10 reasons to be happy the NBA lockout is over

Most of my comments about the NBA lockout have been disparaging, or basically saying that the NBA can stay away for as long as they want.  I stand by those comments.  I'm a Celtics fan, not really a fan of the NBA.

But now that they're scheduled to begin the season on Christmas, I'll share 10 reasons to be happy the lockout is over.  It's actually a chore coming up with 10 reasons (I scratched out three while I was playing poker yesterday; #'s 2,4,5).  Here goes...

Football Picks

NFL


Philadelphia -3 vs. SEATTLE
BUFFALO -1.5 vs. Tennessee
CHICAGO -7 vs. Kansas City
Oakland +3 vs. MIAMI
PITTSBURGH -6.5 vs. Cincinnati
Baltimore -6..5 vs. CLEVELAND
NY Jets -3 vs. WASHINGTON
Atlanta -2.5 vs. HOUSTON
Carolina +3.5 vs. TAMPA BAY
NEW ORLEANS -9 vs. Detroit
Denver +1.5 vs. MINNESOTA
SAN FRANCISCO -13 vs. St. Louis
Dallas -4.5 vs ARIZONA
Green Bay -7 vs. NY GIANTS
NEW ENGLAND -20 vs. Indianapolis
San Diego -2.5 vs. JACKSONVILLE

Last Week: 11-4-1
Season: 81-85-9

College


OKLAHOMA STATE -3 vs. Oklahoma
BAYLOR -2.5 vs. Texas
LSU -13.5 vs. Georgia (at Atlanta)
Virginia Tech -7 vs. Clemson (at Charlotte)
Michigan St. +9.5 vs Wisconsin (at Indianapolis)
Houston -12.5 vs. Southern Mississippi (at Houston)

Last Week: 3-4
Season: 43-34-2

Bobby Valentine to manage Red Sox

The Red Sox will introduce Bobby Valentine as their new manager tomorrow.  Valentine became the favorite to get the job once the Cubs hired (or the Sox failed to hire) Dale Sveum.  I, like many, am surprised that Valentine turned out to be the choice (I may or may not have written "please not Bobby Valentine"), but clearly he is a Larry Luchino guy.

And this article by ESPN baseball writer Tim Kurkjian is enough to convince me that not only is Valentine a good hire, but the best possible choice for a new manager.

If players are a little upset or put out by the decision, as has been suggested, that's all the more reason to like it. 

We'll know more once the roster is complete and they start to play the games.

Live Diary: NY Giants at Saints

Pregame

I was going to play poker tonight, but I just ate dinner and decided that I don't really feel like playing now.  My rule is, if I don't feel like playing, then I don't play.  Simple as that.  I have enough opportunity that I don't need to force myself to go play poker when I don't really want to play.

So this will be a little different.  A live diary for a non-Patriots game.  I like football and watch a lot of games.  But a lot of the time it is background noise.  The teams I really follow are the Patriots (watched most every game for 15 years), and seen all but one Arkansas Razorbacks game this season.

I am a big fan of Wendi Nix.  Used to like her on the news and radio in Boston.  Now she does a lot of studio and sideline work for ESPN.  Is on the sideline tonight in New Orleans.  Did not know she used to be married to Ben Cherington.

Chris Berman's voice makes my head hurt.

Trying to save any comments about the Giants and Saints for game action, since I'm not sure if I can pull off a decent commentary on teams I am less familiar with.  Boston teams, no problem.

Let's get this one out of the way.  CBS in Vegas switched off the Patriots blowout of the Eagles in time to show    the Denver Tebows comeback over the Lame Duck Chargers.  I texted a friend when it happened - they did a close-up for about five seconds of the Chargers kicker peeing on the sideline.  Won't link video, but deadspin.com had it up about 10 minutes after it occurred.

Archie Manning is doing the pregame intro.  He played for the 'Aints and his son is the Giants QB.

