The Show.

I heard a story about a guy who, prior to the 2007-2008 NFL season, placed a $400 bet in Vegas saying the Patriots would go undefeated that season and win the Super Bowl. By the Super Bowl, the bet made it's way to $12 million. That's a tough bet to make (and if you read on you'll find out what happened to that bet!), but an even tougher bet would've been to say the Dallas Cowboys would start this year with a 1-4 record. I don't know anyone who would've guessed that, especially considering the majority of people considered the Cowboys a favorite to represent the NFC in this year's Super Bowl. So what exactly is going on in the big D that has the football world scratching its head?

At first glance it's tough to see why the Cowboys are struggling so much so far this season. After all, they're in the leagues top 5 in total offense, (400 YPG - *all stats as of week 6*) total defense (281 YPG) passing (305 YPG) and passing yards against (180 YPG). They seem to be getting production from the places they're expected to get production from, however some key aspects have made all the difference for the struggling Cowboys. Only 5 teams have been penalized more times so far this season (and the Cowboys have only played five games), and the teams turnover margin is -4 - 27th in the league. Compare that to the Jets who have a +11 margin. Needless to say, it's hard for the opposing team to score if they don't have the ball. The team has got to be frustrated because they know that their record is a reflection of their own careless mistakes and missed opportunities. Wide receiver Roy Williams told Sports Illustrated, "We're 4-0. The Dallas Cowboys are 4-0. Our losses are because we beat ourselves. We can't turn the ball over, and make all these mistakes. I'm tired and I'm frustrated, because we're better than what we're doing.'' So while they've had the ability to win many games they've lost, the Cowboys have learned first-hand that little things done wrong add up, and ultimately lead to being unsuccessful. All four losses this year have been by 7 points or less, so it's clear that they've been in every game, but with that being said it's evident - as cliche as it is/sounds - that little mistakes and blown chances can be the difference between a winning and losing record. Between being the team you should be and the team you are.

It's clear that the Cowboys have all the talent a football team could want, so it's certainly conceivable that they could turn things around and maybe even find themselves in the playoff hunt, but it won't be easy at all for them. If they want to make the playoffs they're going to have to win at least eight or their remaining eleven games, but with two against the Giants, two against the Eagles, one against the Colts, one against the Saints and one against the Packers, they had better figure some things out soon or they're going to be hitting up the golf courses early this year instead of playing for the Super Bowl on their home turf like everyone expected them to.

In the midst of all the disappointment and frustration going on in Dallas, they seem to be sticking with what they have. Jerry Jones made it clear that Wade Phillips' job is safe (for now at least) which may not be a popular decision in Dallas but it does tell you that the organization seems to trust their original plan, and they see what they have as being adequate. Speaking of adequate, I (as promised) have to explain what happened with that Patriots bet. Before the Super Bowl the place the man made the bet with told him the bet had been raised from the original $400 to $12 million. They said he could back out before the game and they'd give him $6 million on the spot, or he could stay in and go for the $12 million. Perhaps not seeing the $6 million as adequate or maybe being blinded by the Patriot's overwhelming status as favorites and shoe-in's for the Lombardi Trophy, he stuck in there, going with his original plan (much like the Cowboys are doing now) and ended up -$400. Come to think of it, maybe Dallas shouldn't stick with Wade Phillips...

Tonight is a big night in baseball. Game 5 of the ALDS is tonight between the Rays and Rangers, the winner of whom will face the Yankees in the ALCS. Since about game 30 of this season I've had a feeling the Rangers would represent the AL in the World Series this year, so without further ado here are my 5 reasons the Rangers will win Game 5 tonight:

1) The Rays' (Lack Of) Home-Field-"Advantage"

In most ballparks a playoff atmosphere is extremely uplifting for the home team and rattling for the visitors. However, with the Rays recent playoff success over the last couple of years it has become evident that their ballpark is slightly different. Tropicana has become notorious for being a boring ballpark, even in the post-season which is slightly embarrassing. The fans in Florida are a bit too relaxed to effectively rev up a ball club which will in turn hurt the club.



2) Cliff Lee

This guy is dominant in the playoffs. In fact, he's never lost a playoff game. You can't argue with results. If I'm going into a playoff game with him I'm pretty confident, and nothing against David Price but the Rangers have a big edge when it comes to starting pitching tonight. If the Rangers bats are going at all tonight they should be in a good position to win the game. I mean, if Cliff Lee is on the mound you have a good shot at winning if you score 3 runs, which isn't the case with most pitchers.

