And the hits keep coming

Images like the one above dominated the NFL this past weekend and its not topic that will be going away anytime soon. Just look at all the marquee names of players this year that have suffered at least one concussion, you could almost field a team: Desean Jackson, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, Stewart Bradley, Dunta Robinson, David Garrard, Todd Heap, Kevin Kolb and more than I can name. A recent study from CBCsports.com says that 61% of former NFL players have professed to having a concussion in their playing days. That is a staggering amount of concussions and a disturbing trend in the league. Now that players are bigger and faster than ever before, the number will clearly continue to go up. My question is who is to blame or better yet should we be blaming anyone for the hits being delivered on the field?

I know most people love to see the big hit. We all jump on the couch, knock food out of friends hand, and twitter, facebook and text everybody to make sure they saw the punishment that was just delivered on the receiver going over the middle. Its just a part of the game and to me one of the best parts of it. What is crazy about this is how at a young age a football player is told to hit the other player as hard as he can. I can remember playing as a child and my coach telling me I better hit my opponent before he hits me. I also remember other players mothers and fathers screaming and telling us to knock their heads off. So its just built into the culture of football for players to hit first and ask questions later. Football is a contact, collision sport. Players are going to get hurt. The issue is when the players becomes in danger and some of the hits are getting to the point where one these guys could get killed on the field.  Dunta Robinson and Desean Jackson suffered concussions on the same play when Robinson came crashing in to knock the ball out of Jackson's hand. And to me that was a  perfectly legal hit, Robinson lead with his shoulder and not his helmet it was just so vicious that it looked dirty. A lot of people are discussing maybe the helmets need to be changed because of the way they are being used and also commonly being knocked off but I don't buy that argument.

In summarizing, The NFL player is bigger and stronger than ever before and concussions just like every other injury in the league will continue to go up.We can expect a marquee player going down each week with a concussion, it shouldn't even surprise people at this point. We the fans lusting for the big hit and the NFL with its lust for ratings and lucrative money contracts are to blame. The culture of hitting the opponent and hitting him hard has and always will be taught in all levels of football. If we the fans and the NFL are to blame for this, then just who will step and try to curb the physicality?

Finally Friday Edition: M.J for 100, Artest can only count to 2 and Bieber calls out Brady

Here are some stories and articles that have caught my eye:

Micheal Jordan says in today's game he could have scored 100 - http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Jordan-I-could-have-scored-100-points-in-toda;_ylt=AijEWS2EThPxKo4NqiVkyqA5nYcB?urn=nba-277020

Barry Bonds still loves his Giants, and hopefully doesn't give them the kiss of death - http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Barry-Bonds-delivers-message-of-support-to-NLCS-;_ylt=AkxhQzv8_YCVJvq8NW2zhhg5nYcB?urn=mlb-276880

Bieber calls out Brady for haircut - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/10/14/bieber.brady.ap/index.html

Only Ron Artest can make this stuff up. Doesn't even have Lebron in his top 3 players - http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5686339

Inez Sainz says she no longer wants to go into the locker room, I wonder why? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/10/14/sainz.lockerrooms.ap/index.html

College Football Weekend Setup

Week 7 in college football is upon us, and after a topsy turvy week 6 things are getting interesting now. With top ranked Alabama going down, it has opened the door for other teams to get into the national championship. The most benefiting will be the non AQ schools Boise State and TCU. It’s a shame because Bama just had an off day. Even with the lost, if you gave me the Crimson Tide on a neutral field against any team in country, I would still take Bama. And now to the weekend’s best games and upset special’s.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin – This is the game of the year so far in the Big Ten. Ohio State has not been really tested so far this year playing the likes of Marshall, University of Ohio, Eastern Michigan and Illinois. That schedule is not scaring anyone. The Buckeyes do have enough talent to make it to the National Championship but they only will go as far as Terelle Pryor will take them and so far this year that has been a very good place. The Badgers come in to this game knowing that for them to have any shot at the Rose Bowl or better they will have to win this game with the one loss they already have courtesy of Sparty. This will be a slugfest featuring the Badgers power run game led by John Clay vs. the electric Pryor and his plethora of options for the Buckeyes. The Pick: Ohio State