Neat video on Sean Payton, Drew Brees, and offensive coordinator meeting to discuss play calling the day before game.  It just gets me thinking - you want to know how successful any football team is, watch the quarterback.  Watch how he play calls, controls the action before the snap, makes protection and audible calls, handles pressure with subtle movements like stepping up in the pocket, passes the ball, runs or throws it away if necessary.

Game on.

In hindsight

Was out most of the night playing poker, so I woke up in time to watch the Patriots thump the Eagles.  Here are a few things that I know, wish I knew, or wish I did in hindsight.

1.  Won $150 playing poker.  Wish I left hours earlier when I was up close to $300.  I'm usually good at that, but thought I could make more.  Ended up giving some of it back.

2.  The easiest bet on the board this weekend was Virginia Tech -4.5 at Virginia.  I even helped talk a rich guy from overseas into making a very big bet on the game.  Final score was 38-0.  I did not bet the game, or even include it in my weekly picks.  Dumb.

3.  I've been saying UNLV is good.  Never thought they'd beat #1 North Carolina.  On the other hand, I've lost the ability to argue or surprise people by saying they're a good team because now everybody knows.

4.  Maybe I should have gone to the game.  Oh well.

5.  The NBA Lockout appears to be ending, with games beginning on Christmas.  The Celtics will play the Knicks.  I haven't missed the NBA (and wouldn't if the whole season were cancelled).  I've always been a Celtics fan, but notice I don't write a lot about basketball.  The teams and games boost the economies and many in the community, so for that reason, I'm glad there will be NBA basketball.

6.  Common opinion is that the reduced schedule helps an older team like the Celtics.  We all know the "Big 4", but who else makes up the roster?  FYI - this isn't what it's going to be.

7.  The game I debated the most was Chicago +5 at Oakland.  Ended up being a push.  Wonder what the line will be for the Colts at Patriots next week.  -18 or so?

8.  Bob Costas did a halftime commentary on touchdown celebrations.  To paraphrase (pretty closely), "hey knuckleheads, is it too much to ask that you confine your stupidity to situations that don't end up directly hurting your team" (roll Steve Johnson and DeShaun Jackson highlights).  In my mind, it needs to go one of two ways.  Teams need to tell their players to stop getting 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties when they know they're going to be penalized.  The other solution - allow touchdown celebrations that are not direct taunting an opponent.

9.  I've not shaved in about a month, so I have a little bit of a beard going.  It doesn't look horrible.  I have only trimmed it a little, so that it looks fine.  But I'm not used to it being as long.  In hindsight, maybe I should have shaved.

10.  This isn't hindsight, more a thought.  I wonder if Peyton Manning should play football again.  I am very much not a Colts fan, but that doesn't matter to my opinion.  If he could sustain another significant neck injury, or risk diminishing the quality of his life after football, I'd like to see him retire as one of the best ever and not take that chance.  My guess is that he and his family understand the situation.  I don't know details, but I'm not hearing anything yet that convinces me that he can or should come back.

11.  In hindsight, why am I watching the Steelers - Chiefs game?  This is horrible (changes channel).  I don't like the Cleveland Show (changes channel again).  An ESPN documentary on Herschel Walker (puts remote control down).

12.  I generally don't think twice about holding the door open for somebody when I have the chance.  In hindsight, holding the door open for a prostitute in the middle of the night only led to an unwelcome solicitation.

Football Picks

College


Texas +7.5 vs. TEXAS A&M
Arkansas +13 vs. LSU
MICHIGAN -7 vs. Ohio State
Georgia -6 vs. GEORGIA TECH
AUBURN +21 vs. Alabama
Penn State +15 vs. WISCONSIN
Florida State -2.5 vs. FLORIDA