If you'll all remember a few weeks back for me when the New York Jet played the New England Patriots, you may recall an interaction between two disputing athletes. In case you forgot, it was settled with this:





Making that one-handed catch was ex-Patriot wide receiver Randy Moss, and struggling to catch him was Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. What makes this interesting is the fact that Revis was quoted as calling Moss a "slouch" during the offseason, and with the media being what it is, the match-up was built up and hyped like crazy. After getting beat on the play Revis went out with a hamstring injury, and a lot of people have speculated whether the injury was an excuse or for real. Luckily for those people, answers may come this Monday night as the Vikings and newly acquired wide receiver Randy Moss take on the Jets with recently-healed and expected-to-play Darrelle Revis. Reports this week claim that Revis has been practicing and is expected to play on Monday night in the Meadowlands.

It's as if they were meant to be together. Just as Revis is getting back to full health, Moss gets traded and will immediately test that newly rehabilitated hamstring that he burned just a couple weeks ago. My guess is that Revis is going to have somewhat of a "lingering" pain in the hammy making it hard for him to cover Moss (and make sure to look for extra limping from Revis any time a receiver he's covering makes a catch). I'm putting my money on Moss, and don't be surprised if Revis is on the DL again come Tuesday.

Roy Halladay was a question to some going into playoffs. Yes, he had an unbelievable season - one that will most likely earn him his second Cy Young award - but he had never pitched a playoff inning, and regardless of how good a player may be, there's always a question about how an athlete will perform come playoff time. However, Roy took that question and answered it with an exclamation as he pitched a no-hitter in his first ever playoff start.


As I saw this happening it was of course exciting. There had been only one playoff no-hitter in the history of baseball, but what's more is that, for those who forgot, Halladay already pitched a no-hitter this year (actually, it was a perfect game if you want to get technical about it.) Tonight he became the first player to ever pitch a no-hitter in the regular season and playoffs of the same year. So like I said, exciting? Of course. Surprising? Not totally. If there's one guy in baseball who could do this it'd be Doc Halladay. His work ethic is legendary, and the amount he studies his opponents gives Peyton Manning a run for his money. So with that being said, let me rephrase what my emotions were like: was I surprised that a major league pitcher was able to throw a regular season and playoff no-hitter in the same year? Absolutely. Was I surprised that that pitcher happened to be Roy Halladay? No.

As for an impression, Halladay has Phillies fans breathing easy. Like I said earlier, how a guy will perform in the playoffs is always a question. Look at A-Rod. He's notorious (with the exception of last season) for slumping in the playoffs. He'd put up great numbers all season and come playoff time he'd choke. That's what the post-season can do to a lot of players. The pressure is too much, it gets in their head and they crumble. Halladay isn't like other players though. You wanna talk about pressure? This start has been building up for 13 years. He's been a top three pitcher in baseball for the last decade and now, after all that time and all that dominance he was getting his shot in the spotlight with everyone watching. So being the kind of player he is, he took that shot and did what he's been doing his whole career. With the pressure on he was like a rock. He was in the zone and there was no way he was gonna crack. If you watched the game you know what I'm talking about. Some of his pitches were literally unhittable. But that's what Doc does, even when it counts most.

As for the Phils, they've been known as an offensive team, which explains a majority of the success they've had in the last few years, but now combine that veteran offense with the three aces the team has and you have a very scary combination (unless you're a Phillies fan, of course.)

And in case you missed it:

If you haven't seen Ron Shelton's 30 for 30 documentary about Michael Jordan entitled Jordan Rides The Bus, run, don't walk. It was aired a few weeks ago and I caught most of it as it re-ran a couple nights ago on TSN, and from the time I turned it on my eyes were glued to the TV, amazed by what I was seeing. We've all heard about MJ's stint as a baseball player in the minor leagues, but what people don't think about is what that really meant. This is a guy who left the world of basketball when he was on top, looking down at all those who worshipped him. He took his fame and put it in jeopardy, knowing very well that his decision to play baseball was an unpopular one. He took a step down from his pedestal and joined the class of normal athletes fighting for a job. Minor league baseball is a grind, and Jordan worked for the same goal all minor leaguers work for, without special treatment (hence him riding the bus.) It's so easy to look at the most elite, successful athletes in the world and crave for what they have, but Jordan took everything that anyone would ever want and started over. There aren't many reasons why an athlete would consider a change like this, but then again not many athletes have the amount of drive or love of competition Jordan had. The craving to be the best consumed him. He took that idea so many of us have of accomplishing whatever it is we want to accomplish - no matter how out-of-reach it may seem or how much sacrifice it may require - and he made it his reality, fearlessly.

