AND THEN, THERE WERE TWO..........

The Heisman trophy winner has come down to Notre Dame's Manti Te'o and front-runner Johnny "Football" Manziel. Te'o and Manziel are two of the five finalist with invites to New York City. Kansas State Quarterback Colin Klein has one final opportunity to convince Heisman voters why he was the undisputed front-runner for half the season. Klein's Wildcats are set to face the #18 Texas Longhorns Saturday night in Manhattan Kansas. The rise of Te'o and Johnny "Football" has virtually made it impossible for Colin Klein, Braxton Miller, and USC's Marqise Lee to garner many votes. The rise of Johnny"Football" occurred when his Texas A&M team went into Tuscaloosa Alabama and gave former #1 Alabama their first lost of the season. The Aggies dominated the Crimson Tide in the first quarter of the game by jumping out to a 20-0 lead. Alabama made a second half comeback that would ultimately end with a goal-line stand by the Aggies. Manziel finished the game with 253 passing yards with two touchdowns and 92 rush yards. The season stats for Johnny Manziel are very Heisman worthy. He passed for 3,419 yards with 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions to go along with 1,181 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Manziel proved his freshman year was worthy of recognition at the highest level. Manti Te'o is known around the country as the heart and soul of the Notre Dame defense. Manti has been the anchor of a defense that's top five in the nation. Te'o has six games where he recorded double-digit solo and assisted tackles. He is also second in the nation with seven interceptions. Without Te'o and the Notre Dame defense carrying the way, the Irish would not be awaiting the winner of Alabama/Georgia to face in the BCS National Championship. Te'o has shown excellent leadership skills while playing through many adverse situations. He lost his girlfriend and grandmother within the span of a week, and played through it all because of his loyalty to the team. I believe Manti Te'o has become the sentimental pick to win the Heisman because of his football skills and the hardships he endured throughout the season. Both Te'o and Manziel are trying to accomplish a feat that's rarely achieved. Defensive players rarely win the Heisman trophy while a freshmen has never won. Charles Woodson was the last defensive player to win it.(1997) If I had a vote, it would go to the freshman Johnny "Football" Manziel. I have never seen a freshman perform at the level he has throughout an twelve to thirteen game season.

  

WILL THE LOST OF GRONK, KILL THE PATRIOTS???????

On Sunday, the New England Patriots lost "all world tight end" Rob Gronkowski to a broken forearm. According to medical reports, Gronkowski will miss the next four to six weeks. The pundits  have labeled the injury as bad karma coming back to bite the Patriots. People felt this way due to the Patriots running up the score on the Indianapolis Colts. In my opinion, the Patriots played football the way it was supposed to be played. The NFL is a man's league, where men play. If people want to complain about teams being aggressive, I believe they should go watch p-wee football where there are mercy rules in place. Gronkowski was hurt during the Patriots final point of the game making the score 59-24. These circumstances have added fuel to the fire that Gronkowski should not have been in the game during a blowout. I have to say "I agree with all the pundits that Gronkowski being in the game, was foolish on the Patriots part." Rob Gronkowski has become the number one tight end in the NFL by putting up staggering numbers at his position. Before Sunday's injury Gronkowski's stat line read like this; 53 receptions, 748 yards, 10 touchdowns. Gronkowski was also vital to the Patriots running game and pass blocking. The lost of Gronkowski is big, due to the multiple threats he posed for opposing defenses. I believe it's time for the other tight ends to take the "next man up" approach. Visante Shiancoe and Daniel Fells will have to pick up the slack for Gronkowski's absence. The return of Aaron Hernandez will also keep the offense running smoothly. The next four games will be a great litmus test for the Patriots as they move forward. In the next three weeks, they will face the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough Mass. These two teams are considered to be the Superbowl favorites in their respective conferences. If the Patriots can hold serve at home against one of these teams, it could solidify their position as a Superbowl favorite going into the playoffs. New England has a multitude of weapons at their disposal. I believe they will be fine without Gronkowski for the rest of the regular season. The key to the team's success will be the defense. The defense has been the team's Achilles heel for the last five years. The Patriots have lost two Superbowls in the last five years because of it. Fortunately, the defense has been much improve throughout the season. The Patriots defense leads the NFL with 20+ take-aways. Forcing turnovers have allowed the defense to make critical game saving plays over the last four games. The Patriots will continue to challenge for a Superbowl title as long as Quarterback Tom Brady is healthy and upright.

