Sports All-Around
Hey Cal, Welcome to the SECSince the first weekend of college football is over, our testosterone is in high gear. As manly men on sweet emotion, lets keep the spirit of sports by doing a quick overview of the big three sports.
Football – It was good to turn the tube onto ESPN Saturday morning and see the GameDay Crew together. By far the greatest sign was the Georgia Tech Calvin sign. (Calvin defeating Catholics since 1509). If you didn’t wake up with an extra spring in your step on Saturday morning, then you might need to check to make sure you are an XY chromosome. Much to my dismay, Notre Dame barely won. But let’s be honest, they showed their true colors. Georgia Tech is not a top 25 team (although I’ll take Calvin Johnson in my fantasy draft next year thank you), and they very well could have won the game.
Tennessee raised some eyebrows this past week. Kurt Cooper has a theory: Whoever was picked to win the SEC last year, always ends up winning it this year. His theory seems to be working again. It might finally be clicking for Ainge. That question will be answered when SEC play begins. If anything, the Tennessee game showed once again that every other conference pales in comparison to the SEC. What a joke Cal was. If Cal, just like most other teams (besides Texas and USC) played in the SEC, they would be mediocre.
The only better thing than last weekend, might be this coming weekend (NCAA and NFL football). I’m probably not leaving my house this weekend.
Basketball – TEAM USA lost again. What has happened to basketball you ask? Michael Jordan happened. I once heard a sports guy go on a rant about how Michael Jordan ruined basketball, and I agree. Michael Jordan isn’t the problem, but his imitators are. In the 80’s the NBA was at its finest. Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons’ Bad Boys, the Lakers, and other teams were playing high-powered, pass oriented, team emphasizing, jump shooting basketball. The games were awesome and people actually played defense. In other words, team basketball, passing, and fundamentals were idolized in the 80’s.
But then came along a guy from North Carolina named Michael Jordan. Michael changed basketball forever. Here came a 6’ 6” shooting guard that for the first time could single handedly take over games with his high-flying moves to the hoop and his 40 points
a game. He quickly became the face of basketball and was even voted the most recognizable face in the world. Now, instead of team basketball being idolized, Michael Jordan became the icon of basketball.Here is the problem, there is not another Michael Jordan out there, and people forgot to imitate his defense and passing along with his dunking. But he was the icon, so everyone tried to “be him.” What’s the result? People like Isaiah Rider decided they needed 45 looks a game. What else is the result? TEAM USA. A group of individuals who have forgotten how to play as a team, how to shoot a jumper, make a free throw, and most importantly play defense. Thanks to Michael Jordan, team Greece beat us with 80’s basketball. Michael Jordan was and is the greatest player to ever play the game. But thanks to him, I had plenty of miserable basketball games at the Ole Miss Turner Center with people who constantly thought it was their role to be Michael Jordan and put the team on their shoulders. The difference. The team asked Michael Jordan to do it…I don’t recall telling my teammate to shoot every
time he touched the rock.Baseball – I know Baseball, especially now, pales in comparison to football. And I know the A’s haven’t won in the playoff yet. But let’s be honest, Billy Beane is a genius. The guy is going to win the AL West again. They have won 2 fewer games than the Yankees, with a payroll ¼ the size. Remember when critics said the only reason he won was because the Big 3. Well, as others laughed, he unloaded Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson and low and behold his A’s are going to the playoffs again.
Lastly, big news....Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes baby is finally seen. Who CARES. I feel sorry for that baby.
Any thoughts on the big games this week? Will Miss St. score this week?
posted by Brian @ 11:12 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
I think we can all agree that whomever organized the 'trade' (Brent Shaeffer for David Cutcliffe) needs another thank you card....both teams are better off
Kurt's theory is pretty accurate, also see PHIL STEELE (only magazine to have Tennessee as preseason SEC champ, had Georgia last year, and Auburn year before..ect..ect..)
Still, the jury is out everywhere on alot of teams...but whoohoo, I mean Notre Dame looked tough goin into that 'hostile' environment.
Heisman watch:
Brady Quinn - hey, he didn't throw an INT!!!
Marshawn Lynch - ummm...they play run-defense in the SEC
Troy Smith - repeat that this weekend and we'll talk
Adrian Peterson - better turn it on, cause your team stinks..
Kenny Irons - scarry good....he's good
Ummm...there's a few other teams who could do very well in the SEC (other than UTx and USC); namely:
Ohio St.
Michigan
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Penn St.
Nebraska
Fla. St.
Miami
Virg. Tech
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Clemson
I agree SEC is best conference, but that was a classic case of major exaggeration by an SEC fan.