Last Week: 2-4
Season:  40-30-2

NFL


Green Bay -6 vs. DETROIT
DALLAS -7 vs. Miami
BALTIMORE -3 vs. San Francisco
Arizona +3 vs. ST. LOUIS
Buffalo +8.5 vs. NY JETS
CINCINNATI -7 vs. Cleveland
Houston -3 vs. JACKSONVILLE
Carolina -3 vs. INDIANAPOLIS
TENNESSEE -3 vs. Tampa Bay
ATLANTA -9 vs. Minnesota
Chicago +5 vs. OAKLAND
Washington +4 vs. SEATTLE
New England -3 vs. PHILADELPHIA
SAN DIEGO -6.5 vs. Denver
Pittsburgh -10 vs. KANSAS CITY
NEW ORLEANS -7 vs. NY Giants

Last Week: 7-5-2
Season: 70-81-8

NFL Predictions

Playoffs

NFC:

1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Chicago Bears
6. Atlanta Falcons

AFC:

1. New England Patriots
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Houston Texans
4. Oakland Raiders
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. NY Jets

Hold on to playoff spots with backup quarterbacks


Chicago and Houston


Step up down the stretch


Dallas, Atlanta, Oakland, NY Jets


Fade down the stretch


Detroit, New York Giants and Cincinnati

Don't do enough to get back into contention


San Diego and Philadelphia


Perfect Seasons

Will Green Bay go undefeated: No
Will Indianapolis go winless: Yes

Awards


MVP - Aaron Rodgers
Defensive Player of the Year - Jared Allen
Coach of the Year - Mike McCarthy (voters could choose be Jim Harbaugh)
Rookie of the Year - Andy Dalton (voters could choose Cam Newton)

What coaches will/should be fired?


Washington - Mike Shanahan
San Diego - Norv Turner
Miami - Tony Sporano
Jacksonville - Jack Del Rio
Indianapolis - Jim Caldwell (I might give him a pass, but a win-less coach has to make the list)

With the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft...


The Indianapolis Colts select Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford.

We have a trade...


Who might make a "Godfather Offer" to the Colts for the first pick:  Miami Dolphins or Washington Redskins.

Opinion: Urban Meyer to Ohio State?

If Urban Meyer is offered the Ohio State job, then he'll "have a decision to make".

The only sense I can make of this is that, if Meyer wants to be the next head coach at Ohio State, then he will be their next head coach.

That may depend on health, family, and NCAA sanctions at OSU.  Meyer's health and family, I know nothing about.  Hopefully their both great.  But why else would this be on the news, reported by his employer, ESPN, when Meyer could simply say, "I have a job. Ohio State has an interim coach.  I have no comment at this time"?

Would he be a candidate for an NFL job?  San Diego?  Jacksonville?

The NCAA sanctions part:  The NCAA should come down hard on Ohio State.  They cheated, have for years, and lied, misled and withheld information from the NCAA in order to keep players eligible and go to the Sugar Bowl.

Ohio State should have reported violations, ruled players ineligible, and withdrawn from bowl consideration.  Jim Tressel protected the program, enabling them to go to and win the Sugar Bowl.  Tressel paid for his transgression, having been fired as head coach.  Terelle Pryor is now on a bench in the NFL.  The university will learn its fate soon.  That fate should include post-season ineligibility, making the job a little less appealing, but perhaps not a deal-breaker for Meyer.

My guess is, Ohio State offers the job. Meyer accepts.  The team is ineligible to play in a bowl next season.

Life goes on, and soon Ohio State will be back to winning conference championships and competing for BCS Championships.

Monday Night Football: Patriots - Chiefs Live Diary

Pregame


The ESPN pre-game show just finished talking about the "best team in the AFC".  The conclusions I draw are that they are all flawed, injuries have made a big difference, and the best team may not end up with the top seed (or even a bye).

I hate listening to Chris Berman.  Please never let him near a baseball commentator's booth ever again.  That being said, he made a comment I very much agree with.  No matter how flawed the Patriots defense is, and that Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or Houston may be a better team; the Patriots may end up with the #1 seed in the AFC.  Reason: the schedule is the easiest in the NFL from here on out.

I have a post called, "NFL Predictions" that I have not published.  Part if it is predicting the playoff seeds.  Here is the AFC prediction;

1. New England Patriots
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Houston Texans
4. Oakland Raiders
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. NY Jets

Monday Notes - AL MVP Award, etc.