      

THE RISE OF "JOHNNY FOOTBALL" !!!!!!!!

The Texas A&M program has risen in the ranks of  college football. The Aggies are lead by Freshmen Quarterback Johnny Manziel. The team has been floating under the radar in college football. Johnny Manziel has performed spectacular throughout the season, thus earning the nickname "Johnny Football" from the national media. The game against the Arkansas Razorbacks was Manziel's coming out party. He passed for 453 yards and 3 touchdowns to go along with 105 rush yards with 1 touchdown. The Aggies went on to win the game in convincing fashion 58-10. In the game versus #23 Louisiana Tech, Manziel compiled 584 yards of offense rushing and passing to go along with 6 touchdowns. The game that has risen "Johnny Football" through the ranks of the Heisman polls was #1 Alabama. The Freshmen Quarterback put on a show for the ages by leading his team to a 20-0 lead after the first quarter of play. The defending National Champion Crimson Tide are nearly impossible to beat on their home field in Tuscaloosa. Manziel and his no fear approach seemed to trickle down the whole team. After Alabama got over the shock of being thoroughly out-played, they reeled off 14 straight points for a 20-14 halftime deficit. The second half would consist of huge plays being made by both teams. Texas A&M went on to make all the plays needed for the upset. The game ended with a 4th and goal stand made by the Aggies with 1:36 left. Johnny Manziel finished the game, rushing for 92 yards and throwing for 253 with 2 touchdowns. The final score of the monumental upset was 29-24. The performance by Manziel catapulted him into the top 3 of the Heisman race. Both the A&M team and "Johnny Football" have put a serious monkey-wrench in the Heisman and National Championship picture. The lost, dropped Alabama from first to fourth in the BCS rankings and Manziel was not  seriously mentioned as a Heisman candidate until the Alabama win. Everyone expected the Crimson Tide to be in the big game in the end. Thanks to Manziel and his teammates, the public may witness a National Champion that's not a member of the SEC conference.

      

COLLEGE BASKETBALL IS FINALLY HERE !!!!!!!

The college basketball season is finally upon us! Indiana University begins the season as the number one team in the country. The Hoosiers are deep at every position on the court. Pre-season National Player of the Year candidate Cody Zeller anchors the middle of a potent offense capable of producing big numbers. The Hoosiers welcome in a Top 5 recruiting class to add to last year's Sweet 16 squad. Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell highlights the class because of his All-American status. In his first game as a collegiate player, Yogi showed the skills of a great floor leader. He scored 10 points and dished out 7 assist in a display of blazing speed and complete control of the offense. Bryant University did not stand a chance losing 97-54. The Hoosiers played the game in a fashion that screams " We are the number one team in the country!" I would have to agree, after watching the team's offensive and defensive improvements. Indiana has all the ingredients to win a National Championship starting with a good "floor general" and a "solid big man". Yogi Ferrell is proving to be the missing piece that could carry them over the top. The Big Ten has the title of being the toughest conference in America. Five teams are represented in the Top 25 polls lead by Indiana at number 1. Ohio State and Michigan are ranked 4th and 5th respectively, while Michigan State and Wisconsin round out the Top 25 at 14th and 23rd. The college basketball season should give everyone plenty of thrills and major upsets. The Top 25 polls will have a few unexpected teams on the list as the season goes on. The beauty of college basketball is not knowing where that surprise team will come from. I have composed my own top 25 list.

TAY'S CBB TOP 25 LIST:

 