It depends on how you define very well. I agree the teams would be competitive...I'm not saying they would absolutely suck it up. But Clemson, Texas A & M, Virginia Tech and yes Notre Dame would not be near as "dominant" in the SEC.
My simple point is that Texas and USC...you could probably throw Ohio State in there as well are the only teams that would stay a dominant force in whatever conference they were playing in. Florida State wouldn't, Nebraska sure as heck wouldn't, and Texas A&M would no doubt be in the middle of the pack if they had to play Alabama, Auburn, LSU etc.
Think about it. How many teams have actually gone undefeated in the SEC? Auburn was the first in a long time. Why? Because the conference is so stinking hard every week. Yet there always seems to be teams that go undefeated in the Big 12, the Pac 10, etc.
That is my point. but good post
Ohio State would be the only team that could consistently stay in the top tier of the SEC. Notre Dame, FSU, and Miami would bounce around. The others would be middle of the pack SEC teams. Except A&M and Clemson, they would suck. Like they presently do.
I know Clemson is getting hype, but that's just like every other year. Let me know when they actually have a winning record in the ACC.
first did alex post this under brian's name so he could wax unabashedly about tennessee? they did look pretty good though, but a couple missed tackles go unmissed and it's closer perhaps. still, i'm a little scare about them,
second,
TEXAS TECH???!! yeah they went 6-2 last year, but 4-4 each of the two years before (in conference play.) even 6-2 isn't outstanding, and in the sec, they'd die. A&M, Clemson, Nebraska, same thing. Miami and Florida State would be in the mix most years b/c their D's are sick, but only OSU, TX, and USC would maintain their year to year dominance in the SEC.
great theory about michael jordan being the problem for USA basketball, interesting to think about, but i'd rather think about it in March, so hang onto it until we can't say another thing about football
Brian, you are right on the money on the way other players see Michael Jordan. It seems that they have never seen an interview with him. Every time you saw him interviewed you always had this vibe of him being in a "Team" mindset--not "Me" mindset. That made him the only one in America who wasn't in a "Michael Jordan" mindset.
It is so easy to see those brief (10 second or less) edited-for-Sports Center highlights, and think "That's how M.J. operates". Like you said, it's hard to think about how well-rounded (Defensive MVP) M.J. was. And we all know how the NBA has been dumbed-down, because players don't THINK. It is the darndest thing when a player tries a Michael Jordanish dunk, and then doesn't get back to play serious defense or set others up on offense. That should be seen as insulting to His Airness. But, it's not, because they just don't think past the flaire--And really don't understand M.J.
As you said, thus Team U.S.A. (No longer a "Dream Team") and Ghetto/Turner Center basketball.
But how 'bout Steve Nash!
does anybody else feel like the mothership is pulling a funny on football fans around the country by keeping lou holtz employed (and alive)? are there people who make these decisions sitting in a room watching gameday just waiting for his ridiculous "analysis" (such as "team A is the better team, and team A should win, which is exactly why team B will win") and then laughing like crazy because they have the power to make us listen to this S***?
yes Joel, i think we can all agree that Lou Holtz does not belong behind the desk, but behind glass...he can't even get out consecutive sentances.
as far as last weekend went. as a vol fan, i was pumped with a win...but i will keep the purity of 'sweet emotion' and not become an annoying 'tennessee fan' that so many have come across. expectations will be week to week, they were good....but things will change once SEC play starts. I think the Jury is still out on a lot of teams.
Brian, definitely genious remarks about USA basketball-even more so about 1980's NBA...greatest ever. I prefer to watch old dvd's from that time than most live action now.
I didn't say that those teams would all be dominant in the SEC year in and year out. They would do very well, however. Ohio St., USC, UT, Miami, Fla. St., and Michigan would be near the top of the league each year I think. They recruit as well as anyone in the SEC and have similar talent levels every year.
Nebraska, Tech, A&M, and Clemson would all be competitive, as would Notre Dame. They would have some mediocre years and some very good years...and would generally be competitive. More competitive than Miss. St, Vandy, Kentucky, and Ole Miss generally are.
Just a Big XII guy's thoughts.
i don't think many can argue with that Luke...we rave about the SEC b/c it is the only conference that is more than 2-deep. It's not that SEC teams are always better, it's that there are so many good ones in one conference--it's the only conference that is not just dominated by one or two teams:
Big 12: 2 deep - Texas, Oklahoma (maybe Nebraska is on the way back...maybe)
Big 10: 3 deep - Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State
ACC: Miami, Fla. State, Va. Tech
PAC 10: USC
Big East: West Virginia and a bunch of should be 1-AA schools
these are great teams, and would be at the top of any conference. They just dominate their conference b/c it's lousy and uncompetitive.
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