The question that kept going through my head during this entire documentary had nothing to do with why he decided to make this dramatic change. Why he did it was clear - other than his obvious love of the game, he wanted to live a dream he shared with his father as well as answer a lingering question about whether he could rise through the ranks and make it to the big leagues. The question I did ask myself, however, was where (and whether) we could see this today. Watching this film reminded me of Jordan's legendary passion. His passion was clear when he played basketball and apparently clear when he played baseball, according to those who were around him. Jordan's hitting coach talked about the countless hours Jordan would spend trying to perfect his swing, and he also said he couldn't remember a player who worked harder than Jordan did at getting better every single day. Remember, we're talking about a guy who had already won 3 world championships and had ruled the sport he was known for playing. This kind of passion is rare, and I'm not going to say that there aren't any athletes with passion today, but I will say that finding an athlete who can do what Jordan did strictly for the love of the game and competition is extremely hard to find.

The intrigue of Michael Jordan doesn't just lie in the numbers he put up, the records he broke, the championships he won or the accolades he acquired along the way. What's intriguing about Jordan is that he did it all for the sport. It's cliche but he looked beyond the perks - the money, fame, cars, etc. - and played for the love of sport, and if this love was ever in question, it was answered when he decided to play baseball.

He clearly and simply illustrated his attitude toward his athletic career when he said, "I play the game because I love the game." It's not a very complex attitude but Jordan wasn't a very complex player. His style of play was straight forward. He played his heart out every night and played to win, and when he did win he wanted more, and regardless of the sport he played to be the best. His play and attitude were inspiring, and this 30 for 30 film illustrates that without leaving a stone unturned. So if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor to remind yourself what an athlete should look, play, and act like:

It's funny how sports work sometimes. During the 2008-2009 NHL season Brad Thiessen, a goalie who played at Northeastern University, got called by the Penguins after his junior season ended. He went to play for the Penguins' AHL team in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and got called up to practice with the Penguins during their playoff run. The Penguins ended up winning the Stanley Cup that year, and Thiessen got himself a ring. Roy Halladay, on the other hand, is in his 13th season of big league ball. He's a Cy Young winner. He has pitched over 300 games in the show and has won just under 170. He has had three 20+ win seasons, has pitched 58 complete games and has 19 career shutouts. Stats like this seem deserving of a championship, but he's not just ringless - he's without a single inning of playoff baseball. Sometimes the most deserving players are also the most deprived players. Halladay has been deprived of post-season baseball his entire career, but with the Phillies clinching the NL East crown for the fourth consecutive year, he'll get his long overdue shot at October baseball.

The Phillies acquired Halladay from the Blue Jays during last years offseason and it was a win-win for both parties - the Phils get a top 3 pitcher in the league who the thought would most likely win them 18+ games, and Halladay finally got a shot at the post-season and the World Series with a legitimate contender. That was the plan, and so far it is coming together just as expected.

The Phillies have been baseball's hottest team in September going 19-6 as of Sept. 29th, which isn't too surprising considering this teams experience when it comes to winning when it matters. They've been able to run away with the division and will now enter the playoffs as a group that is well-tailored for a third consecutive World Series appearance. They have a lot of players who have had great success in the playoffs, and adding a post-season-starved Halladay to the mix certainly won't hurt. Halladay isn't the only Phillie who has been yearning for a chance at the post-season, however. Mike Sweeney, a first baseman the Phillies acquired during the season from the Kansas City Royals, is in the midst of his 20th MLB season, and the playoffs have managed to evade him until now. Sweeney, although a great player, is not expected to be the kind of guy who is going to carry a team through the playoffs. However, one of the things you constantly hear about Mike Sweeney is what a great clubhouse guy he is. He's well respected by his teammates and he's a seasoned vet who knows a lot about the game, and having him in the clubhouse during the playoffs is not something to overlook.

There's a lot of pressure during playoff baseball, especially if you're a pitcher. The importance of each game makes mistakes fatal, which is a factor that Halladay hasn't dealt with until this point in his career. The city of Philadelphia is relying on him to pitch the way he's capable of, because if he does they'll have a great shot to win the whole thing. It will be interesting to see how he responds, but knowing the type of player he is I'd say it's safe to say he'll be fine, and hopefully he'll get a shot at his AL rivals that always kept him out of the post-season. After all, he's been building up to that first playoff pitch for his entire career.