1. Indiana

2. Louisville

3. Michigan

4. Kentucky

5.Ohio State

6. Kansas

7. North Carolina

8. Duke

9. Syracuse

10. North Carolina State

11. Florida

12. Missouri

13. Michigan State

14. Arizona

15. Creighton

16. Memphis

17. Gonzaga

18. Baylor

19.Wisconsin

20.UNLV

21. San Diego State

22. Murray State

23.Cincinnati

24. Florida State

25. VCU   

THE PLEASANT SURPRISE OF THE NFL

The Indianapolis Colts came into the season as everyone's pick to be the worst team in the NFL. Unfortunately, the Colts did not believe it. In the eyes of all professional analyst, the Colts were supposed to be in the rebuilding stage. After a decade at Quarterback, Peyton Manning was released to test the free-agent market. During that time most Colts fans did not agree with this scenario. Colts owner Jim Ursay decided to go in a different direction by drafting Stanford Quarterback Andrew Luck to guide the franchise in a new direction. The expectations going into the 2012-2013 season were low by national media and most Colt fans. The entire Colts organization is practically new, starting with the General Manager down to the players. Reggie Wayne, Robert Mathis, and Dwight Freeny are the only All-Pro players left over from the Manning era. These circumstances alone, exemplify the amount of heart and dedication the Colts are exhibiting this season. The spark was lit when first year coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with Leukemia. The next Sunday, the team went out and played a home game against the Green Bay Packers. The game would be a tale of two half's. The first half began with the Packers dominating the Colts in every facet of the game. The Packers jumped out to a 21-3 lead. The Colts came out the locker room a completely different team. The Colts had a performance of the ages, by going on a 27-6 run with Reggie Wayne stretching for the game clenching touchdown. Since their victory over the Packers the Colts have compiled a (3-1) record with three straight wins. The team is now firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot at (5-3). Not exactly where the national media expected them to be. Tomorrow night the Colts travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars who are (1-7) with their lone victory coming against the Colts in week three. If the Colts can win, they will be one step closer to proving all their critics wrong.

My take on the Colts: The Indianapolis Colts are developing into a major "feel good story" of the underdogs that shook up the American Football Conference. (AFC) I really don't know how the Colts season will end, but I strongly believe that they have done enough to garner all our respect.

DID OKC MAKE A MISTAKE??

On the eve of the season, a major move was made that could change the landscape of the NBA's Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets after the two factions could not agree to terms on a contract extension. Harden, the (2011-2012 6th Man of the Year) was looking for a max deal. The Thunder offered a 4yr/55 million dollar extension in which Harden turned down. The task of giving Harden a max deal was virtually impossible with the team having two other star players signed to max deals. (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook) Harden was traded to Houston along with four other players. In return the Thunder received 2012 Lottery pick Jeremy Lamb, three future draft picks and the deals focal point shooting guard Kevin Martin. Harden has paid immediate dividends in his first two games compiling a staggering stat line of 82 points, 14 assist, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals. The lost of Harden has most basketball analysts changing their opinion of the Thunder being the best team in the Western Conference. I strongly believe the Thunder still have enough fire power to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. I get the impression that everyone has dismissed the importance of guard Eric Maynor and his return to the team. Maynor is a key cog of the team who had the misfortune of tearing his anterior cruciate ligament at the beginning of last season. He brings stability to an offense that does not have a true point guard. The Thunder lead the NBA in turnovers last season due to his absence. It has been widely suggested that Thunder coach Scott Brooks would be wise to move Russell Westbrook to his natural two guard spot and let Maynor play the point guard slot. The Thunder will not miss a beat because Kevin Martin is a proven scorer in the NBA. He lead both of his former teams in scoring while he played in Sacramento and Houston. Martin is one of those players who can put up 40 to 50 points on any given night. The one problem with Martin is his lack of defensive awareness. Players like Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Eric Maynor will make up for Martin's lack of individual defensive skills. The Thunder play great team defense by funneling opposing players into the lane where Serge Ibaka will either block or contest the shot. The Oklahoma City Thunder will be fine. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are the core pieces in place, that will guide the Thunder to their first championship since 1979, back when they were formerly known as "The Seattle Supersonics".

THE REALIZATION OF " WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN"

After watching ESPN's 30 for 30 about the life of Benjamin "Benji" Wilson, I started to think about all the basketball stars who never had a chance to make their mark in the NBA. Benji Wilson was one of the first nationally ranked high school phenoms in the country. After watching the documentary, I could clearly see the skills of a special player. He exhibited all the skills of an NBA calibur player during his Sophmore and Junior years at Simeon Vocational High School in Chicago Illinios. He could play the inside game and step out on the wing and shoot with touch. Wilson was also known as a great defender who thrived in shot blocking. Tragically Benji Wilson was gunned down a block away from Simeon Vocational after an altercation with another young man. During the period of the early 80's Benji Wilson was considered to one of the most popular figures in Chicago, along with Oprah Winfrey, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Michael Jordan, and the first African American Mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington.