Arkansas vs. Auburn – The SEC showdown of the week features two SEC west teams vying for a claim to the SEC west title. Auburn, the beneficiaries of Bama’s stumble in Columbia, has the inside track to the division. They must first deal with a Razorback team with Ryan Mallet at the helm. He is a proven leader and has to attest the bad performance down the stretch against Alabama wasn’t the best he has to offer. The Tigers have been a pleasant surprise to most and seem to rolling on all cylinders. The play of Cam Newton has brought a sort on energy and swagger to this team. I just don’t see any answers for him in Arkansas’s defense. The Pick: Auburn

Texas vs. Nebraska – It’s hard to get a good read on the Longhorns. One week they are flat getting run over by UCLA and the next week they are playing Oklahoma to the last down. I think this is exactly what they are, an inconsistent team that will have its good and bad games. This is what happens when you don’t have a reliable run game; teams can just worry about your passing. Garrett Gilbert can only be expected to do so much with so little. I don’t see the athletes at Texas that they’ve had in years past. The Huskers will present a big challenge because they run the ball so effectively. Taylor Martinez will run wild on you if you let him and so far every team he has faced has. Martinez also has a better than advertised arm, so if you do go for one of those play-action fakes he will burn you over the top. The Blackshirts of yester year are also back. The defense is loaded and don’t think that Nebraska has forgot what happen last year in the Big 12 championship game. If you don’t believe me just go to there website, they have been waiting on this one since the clock stopped in that game. Bo Pellini will have that motivation for his boys on his side. The Pick: Nebraska



Game of the Week – Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: Can Ohio State beat up on Wisconsin the way it has on all its other opponents?

Most Intriguing game- Iowa vs. Michigan: Can Denard Robinson bounce back from a sub par game and can Iowa avenge its first lost of the season?

Rivalry Game of the week- Cal vs. USC: Who needs this win more Lane Kiffin or Jeff Tedford?

Under the radar game- Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech: Ok State is undefeated but hasn’t really played a good team yet.

Coach better get it right game- North Carolina vs. Virginia: Amid all the allegations involving his program, Butch Davis has a lot of explaining to do but if he wins and continues to win the chatter may simmer down a bit.

Pennant Power Rankings

Now that Cliff Lee has disposed the Tampa Bay Rays, here are my power rankings for the remaining team:

1.Philadelphia Phillies - Anytime you throw Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels (Aka H2O) on consecutive days the odds are you going to win those games, especially the way these guys are going. Halladay coming off his no-hit bid, Oswalt pitching strong in his 5 innings of work vs. the Reds and Hamels complete game 5- hit shut out these guys have been lights out. When you combine that pitching with their potent offense led by Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, you have everything you need to hoist the trophy.

2.Texas Rangers - Lee gives them a dominant pitcher at the top of their rotation and maybe not a better one in recent memory. The win last night made Lee an impressive 6-0 in his October starts. The other parts of the rotation are good enough with C.J Wilson ( Mini Cliff Lee) and Tommy Hunter. I really like their lineup with the power they have from top to bottom. The key for them I think is to get the quality pitching behind Lee and also get Josh Hamilton going and they could be the most dangerous team in the field.

3. New York Yankees - This seems like a ho-hum year for the Yanks. Yes they did sweep the Twins, but don't they always? They will truly be tested in ALCS vs. the Rangers who are not scared of the pinstripes. C.C Sabathia has to control the first game and hopefully get some help along the way from Petitte and Phil Hughes. The lineup will be fine, just to many good hitters to keep down. If Lance Berkman can continue to swing the hot bat from the eight spot in the lineup than he could make this team very hard to beat.

4. San Francisco Giants - It is amazing what good pitching and timely hitting can lead to and in this case its a chance for the National league pennant for the Giants. The rotation showcases Tim "the freak" Lincecum, Matt Cain, and one time no-hitter pitcher Jonathon Sanchez. I can't wait to see Halladay and Lincecum go at it, now that Lincecum seems to have found his stuff again, and these two have three Cy Young's among them. The lineup is not as potent as the rest of the teams in the field and this why I have them last. Cody Ross was a revelation in the last series lets see if he can keep it up. Pablo Sandoval or Kung Fu Panda where are you?