Watching Tennessee - Duke in the Maui Classic while I wait for football later on. Tennessee is ahead 25-24 (6:40 left in 1st half), but I fully expect a Duke run.

Justin Verlander won the AL MVP. He's the first starting pitcher since Roger Clemens won the award in 1986. Relievers have also won the award in the past (most recently Eck). Jacoby Ellsbury finished second. 

 I don't have much of an argument with the results. A pitcher should only win the award when he has a transcendent year, and there is not a position player who stands out. Check and check. I agree with Peter Abraham's ballot. He is a Boston writer who voted for Verlander, followed by Ellsbury. 

Abraham writes, "I think in most years, I'd vote for Ellsbury. But Verlander's performance was such that this wasn't most years".  I'm fine with that.

Just a guess, but Ellsbury couldn't have been helped by the Red Sox collapse.  Ellsbury played his best when everyone around him was at their worst.  Whether them making the playoffs would have put him over the top, I don't know.  Detroit doesn't make it to the ALCS without Verlander.  

Pitchers winning the MVP brings back the 1999 AL MVP Race, which should have been won by Pedro Martinez.  I have a clear Boston bias, so let's add in a New York writer's opinion - one where he blasts two colleagues for leaving Martinez off their ballots, costing him the award.  This isn't even the worst example of a sportswriter's personal agenda outweighing common sense.  

Back to Tennessee - Duke.  Tied at 45 with 15:29 left.  It's early, but I have seen them a few times, and to me, they don't look like much more than a Sweet 16 team.  Wait a minute; that's a pretty foolish statement, since it is November, not March.  They have young talent and a great coach, so we'll see where they are at tournament time.

I wonder how many early entrants into the 2011 NBA Draft wish they were still playing for their college team.  Here is a list of some difference makers who could still be playing college basketball.

The JBS

After a weekend of college football upsets, here is how I would rank the top 10:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Oklahoma State
5. Virginia Tech
6. Stanford
7. Oregon
8. Oklahoma
9. Houston
10. Boise State

I don't know if this is even possible, based on BCS rules, but here are some guesses on the Bowls:

30 Thoughts on 30 Teams

This was fun to do for the NFL, so here are 30 opinions on 30 Major League Baseball teams:

Baltimore Orioles - The Orioles hired Dan Duquette to be their new General Manager. Duquette was not the Orioles first choice, and he has not been a MLB GM since his stint with the Red Sox 10 years ago. He has, however, proven to be an excellent talent evaluator. We'll see if he learned from his mistakes in Boston, but the Orioles have bigger problems; namely the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, and Blue Jays.

Boston Red Sox - I've got this one covered.  Something new: Ok.  Jacoby Ellsbury's contract status is going to become an issue until it is resolved.  I don't know what the right answer is, but if I had to guess, I think they take the Jonathan Papelbon approach for now - avoid arbitration with one year deals, and let him move closer to free agency before making a decision.

Football Picks

College


Nebraska +3.5 vs MICHIGAN
Penn St. +7 vs. OHIO ST.
Mississippi St. +13 vs. ARKANSAS
SOUTH FLORIDA +1 vs. Miami
BAYLOR +15.5 vs. Oklahoma
OREGON -14.5 vs. Southern Cal. (USC)

Last Week: 5-1
Season: 38-26-2


NFL


NY Jets -4.5 vs. DENVER  *line is now -6.5*
ATLANTA -6 vs. Tennessee
Buffalo +2 vs. MIAMI
Cincinnati +7 vs. BALTIMORE
Jacksonville pk vs. CLEVELAND
Oakland -1 vs. MINNESOTA
DETROIT -7 vs. Carolina
GREEN BAY -14 vs. Tampa Bay
WASHINGTON +7 vs. Dallas
SAN FRANCISCO -9.5 vs. Arizona
ST. LOUIS -1.5 vs. Seattle
San Diego +3.5 vs. CHICAGO
Philadelphia +4.5 vs. NY GIANTS
NEW ENGLAND -15 vs. Kansas City
Bye -7 vs. INDIANAPOLIS

Last Week: 8-8
Season: 63-76-6

Thursday Night Football

I almost missed this last week (not that it matters), so here is the Thursday pick.

