by John Ryan
Quick note before I puke my weekend thoughts onto this blog for your reading pleasure. I think we would all agree that Tuesday is a far better day for me to publish this weekly column due to me being able to cover the WHOLE NFL weekend, and not short change the dozen or so loyal readers I have. With that being said, off we go:
1.) I know I usually work forwards, but I must start with last night first, Since I’m a Phillies fan, i’ll provide a few points, and leave it at that. Just know that I am bitter. 1.) As many of my tri-state brethren prepare to jump off the bridge (Ben Franklin or the Walter, the choice is yours) I want it to be known that I don’t think this is a horrible thing. Yes, Hamels only threw 75 pitches, and yes he was dominant (the runs were a result of the rain, lets be real here), but consider this: His spot in the order was coming up in the bottom of the 6th in a 2-2 tie in the world series. Would Manuel had left him in anyways? Probably. And it’s fair to dispute that point. But consider this. On Wednesday this game will be finalized and it will start in the bottom of the 6th. The Phillies will bat four more times to the Rays 3, and will go PH, Rollins, Werth to start the 6th. In the seventh, the Phillies can feature ANYONE on their staff not named Hamels to throw against Navarro, Bartlett, PH. Advantage Phillies so far. (Anyone else notice Navarro is a real pest in that lineup?) Next, if we somehow get to game 7, Hamels can and probably will throw. Moyer can maybe throw bullpen if Myers implodes, or he could throw Thursday and Myers could be a pen hand. Just throwing out options, This is the World Series and these sort of tactics are employed sometimes. Too risque? Agree that it can be, but it still puts the Phils in good position to win tomorrow and still have Myers and then Hamels again if they do lose the next 1 and 1/3 games. But let’s be clear here: Selig made a jackass move, as usual. Why did the 6th inning ever even start? Why did the 5th even start for that matter? The world may never know…..
2.) Texas is still good, and they will probably beat an untested (at least on the road) Texas Tech team. Can’t wait for this coming weekend in college football. FAU won again in a close tilt, and I’ll throw out a plug for those WVU Neer’s who beat Auburn and solidified a spot in a BCS game. I hear wagons circling, and suddenly Bill Stewart isn’t that bad……They’ve looked good lately, lets at least agree on that. Devine is a stud.
3.) The Colts are 3-4?? Who didn’t see this coming, thats my question. The Titans are mighty, but lets all repeat after me again: PEYTON is WAAAAAY better than ELI. It’s not debatable people.
4.) But the Giants look great as a team, and may run away with the NFC. I think they’re the best team in football, bar none. While the Duke may rank the Titans ahead (and I agree because power rankings isn’t synonymous with real life in some respects. They do deserve it) I still believe the Giants would win the game between the two. Imagine that: 8 years after “Cocktail” Collins led the GGGG-Men to a Super Bowl he’s back with the Titans? And Jeff Fisher is still the coach? And Vinny Young couldn’t beat him out? I love the NFL.
5.) The Eagles looked good but not great, and that’s about all I have to say about them. They are a blah team that may sneak into the playoffs and potentially make noise. They are immensely talented, but not with the likes of the elite. They need more of a commitment from ownership, but unfortunately they use a guy like Asante Samuel as a scapegoat saying they made a big time commitment. And he is great, don’t get me wrong, but they NEEDED Tony Gonzalez or Kellen Winslow. (Side Note: Matt Ryan looked great, and has looked great all year. I swear im not related…..but if I was i would use every possible angle to my advantage in order to :get chicks, have tabs paid for me, gamble more, stay in chic hotels, travel more, etc etc etc.)
6.) Hoops pre-season is over. Is there a more uninteresting game in sports than pre-season hockey and basketball? I say the WNBA still owns that patent.
7.) The Flyers finally look better. (yawning) I will get into them when I see my breath outside consistently and the World Series is over, and the Eagles are over, and when there is no better option on TV.
8.) Entourage was great. Ari was amazing (if you like that sort of comedy) and Drama was solid as usual. Wish Jamie Lynn Siegler was going to be on the show more, but i’m not that lucky i guess. Can’t wait to see what happens with this “Smoke Jumpers” things, and see where they go with Dana Gordon. (Side Note: How does Ari sleep at night turning down a 10 million dollar offer, and then handing it to a broad? I’m not sexist, but come on. And I hope he really cashes in that hand job promise. Just saying…….As far as Amanda, she peaked when she played Pauly Shore’s girl friend in “Son In Law” and she is not all that hot. She does play a great bitch, though.)
The only thing that “always Sunny in Philadelphia” is the faith of the fans. Who else would would come back and watch after being cheated and lied to. Their like a jilted lover who won’t take no for an answer. They live and die for their teams. worshiping players who don’t give a dam about them. It’s sad and pathetic to watch them on TV. Dressed in the team colors living and dying on each pitch. Is modern live so bad that we need an escape that professional sports provides. Monday night’s game prves it’s not always sunning in Philadelphia.
I think the gap between the Titans and Giants is so close that I would take either team on their own home field. On a neutral field, I think I’d still give a slight edge to the Titans, though I’m hardly certain of that.
I’ve been very surprised that the Titans haven’t thrown in a Wildcat formation with Vince Young as the Ronnie Brown type QB/HB. Think it would be very effective in minor doses (maybe 6-8 plays per game) and could be a nice confidence boost for Young.