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This weekend has the potential to be a memorable one for college football. With that said, let’s not get the game twisted, people. The last time we felt like this was only a couple of weeks ago, only to be thoroughly disappointed by a slate of games that had all the makings of classic on them. Yet, once they got going, they were so overmatched, overhyped, and such a waste of time that I could have spent my day shocking the world watching high school football instead. However, one of the ideals at ETSF is to keep it 100 and also remain optimistic, and with that being said, let’s take a quick look at some games that have the potential to be pretty damn good.
When Kenny got me hip to the greatness that is "The Shock The World Tour" the single biggest sticking point that him and B-Lew told me is that more than just seeing a game, or fans going nuts, or just the atmosphere that is created by being at a football stadium, a pee-wee basketball game, or a minor league baseball game, there's nothing that surpasses the fact that you really don't know what you might see when you show up to a live sporting event.
Last night I was able to attend the #RedsTweetup at the Great American Ballpark as the Cincinnati Reds faced the Houston Astros as the National League's Central Division hung in the balance. I got to witness three things that I've never witnessed in entire life as a sports fan, please allow me to share them with you.
There’s been a disturbing trend recently. Well, lemme take that back; it’s not so much recently, because people were singing this man’s praises quite a bit last season. However, it’s gone to a complete and more ridiculous level this year. The whispers people had last year turned into chants during the preseason, and now, they're battle cries for the man who has replaced Lorenzo Favre in Green Bay. While there’s no doubt the man can play some quarterback, there’s definitely some suspicion from me as to why folks are in a hurry to put the man in the quarterback elite of the NFL so soon. That man, ladies and gentlemen, is none other than Aaron Rodgers, the scintillating signal-caller of the Green Bay Packers.
Since the start of the 21st century, there has been no better rivalry in college football than Oklahoma vs. Texas. Since the 2000 BCS National Championship game, these two teams have been involved in six of the title games, winning two of them. Some of the most dynamic players at their position of all-time have come from these two schools. Players like Adrian Peterson, Vince Young, Roy Williams (safety version), and Derrick Johnson have made plays in this series that you can only dream up in your mind.
However, this past Saturday, Texas decided to leave their collective souls in the locker room and allow themselves to get skulldrug at home against a UCLA team that hasn't been good since Karim Abdul-Jabbar was running the ball for the school from Westwood. Moreover, Oklahoma got themselves into another slobber-knocker with a scrappy 2-time defending Big East champion Cincinnati Bearcats, and squeaked by with a 31-29 win. The funny thing is...the trash talk had already begun before Oklahoma fans could even begin to appreciate the victory.
Back in my former life, plenty of days, nights, and weekends were spent playing an assortment of video games. Whether it was on Nintendo, Sega, or Playstation, you couldn’t tear me away from playing them, especially sports video games. Sure, there was some Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and stuff like that mixed in, but the way my video game experience was complete was because of Tecmo Bowl, Madden, and NBA Live.
About nine years ago, I renounced my relationship with playing video games. Honestly, it wasn’t a thought-out decision; nothing that merits a deep analysis or anything like that. It just so happened that once I gave them up, an inordinate amount of free time just came out of nowhere. After that, I decided the free time that was acquired outweighed the time put into video games, but there’s an aspect of video games, especially Madden and NBA Live, that will live for eternity within me: the concept of the Create-a-Player.
The day has come and gone, and star wide receiver Vincent Jackson and pro bowl offensive lineman Marcus McNeill has not been traded. The Chargers have seemingly turned down every potential deal that has landed on general manager A.J. Smith's desk. The agents are angry. Vincent Jackson's agent, Jonathan Feinsod, let out a quote that had me cracking up.
Said Feinsod of Chargers GM A.J. Smith: “Archie Manning had it right. They call (A.J. Smith) the Lord of No Rings for a reason.”
Excuse me one moment...
Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
(wipes tears, cleans glasses, gets composure back)
Ok...if you're not familiar, the Archie Manning reference is regarding Archie forcing the Chargers to trade his son Eli instead of letting him play in San Diego. Plus, the “Lord of No Rings” bit? That's funny as all get out.