Recently I wrote about the resurrection of the San Diego Padres, so while we're on the subject, there's another notable turn-around currently in the making that could prove to be even more significant. It's one thing to look at Michael Vick and see a man worthy of little or no respect; whose past actions, no matter how long ago, are inexcusable. Of course, this side of Michael Vick is very hard to like, and nothing he can do will ever erase some of the actions he has taken as a person. Just a couple of years ago it was hard to look at Michael Vick with any sort of admiration or respect. However, a new side of Michael Vick is slowly surfacing, and this Vick is not just bearable, but likable.

Did someone tell the Padres that they were going to make the playoffs? Because it looks like a Macbeth sequel could be brewing in San Diego. The team that rose from the ashes and played steady baseball on their way to what looked like a guaranteed playoff spot is now in a position in which they could experience a tragic collapse; a 162 game schedule can certainly be a curse. They've lead the NL West for nearly the entire season, but as the home stretch is upon them they're realizing that September losses can ruin a very good season. The Padres had a 10 game losing streak that leaked its way into September, and since that losing streak began on August 26th the team has gone just 4-14, and they now hold the division lead by a mere half game, down from 6 1/2 games. So if I'm a Padre's fan and my team misses the playoffs, am I disappointed because of how close they came? Or happy about a great season, particularly after such a bad season last year? A collapse now would be a bittersweet tragedy for fans who might find it hard to complain after last season's heartache but also hard not to complain about how the team should have sealed up it's playoff ticket after leading their division all summer. But regardless of whether San Diego makes the playoffs or not, it's evident that they've turned a complete 180 since last season, and it's important to realize why this turn-around has happened, and why it could serve them well if they do make the post-season.

The turn-around the Padres have had after last season has been nothing short of miraculous. Last year they finished 20 games out of the division lead and 12 games under .500. Their run differential was a -131 by seasons end and their pitching staff's ERA was at 4.37. This year, however, the Padres have managed to take hold of a decent division. A lot of people are wondering how they did this, and I'll admit that it is hard to see. They only have two players batting over .300 and only one player with over 20 home runs. They're not winning with flash or because they have a number of all-stars on the team. They're experiencing success because they've played consistent baseball, and because they have great defense. The pitching staff's pre All-Star game ERA was 3.25 and their post All-Star ERA is 3.42. Their collective 3.31 ERA happens to be the best in baseball. They have 4 pitchers with over 10 wins and they have a closer who has 41 saves in 44 attempts. When you combine this with an offense that averages 4.2 runs a game, you're going to win a good amount of ball games. This is what has made the Padres during the year, but it could also be what breaks them down the stretch. This team has not been streaky at all this year - they'd win three, lose two, win four, lose one, win two, lose two. Its been that way all season for the team until now. This is when it's easy to realize why a 162 game season is a curse. You can be comfortable for 130 games, but if you slip up and lose 20 of your last 30 you could be in serious trouble. The ability to win at the end of a baseball season can be, and many times is, a team's golden ticket to October. However, a teams inability to do so could send them on an early vacation. It's one thing to be good all summer but its another to be good enough to close out the season come fall. Not all teams can do that, and that's what separates good teams from playoff teams.

So with less than 20 games left on their schedule the Padres are going to have to prove that they're a playoff team, which I happen to think they are. They have pitching, and pitching is everything in playoff baseball. But if they miss the postseason, is it a successful year? If I'm a Padres fan and the team misses the post-season I'd be sorely disappointed, not only because they sat atop the division for nearly the entire season, but because it's a team that is well suited for a playoff run. Their offense is mediocre, but their pitching is good enough to carry them somewhat deep into the playoffs. They're a team with dependable pitching, and although their offense is rather average, being able to keep teams off the scoreboard, like they've done effectively all year, will win them playoffs games.

Today marks the official start of football season and a prediction is in order. I won't bother with any tedious, meaningless predictions because there's only one prediction that matters, and that's who is going to make it to the big dance. So here are my Super Bowl predictions, with some key points about why these teams have a shot.