Hank Gathers was a college basketball star during the late 80's at Loyola Marymount University in California. Gathers was a "beast" of a player during his time at LMU. He put together his best collegiate season in 1988-89 when he became the second player in NCAA Divison 1 history to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding with averages of (32.7) and (13.7) per contest. During his Senior year he would become a candidate for National Player of the Year honors, ultimately leading to a NBA Lottery pick projection. Unfortunately, Hank died on the basketball court in a game against the University of Portland in the West Coast Conference (WCC) tournament. Hank completed an earth shattering alley-oop dunk and collapsed as he ran down the court. Doctors explained the cause of death as a heart muscle disorder called " hypertrophic cardiomyopathy."

Len Bias was a star player at the University of Maryland during the early 80's. The basketball skills he exibited were a blend of power and finesse. Bias impressed NBA scouts with his leaping ability, ball handling, physical stature, and overall playmaking skills. Len Bias was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 2nd pick in the 1986 NBA draft. NBA executives believed he was the closest thing to come out since Michael Jordan. The Celtics envisioned Len Bias keeping the winning tradition going into the future after Larry Bird retired. The same night Bias was drafted he went home to be with family and friends. Later that night he went back to his dorm room and snorted cocaine with a few friends. The cocaine usage caused cardiac arrhythmia which ultimately cut his life and dreams tradgically short.

All three of these men are examples of "what could have been" They all would have been NBA players with possible All-Pro/Hall of Fame careers. I have seen video of all three men during their playing years. All exhibited skills that made them stand out above the average player. Sadly, the only thing left now is to wonder.

Other players that did not reach their full potential due to death: Reggie Lewis (Boston Celtics), Drazen Petrovic (New Jersey Nets), Bobby Phils (Charlotte Hornets), Malik Sealy (Minnesota Timberwolves)

 

WNBA CHAMPIONSHIP IS THE CHERRY ON TOP OF A FANTASTIC CAREER

On Sunday Oct. 21, 2012, Tamika Catchings walked into Banker's Life Fieldhouse as a player who's won on every level except the WNBA. Catchings helped guide Stevenson High School to an Illinois State championship as a High School Sophomore. After a stellar High school career, she took her talents to the University of Tennessee to play for Legendary coach Pat Summit. Catchings would go on to have an All American career with one National Title in the 97-98 season. In 2001, the Indiana Fever drafted Tamika Catchings with the 3rd overall pick. Catchings has made an major impact on the WNBA game as the best all around player in the league. She can play on both ends of the floor and impact a game in a positive fashion. She won the WNBA Rookie of the year award in 2002. She is a 7x WNBA All-Star and 5x Defensive Player of the Year. These awards show the recognition she has received from her peers as one of the top players in the game. Catchings has also shined on the International stage by winning three Olympic Gold Medals. (2004, 2008, 2012) The one elusive title for Catchings has been The WNBA Championship. She came very close to winning back in 2009, but her Indiana Fever came up short losing to the Phoenix Mercury. The 2012 season had its ups and downs with the team ultimately getting hot at the right time. Catchings stepped into the stadium and took the " bull by the horns" approach in closing out the Minnesota Lynx. The Fever players put together a complete team effort in closing out the Lynx. The performance of Tamika Catchings stood out above the rest by posting MVP numbers: 25pts, 8 asst, 4 rebs, 3 blks, 1 stl
The Indiana Fever went on to beat the Minnesota Lynx 3 games to 1 with the final game score being 87-78. Catchings performance in the WNBA Finals won her the Most Valuable Player Award. (MVP) The Indiana Fever is a team that is fairly young. The task of defending their title will be difficult but with a savvy veteran like Tamika Catchings as your anchor, anything is possible.

Congratulations Tamika, you are the ultimate champion.

 

Sports Blog with T.Wash: THE " CARDIAC CARDINALS " ARE AT IT AGAIN !!!!!!!!...

Sports Blog with T.Wash: THE " CARDIAC CARDINALS " ARE AT IT AGAIN !!!!!!!!...: The St.Louis Cardinals are on another miracle run through the post season. The team has a habit of putting together playoff runs that boggle...

THE " CARDIAC CARDINALS " ARE AT IT AGAIN !!!!!!!!