NY Jets -4.5 vs DENVER

Thank you KSK

I knew you wouldn't let me down.

Let's Try This Again: Patriots at NY Jets

The Patriots are playing the Jets for first place in the AFC East, and I feel like doing another live diary to go along with the game.

The Tim Tebow Experiment

With tongue firmly inserted in cheek..."I think the Broncos have figured out how to effectively use Tim Tebow."  They are leading Kansas City on the road, 10-0 at halftime.

The Red Sox Offseason: Part 1

Now that we've all moved past last baseball season (or not), where do the Red Sox go from here?

For many, the answer is "somewhere else".  Theo is in Chicago. Terry Francona could go to St. Louis (or elsewhere). Jonathan Papelbon is headed to Philadelphia.

Ben Cherington is in as GM. Dale Sveum could be the next manager.  Daniel Bard is the presumptive closer.

Beavis and Butthead

There are new Beavis and Butthead episodes on MTV.  The 5th new episode airs tonight.  I only found them a couple of weeks ago by accident (don't watch much MTV these days).  So now I'm playing catch-up.

Get More: Beavis and Butt-Head, Full Episodes

My favorite part of Beavis and Butthead has always been the commentary on music videos, but now they've got new storylines and commentary on stellar programming such as Teen Mom and Jersey Shore.

Football Picks

Thursday Night Football begins tonight, so I'll try to get all picks in earlier.


NFL


Oakland +7 vs. SAN DIEGO
Pittsburgh -3 vs. CINCINNATI
KANSAS CITY -3 vs. Denver
INDIANAPOLIS +3 vs. Jacksonville
Buffalo +5 vs. DALLAS
TAMPA BAY +3.5 VS. Houston
Tennessee +3.5 vs. CAROLINA
Washington +4 vs. MIAMI
New Orleans pk vs. ATLANTA
CHICAGO -2.5 VS. Detroit
St. Louis +2.5 vs. CLEVELAND
Baltimore -6.5 vs. SEATTLE
NY Giants +3.5 vs. SAN FRANCISCO
New England +1.5 vs. NY JETS
GREEN BAY -13 vs. Minnesota
PHILADELPHIA -14 vs. Arizona

Last Week: 8-6
Season: 55-68-6


College


Virginia Tech +1.5 vs. GEORGIA TECH
Michigan pk vs. ILLINOIS
Texas A&M -4.5 vs. KANSAS STATE
Oregon +3.5 vs. STANFORD
ARKANSAS -14 vs. Tennessee
SOUTH CAROLINA -3 vs. Florida


Last Week: 4-2
Season: 33-25-2

NFL Picks

Atlanta -6.5 vs. INDIANAPOLIS
NEW ORLEANS -8.5 vs. Tampa Bay
HOUSTON -10.5 vs. Cleveland
NY Jets +2.5 vs. BUFFALO
KANSAS CITY -5.5 vs. Miami
San Francisco -5.5 vs. WASHINGTON
DALLAS -10.5 vs. Seattle
Denver +7 vs. OAKLAND
TENNESSEE -2.5 vs. Cincinnati
St. Louis +1 vs. ARIZONA
NY Giants +10 vs. NEW ENGLAND
SAN DIEGO +5.5 vs. Green Bay
PITTSBURGH +3.5 vs. Baltimore
PHILADELPHIA -7.5 vs. Chicago

Last Week: 4-8-1
Season: 47-62-6

College Football Picks

OKLAHOMA -14 vs. Texas A&M
ARKANSAS -5 vs. South Carolina
UCLA +8.5 vs. Arizona St.
Boise St. -41 vs. UNLV
PITTSBURGH +4 vs. Cincinnati
ALABAMA -4.5 vs. Louisiana State (LSU)

Last Week: 2-4
Season: 29-23-2