The NHL Players Association and the league have finally
agreed upon a new labor agreement. As a casual fan of the NHL, I have not been
losing sleep over the absence of professional hockey. But hockey has probably
the most diehard and dedicated fans of any professional sport, and the owners
and players should be ashamed of themselves. How does NHL commissioner Gary
Bettman still have a job? This has been the third work stoppage since he took
over as commissioner in 1993, and the second in seven years. You think it might
be time for the NHL to find a new commissioner? And while where at it can we
also get rid of Bruins owner and fellow slime ball Jeremy Jacobs, the chairman
of the NHL Board of Governors and a strong influence behind the lockout?
Wishful thinking on my part.
With their third BCS title in four years with a very
convincing 42-14 win over Notre Dame, Nick Saban’s Alabama team is sport’s newest
dynasty. With six weeks to prepare, I’m glad to see Notre Dame showed up for
the first half. This is also the seventh straight champion out of the SEC
conference. I’m beginning to see a pattern here…
In the 2013 Hall of Fame voting, the Baseball
Writers’ Association elected…nobody. For the second time in four decades, no
players were chosen by the writers to enter the Hall of Fame. It’s kind of hard
to believe that arguably two of the best players at their respected positions,
Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, were not elected on their first ballot. And I
stress kind of. The steroids era has obviously left its mark, and it might be
time before any players associated with it join Cooperstown’s hallowed shrine,
if at all. For all that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa did for rejuvenating
baseball 1998 with their home race, neither one of them belong in the hall.
They were both one dimensional players throughout their careers. But Barry
Bonds was arguably a Hall of Fame player before his head swelled up like a hot
air balloon. He was a three time MVP and eight time gold glove winner before
his home run tirade at the turn of the century. He also averaged 36 stolen
bases a season between 1989 and 1998. The fact that he was a complete asshole
to the media probably didn’t help his chances.
Thumbs up for the season premiere of Justified. It’s good to see everyone’s favorite
wisecracking, bourbon drinking and gun slinging Deputy US Marshall Raylan
Givens back and in top form. It has the making of another solid season.
The nominations for the 85th annual
Academy Awards were announced on Thursday. Although all the nominations are
deserving, it’s a little surprising that Katherine Bigelow, already a one time
winner for The Hurt Locker, was
snubbed for Best Director for Zero Dark
Thirty. Maybe the members of the Academy are the same people that hire NHL
commissioners and elect players to the baseball Hall of Fame.
Finally a few words of advice for Carmelo Anthony:
you do not want to tangle with Kevin Garnett. We all know you have mastered the
open handed bitch slap, but this is one scuffle you will lose. Next time just
walk away.
With all that being said, let’s look at some marquee
matchups in NCAA hoops as we enter the first weekend of conference play.
Just kidding. There are a few important football
games also on this weekend that require our attention.
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
DENVER
BRONCOS (-9) over Baltimore Ravens
I know what you’re thinking: this line is way too
high. And I should be routing for Baltimore to win for the chance that my New
England Patriots can host the AFC Championship game next weekend. But let’s not
forget that Denver went into Baltimore in week fifteen, held Ray Rice to 38
rushing yards, and embarrassed the Ravens 34-17. Granted Denver was up 17-0 at
the half and Baltimore had to turn to the passing game get back in the game,
only to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter when the game was already
out of hand. I see this game playing out the same way. Peyton Manning puts his
team up early, and Baltimore has to rely on Joe Flacco to make a comeback.
Denver’s defense also has been on a roll lately, allowing opposing teams to
fifteen points a game since the beginning of November. Can Ray Lewis make that
much of a difference going into one of the toughest venues in the NFL? I don’t
see him doing any dances when this one is over.
SAN
FRANCISCO 49ERS (-3) over Green Bay Packers
Backing San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his
first playoff start scares me a little, but so does the 49ers defense. Green
Bay doesn’t have much of a running game, so they will have to rely heavily on
Aaron Rogers, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But Green Bay’s shoddy
offensive line, allowing a league high 51 sacks during the regular season,
might be in for a long day against sack machine Aldon Smith and San Fran’s pass
rush. Rogers will have a tough time if he’s running for his life for most of
game.
Seattle
Seahawks (+2.5) over ATLANTA FALCONS
There’s probably not a team that has more pressure
on them this post-season than the Atlanta Falcons. Cruising through most of the
regular season, they secured the top spot in the NFC throughout the playoffs,
but they can’t help but be haunted by their recent playoff history. Quarterback
Matt Ryan is 0-3 in his post-season career, and he’s about to go 0-4. The
Falcons running game was one of the worst during the regular season, relying
mostly on Ryan and the passing game to win ball games.
But Seattle’s passing defense is one of the best in the league. I see Marshawn
Lynch having a huge game for Seattle, and I’m riding the hot Seahawks to win
another road game.
NEW
ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-9.5) over Houston Texans
Isn’t this the same Patriots team that exposed Houston
for the overrated frauds that they are with a 42-14 ass whooping on Monday
Night Football in week 14? I thought so. Nobody prepares his team for big games
better than Bill Belichik. Plus Matt Schaub has been doing his best Mark
Sanchez impersonation lately, throwing one touchdown and four interceptions in
his last five games, beginning with the loss in New England. If the Pats can
focus on containing Arian Foster and Houston’s running game, Tom Brady and
company win big at home. Plus what would an AFC Championship be without a
Manning/Brady showdown? I’m already giddy (and a little terrified) just
thinking about it.
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