However, let me be perfectly clear on how I feel about this situation, if A.J. Smith's goal is to not pay Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill, for whatever reason that may be, cool. I'm totally fine with it. Here's a couple of reasons why...
April 5, 2010 began as many days in my life have. There was the usual: turned on the TV, brushed my teeth, washed my face, fixed some breakfast, hit 24 Hour Fitness, the whole nine. There was nothing that suggested anything ominous was on the horizon. If so, I would have dressed for the occasion. However, that soon changed, when the Philadelphia Eagles traded The Great Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins.
At the time, utter shock took place over anger; bewilderment replaced the feeling of being utterly furious. Sure, there were whispers about trading him in the past, but it never occured to me they would actually do it, especially coming off of an 11-5 season. Was it realistic that they would trade a man, within the freaking division, who led his team to FIVE conference championships in 11 seasons? That means that in every other season he played, he took his team to the conference championship. Let that marinate, people…
There are some folks who just have "it" and there are others who simply don't.
Fellas, you all remember that one woman in particular, fine just isn't a great enough word to describe how good looking she is. Seems to always be genuinely interested in you, but just aloof enough for you to think that you don't really have a chance. She leads you on making you think you are THE one, then she acts the same way with 3-4 other guys. You make a move on her like only a true man would, not waiting on the sidelines, and you might get to first base even...but, no score.
There are athletes that I watch on a consistent basis that tend to make me feel this way as well. They have the talent to make all the plays that only an elite athlete can. You watch them on the field of battle and it seems like that they can do it all, except for one small problem...they can't.
If you’re a sports fan, then it’s safe to say you’ve engaged in times with friends when you would all get together, eat some food, have some drinks, talk trash, and pretty much enjoy, and despise, each other’s company. Whether it’s March Madness, the Super Bowl, the National Championship, the NBA Playoffs, or any other sports event, good times are had by all. Granted, if your team loses, you'll probably be pissed, but rarely will you trade in the fellowship you engage in with your people, and even better than that, is the fact that you can't wait to do it again.
Despite the fact all those are good, you’ve never really experienced football fellowship, until you’ve been a part of a Football Sunday on Twitter. Sure, you still may be at your local Buffalo Wild Wings, Champs, or even at the house, but wherever you are, you’re still checking your Twitter as well, just to see how folks are reacting to the same thing you’re watching. It may well be the single-greatest way to enjoy a game that has ever been conceived.
Darrelle Shavar Revis, 25, passed away on September 19th, 2010. He was born on July 14th, 1985 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Darrelle was widely regarded as the best cornerback in the NFL with the New York Jets. He was chosen by the Jets with the 14th pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He is survived by his four teammates in the secondary: Antonio Cromartie, Kyle Wilson, Eric Smith, and Jim Leonhard, as well as his boisterous head coach, Rex Ryan. A special foundation has been created in Darrelle's name, called the "Don't Get Mossed" foundation for defensive backs who get well...Mossed. This foundation was created in lieu of the soul-taking monstrosity that took place Sunday afternoon at the "New" Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Its Saturday, and I usually don't post anything during the weekend, but its something I've been going back and forth on and I needed to get it out my system. Ponder this with me for a second about the Western Athletic Conference...
Utah State came THIS close to beating Oklahoma in week one. Hawaii gave USC all they could handle in week one. Fresno State, just mollywhopped the 2-time Big East champion Cincinnati last week, and Nevada just beat a perennial Pac-10 power (for what that's worth) in Cal last night. Oh yeah, then there was that Boise game...
Remember the days when you could get with the crew, and enjoy looking forward to football on Sundays? Or the days when you would just sit around and talk and yell, with everyone’s voice above the other, and the only purpose was to prove a point, in regards to the actual game? Maybe you were passionate about who was the best quarterback in football, or who the best running back is, best receiver, DB, whoever. It was all based on what was going on in the games, and you would use stats to help your case, if needed. The thing everyone could agree on though, no matter what, is that watching the game was the best part of it all. You could watch, with limited bias, and little-to-no ulterior motives. Those were the good ol’ days…
Well, those days are long gone, people. The integrity of the game is no more. No longer can you simply engage in these types of conversations, and no more are the days when watching the game can be ulterior motive-free. That’s because an activity has come through that has demonized, jeopardized, and bastardized the game-watching experience of the NFL. That activity, ladies and gentlemen, is fantasy football.