Good Read: Confessions of a Sport Agent

This is a must read, it will open your mind to the deceptive side of college athletics. Josh Luchs, a former NFL agent gives you the juicy details about how agents get down in their profession. He names big time players and some recognizable NFL players including Ryan Leaf, Santonio Holmes, Dustin Keller and Jonathon Ogden. It puts a spin on the notion of all agents being bad and just handing money to players. From what Luchs was saying in the article was that a lot of the players took money and even schemed him out of money. He says everyone has their hand out including parents. One good thing about the story is that some players did refuse his money including Dana Stubblefield and Keyshawn Johnson (Of all the players who did, Johnson was the one I thought would take it). Luchs even goes in to detail about how Mel "The hair" Kiper made pre-arranged calls in favor of top agents (Always knew that guy was a creep). I have always been in favor of players getting paid anyway because the endless amounts of money they generate for big time programs. This should not come as a surprise to most. I know a few players in the SEC from around my way and I here all kind of stories of boosters walking up to them and handing them money or a coach asking them to do little chores in return they get paid off pretty good. As we can see from the Reggie Bush saga and all of the allegations being enforced all over the nation this year, like the NCAA is now trying to care right? Great read if you haven't had a chance to read it, here is the link http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/magazine/10/12/agent/index.html?eref=sihp

Brett Favre caught showing his other gunslinger

 Just when you got over the Tiger ordeal, Brett Favre gets caught up in his own. According to Deadspin and various other outlets, Favre has been caught with his pants down literally. A former sideline reporter for the NY Jets named Jen Sterger has nude pictures and voice mails from the gray-beard legend. Although she has not spoken on record, she has off the record stated that Favre made advances toward her while he was with the Jets (So what do you call old man chasing younger woman? Not a cougar but a lion I guess). If you listen to the messages Favre left, it makes him sound a little audacious for a guy with an image to protect and not to mention a family at home. As far as the pictures goes who knows. What I do know is that he has semi return game to the team he played just one season with. What he doesn’t need is a last minute scandal to distract him from a very meaningful game to his team. The Vikings are 1-2 and just acquired Randy Moss and have enough to deal with already. Hopefully Favre can throw the wranglers on and just brush this one off, but then again we saw how Tiger’s little accident exploded. I just don’t get why these high profile athletes take the risk of someone finding out and just as easily the person who they are trusting to not say anything. Now that everyone is able to see his other gunslinger, maybe he has learned his lesson. I guarantee you some time soon another high profile athlete will get caught up in this same type of thing pretty soon.

Wednesday Observations

Randy Moss back to the Vikings? I couldn't fathom this when it first was reported, I mean what does this say about the Patriots season? If they take away Brady’s deep threat how will that affect Wes Welker’s underneath routes? Who will be the receiver to lift the top off the defense? Did Moss make Belicheck that mad? Is it that the organization just doesn’t want to pay the man? As you can see just a lot of questions on the New England side of this deal but as for Minnesota, how can you not love this deal? You would now have a legit downfield threat for Favre in the absence of Sidney Rice. If Favre and Moss could get on the same page early, this would be a great addition for the Vikings. The return of Rice would also create one on one nightmares for defenders. Anytime you can have a team that features Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre and Randy Moss than you should have a chance to win. I think that if this does happen and it will spark the Vikes into the playoffs.

Miami’s 3 Kings Debut: Lebron, D-wade, and Bosh saw their first action together last night in the demolishing of Detroit defeating the undermanned pistons squad 105-89. You can tell that they are still working out the kinks but even so they were dominant on both ends of the floor. The only draw back was Dwayne Wade pulling up lame with a hamstring injury but it should a minor thing. Lebron had 12 points in the first 12 minutes and finished with 18 for the game. After D-wade sustained his injury, the focal point of the offense quickly turned to James, who began to see time as the Heat’s point guard. Chris Bosh added 20 and Miami were never really challenged in the game. What I took most out of this one is how James seems to already have a control of this team. I don’t know maybe it was because Dwayne Wade was not playing after the injury but it looks as if it was Lebron’s team on the night. I am sure when Wade gets back it will be different. Chris Bosh was able to get anything he wanted from about 15 feet in and was able to clean up on missed baskets. One game into the preseason and this team still has a lot to figure out but it was a good start to the season for them besides the Wade injury.

What to watch today: Baseball Playoffs get under way



Rangers vs. Rays – Josh Hamilton comes back to his original team and will continue to haunt them with his play.



Yankees vs. Twins – Big city boys vs. Small market boys.



Reds vs. Phillies – How will the Reds fare against a murders row of pitching in Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt. How will Dusty use his fireballer Chapman vs. the Phillies left hand heavy line up?