The Baltimore Ravens

- 12th hardest schedule which will help them. They have some easy games but there are tough tests, including one with the Jets, two with the Bengals, one with the Saints, one with the Patriots, and two with the Steelers. This schedule won't prevent them from making playoffs, and their tougher games will help them prepare for the post-season.
- Their defense, which is anchored by one of the most feared linebackers in football, speaks for itself. Only 2 teams gave up less yards than they did last year.
- They have an extremely well balanced offense. Joe Flacco is a proven quarterback and now he has some serious weapons at receiver. Derrick Mason, Donte Stallworth, Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmandzadeh form a scary set of wide receivers. Plus, their running game is effective too. Ray Rice had over 1,300 rushing yards last year, and with the receivers the Ravens have, they'll be very dynamic offensively.
- They have a strong leadership core and players with Super Bowl experience. This goes a long way in the post-season.


The Green Bay Packers

- Aaron Rogers has figured it out. Last year he had a 30/7 TD to Int ratio. In the beginning of last season it was hard to watch him because he got sacked so much, but as time went on he has been able to use his feet more, making him more of a threat.
- Rogers has great receivers around him and Ryan Grant is a pretty effective running back.
- They don't have an overly-tough schedule, but there are certainly some important tests for them including two with the Vikings, one with the Jets, one with the Cowboys, and one with the Patriots.
- Green Bay had one of the best defenses in the league last year - the only team that gave up less yards than them were the Jets.


Super Bowl Champion: Ravens

Now, let it be understood that I don't think these two teams are the best in the league, and yes I do understand that it's sacreligious to bet against the Colts right now. In my opinion however, these two teams are well-tailored for a title run, and if they manage to stay healthy they should both have very good shots at making it to the big dance.



Agree? Disagree? Let your voice be heard by leaving a comment with your opinions.

International basketball tournaments are not fun.

If you ask the casual sports fan if he/she has been paying attention to the FIBA World Championships going on right now in Turkey, chances are the answer will be no. However, if you asked that same apathetic person how they think the tournament is going, I'd be willing to bet that they'd have the same answer as most other people, which would be some form of, "The US is probably winning, right?" Anyone with any basketball knowledge would assume this, and this assumption is going to be right about 95% of the time. It's that 95% of the time that makes any world basketball competition uninteresting. At the FIBA tournament currently going on, the US has won every game by an average of about 30 points. They did have a scare from Brazil, but overall it has proven, thus far, to be an uninteresting, trite basketball tournament. Now, I don't want to sound unpatriotic, but does anyone else kind of want the US to lose?

In my opinion, the US should never lose a basketball game. That's not to say that there aren't any good teams out there besides the US, but it is to say that when you match teams up on paper no one can come remotely close to the US. Now of course games aren't won and lost on paper, which is why the game is played, and as fans there are many instances where we watch in hopes of the paper being wrong. We watch because we don't always want to see the best team win. If the best team always won, regardless of the sport, boredom and disinterest would inevitably ensue. Predictability is the death of excitement, and that's what we get in world championship basketball. We know what's going to happen so we either don't pay attention at all, or we do pay attention but don't really care when what we expect to happen happens. Have you watched a UConn women's basketball game in the last two years? It's uncomfortably boring, not because what they're doing is boring, but because you know what's going to happen. It's too predictable. This is what makes the upset so appealing.

Now, I'm not sure if I want the US to lose as much as I just want to see something different and exciting. In fact, if it were any other country I'd want the same thing - it just happens to be the US in this particular instance, which probably makes me look like an ungrateful, unpatriotic traitor. However, I want to assure everyone that the reason for my craving an upset is not to see the US fall, but rather to see someone else triumph. During the 2004 Olympics people were shocked. Not only did the US lose, but they lost 3 times. They ended up receiving a bronze medal which was a tremendous disappointment, but in a way it was somewhat refreshing. Having this happen restored some passion, although mostly negative, into a sport that had been painfully predictable for far too long. Also, losing every once in a while makes you appreciate winning that much more. Simply put, the US winning will not turn my attention to the FIBA World Championships. The US losing, however, would certainly peak my interest.

To me, pure dominance in a sport is not as interesting as a well-balanced field. Watching a team that always wins takes the excitement out of the game, and we watch the game for the excitement. We watch to see, regardless of what the stats might be on paper, who the better team is on any given day. However, one good thing about such dominance is that the longer it stretches, the more excitement there is when defeat finally occurs. As previously stated, when people pick the US to win a world title, 95% of the time they're going to be right. I may stand alone in wanting the US to lose, but I want them to lose because that 5% is the epitome of why sports are great. That 5% that says, "regardless of everyone's opinion of who the best team is, they can still lose," makes fans passionate about the sport. So although my chances aren't great, I'm going to sit and hope that team USA losses. As well as the UConn women's basketball team.