Warrior Animal couldn't talk to his co-workers about his children back in Minnesota, his oldest son Joey; his baby, daughter Jessica; or little James in those tights." .....

Doug Lesmerises

New Orleans Times Picayune's Rob Thibodeaux traveled to Elyria, Ohio - the hometown of Les Miles..... "Consider Elyria's contributions to life as we know it. This is the home of the padded bicycle seat. The rubber heel. The colored golf ball. And Les Miles." ....

Rob Thibodeaux

Baton Rouge Advocate's Carl Dubois writes about LSU's humble leader - Glenn Dorsey.... "Yet, in early October, after LSU's dramatic 28-24 victory against Florida in Tiger Stadium, Dorsey sounded charmingly oblivious to his status as one of the big men on campus and one of the biggest names in the game he loves." ....

Carl Dubois

Shreveport Times' Roy Lang III writes about hometown hero Jacob Hester..... "He's not flashy — although he has plenty of speed. His name never hit the Heisman radar, but LSU folks will tell you there's not a more valuable Tiger." ....

Roy Lang III

The Baton Rouge Advocate has a list of tidbit....

The Advocate