16 of 24, 175 passing yards, 1 TD. 11 carries for 103 rushing yards.
In a losing effort, Michael Vick balled out against the Green Bay Packers this weekend, and it was something to see on Twitter and Facebook the amount of celebration and adulation that was given to #7. It was even people that "I would assume" would never cheer for Vick again, were openly texting and calling me talking about, "Did you see Mike Vick?" Even when I chopped it up with John Cena on Monday, he was genuinely excited and happy for the man.
So what are we really going to see from Michael Vick in the 2010 season? We've always known that Vick was able to run, and make plays outside the pocket. However, the biggest phenomenon of the weekend is this...he actually looked like a legitimate quarterback, with a pocket presence.
There has been some serious soul-searching from The Son that Hope and Solomon Conceived lately. Between shocking the world across the country, acting a fool at Twin Peaks during the Cowboys season opener, and the usual shenanigans, a startling revelation came about. It is one that went totally unnoticed, and in the 560 posts that have been written at Ed the Sports Fan, not one has been written about the most influential wide receiver of my generation.
When I use the term “influential,” it’s more from friends of mine, peers, and how we’ve used this man’s exploits (ex. dude got “Mossed”) to describe new ways of being embarrassed on the football field, or sports, period. Sure, when we have top ten WR lists, he is at the top of them, but it’s always with other people in mind. Yeah, anytime people talk to me about wide receivers, he is the first, middle, and last name that comes out. In spite of all the homage that's been paid to the man for years, there has never been an exclusive post written about my favorite wide receiver of all-time, The One and Only Randall Gene Moss, and today, that will change.
Its crazy to think that I almost decided not to show up.
Sometimes, the sports gods will put you into precarious situations. Some of you experienced it on Saturday, with the unfair circumstance of having three prime-time college football games come on at the same time (fail on the program directors). Well, on Monday night, I faced an ultimate decision.
Doubleheader of Monday Night Football...or two tickets, ten rows up, live at Monday Night Raw, in Cincinnati. I mean, goodness gracious, you don't get double-headers of Monday Night Football but once a year, and it was Jets vs. Ravens in the opener? However, a wise old man told me something I've never forgotten: "never pass anything up that you might only get once chance to experience. It will haunt you."
Monday Night Raw it is.
Last night was one of those nights where a public apology must be made, for my behavior in a public establishment. The incident occurred at Twin Peaks, during the Dallas Cowboys/Washington Redskins game, and it occurred on the last drive of the game.
When Tony Romo completed a last-second touchdown pass to Roy Williams, the thrill of victory swept through the restaurant and resulted in a 6’1, 210-pound man sprinting behind the bar, clear past waitresses, on-lookers, and other Cowboy fans reveling in celebration and nearly into the kitchen to high-five the cooks, janitors, and anyone else who was overcome with joy, excitement, and plain-old relief…
…only to turn around and see a flag lying on the ground. It was a fitting way to end such a disgusting offensive effort by my Dallas Cowboys.
You don't need me to tell you what's about to happen in college football this Saturday.
Chaos.
Teams will immediately lose their chances for the national championship, teams will immediately have their egos put in check, and teams will have to re-evaluate their goals as they circled this game as the one they had to win. This is what a shakedown Saturday is all about in college football. Hopes and dreams will be shattered, and entire fan bases will be crying with tears of happiness or sadness, drowning their sorrows with libation lewd women and whining.
Is this not why you are here? Are you not entertained? Of course it is, its why you love college football. Big thanks to The Rev and Joe Simmons Here are the four big questions that need answers coming into Saturday.
Its finally here, its time for football to begin.
Over the course of the last 7 months, we've seen a rise of one of the most beleaguered franchises in sports history (New Orleans Saints), we've seen the fall from grace of one of the marquee faces of the league (Ben Roethlisberger), we've seen a face of a franchise get shown no brotherly love (Donovan McNabb), and even a foul-mouthed, pot-belly, charismatic head coach (Rex Ryan) show us the true definition of 'Hard Knocks'.
We could have never predicted what would transcribe over the last seven months, and the prognosticators will have you to believe certain things are facts when in actuality they are just figments of their imagination. So what's really real in 2010? Let me see if I can help out just a bit.
Today on ETSF, Phil gives us his review of "One Night in Vegas," the recent 30 for 30 documentary about two of the most polarizing men in our lifetime: Mike Tyson and Tupac Shakur...
“It was just supposed to be just another night in Vegas… Tupac was more than just another emcee, just like Tyson was more than just another athlete… It was supposed to be just another night in Vegas.”
In “One Night In Vegas,” Reggie Rock Bythewood did a fantastic job in telling the story of the events that led to the friendship between boxer Mike Tyson and rapper Tupac Shakur, up until the night it ended – and it was a friendship that a lot of us didn’t even know existed before watching the premiere of the 30 for 30 film.
You can thank my never-ending curiosity about certain topics, especially this one, as well as The Ghost of Michael Tillery’s Past, for this post coming to life. Last week, Ben Roethlisberger had his initial four-to-six-game suspension settled at four, thanks to a ruling by Roger Goodell. Initially, there wasn’t much surprise from me, or anyone, but that was for reasons that were on the surface. Sure, there were some people asking questions, and some might have made a spark about it, but there was no raging inferno, no riots in the streets, no hell-raising; absolutely nothing.
Granted, I've always been a fan of The Motorcycle Rider as a quarterback, but it’s impossible for me to look at the man in the same light, after he’s been accused not once, but twice, of sexual assault in the past 12 months. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s twice in one year. Anyway, the point of this post is to look at exactly why the man and his team, in my opinion, got off easy.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct is an ongoing series in which Ed The Sports Fan brings you the important events, haps, people, and other shenanigans over the past weekend so that you can be thoroughly entertained on this Labor Day, the first Monday in September, as you somehow try and crash some folks barbecue that you show up empty-handed, or there's no libation, or you simply don't even know the person hosting. You're crashing it...and that's totally acceptable.
Its the first Monday in September...and its time to set the tone. You know if I break out an Unsportsmanlike Conduct post then its not a game out here in these streets. LEGGGGGO!
In college basketball, we know these teams as mid-majors. In college football, I'm proposing that we call this current crop of teams the "BCS Busters" because that deceptive, fraudulent, counterfeit, not to be trusted sham of a system BCS Rankings has no way of truly qualifying how good teams like Boise State, TCU, Utah, BYU, and Houston are.
In the course of the last five years, we’ve seen these teams take out teams that were poised to win a national title. TCU and Boise have both beaten my beloved Oklahoma Sooners, Utah murdalized (it’s a made up word, get over it) an eventual national champion in Alabama, plus Houston and BYU have consistently taken out some of college football’s elite in other BCS conferences. So how good can these five teams be this year? I think two are capable of making a run at a national title, and one other team has a legitimate Heisman candidate. Notre Dame, you should be ashamed that five schools west of the Mississippi can perform at such a level while you wade in the waters of mediocrity. Let’s continue…
There’s truly nothing that compares to team sports. There are so many lessons to be gained; lessons that are impossible to learn in any other aspect of life. Think about it: you have endless practices; some in the unbearable heat, and some in the unrelenting cold. Those days of practicing in the heat, or in the cold, when your legs felt like they were about to fall off, and the rest of your body was just prepared to quit on you, one of the biggest goals was to eventually put your team’s jersey on.
It was one thing if you saw the uniforms the year before, and you just couldn’t wait until it was your turn to wear one. It’s an entirely new thing if you heard through the grapevine that new uniforms were coming. All of a sudden, you have that additional energy to lift more weights, run more suicides, work on drills, and it’s all in the name of putting on that new jersey with some new shoes, and if your coaches were cool enough to let you rock wristbands, headbands, and all those other Christmas tree ornaments, it was even better (equate a bare Christmas tree to a bare uniform and the ornaments to all the extra stuff that players do to dress their uniform up, and that’s where the analogy comes from). Take all those ingredients, add in New York City, and you have a picture of what took place when I shocked the world yesterday at the Nike Pro Combat System of Dress Unveiling.