The St.Louis Cardinals are on another miracle run through the post season. The team has a habit of putting together playoff runs that boggle the mind. Last season the Cardinals came back from nine games back to over take the Atlanta Braves for the National League Wildcard slot. They would go on to steam roll the competition en route to a World Series title. In the off-season they lost their top player to free agency (Albert Pujos) and their Hall of Fame manager (Tony LaRussa) to retirement. Now, in the 2012 season the Cards are at it again. They won the second Wildcard slot and went on to beat ironically the Atlanta Braves in a do or die single elimination game. In the National League Division Series they beat the Washington Nationals 3-2. The Cards are on the verge of making back-to-back World Series with a win over the San Francisco Giants tonight in St.Louis. The Cardinals have dominated the Giants with a cast of blue collar players. Mike Matheny is not a veteran manager, which makes the run the Cards are on seem even more miraculous. They have a bunch of blue collar players and no national star power. David Freese,Carlos Beltran and Chris Carpenter may be there best known players on the roster. I truly believe the St.Louis Cardinals are destined to become back-to-back World Series Champions. They will close out the Giants tonight in St. Louis and take the series 4-1. The Detroit Tigers will have to travel to St.Louis for game 1 on Wednesday. To witness deja-vu with the Cards playoff success, makes me wonder how Albert Pujos is feeling as a spectator instead of focal point for his former team.

World Series: 4-2, St. Louis Cardinals  

DARE I SAY IT " ARE THE SKILLS OF PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY DIMINISHING?"

It literally kills me to post this manuscript, but I have to be objective and unbiased. The answer is YES... Tom Brady skills as an elite Quarterback are starting to diminish. The New England Patriots are 3-3 on the season with all three loses totaling four points. I understand the Patriots record could easily be 6-0. The changes made in the off-season to improve the league's 2nd worst defense has not shown as much progress as anticipated. The secondary is still the worst in the NFL, giving up a large number explosive plays in the pass game. The Patriots are still having issues generating a decent pass rush, with the exception of rookie Chandler Jones. If the defensive line could rush the Quarterback the cornerbacks can stay with their assignment and not allow receivers to break routes. The defense is getting a large amount of blame because they should be able to make crucial stops at the end of games. I on the other hand, refuse to exclude the offense of any blame. In my opinion, I place most of the blame on Tom Brady. Brady has not looked the same since he came back from his season ending knee injury in 2008. He looks uncomfortable when he stands in the pocket. I have noticed the way he's constantly moving around and ducking when pressure isn't there. The throws he make aren't as crisp as they use to be. He has definitely lost some of his accuracy. The most disappointing flaw I have noticed in Brady's game is his lack of a "killer instinct". The last game I saw Tom Brady actually drive the team down and win was last season's week six game against the Dallas Cowboys. Brady drove the team down on an 88 yard drive and capped if off with a 6 yard TD to Aaron Hernandez. That was the way Tom Brady use to be. I have no idea what happened to the guy teams feared giving the ball to at the end of games. The Patriots had opportunities to close every game they lost this season but failed to do so. It all boils down to Tom Brady and the offense not having the mental makeup to have an "killer instinct". The old Tom Brady cherished those moments of closing teams out and driving his team down the field for the win. I'm just not seeing that guy anymore and I truly don't know if the NFL will see that elite caliber play from him consistently again.

This is Brady being heckled by Seahawks DB Richard Sherman after a game of trash talking with each other. The old Brady would have backed it up with a win. The old Brady wouldn't have this pitiful look on his face.

THE ARROGANCE OF MR. KOBE BEAN BRYANT

I know there are countless fans of Kobe Bryant throughout the world. In my opinion, Kobe Bryant will go down as the second best two guard in NBA history.The major flaw that I never understood about Bryant is his extreme level of arrogance towards people who aren't as good as him. I read an article that talked about Bryant blasting his former teammate named William "Smush" Parker. He told reporters that Parker didn't deserve to be in the NBA. He basically described Parker as a complete scrub by saying " He shouldn't have been in the NBA, but we were too cheap to pay for a point guard. We let him walk on." What kind of statement is that? The level of arrogance he displays is sickening. I will vouch for Smush Parker because he wasn't as bad as Bryant is leading people to believe. In the 2005-06 season Parker averaged 11.5 points and 3.7 assist per game as the starting point guard. In my opinion, these were good numbers compared to any other point guard that's started along side Bryant. Parker followed up the next season with averages of 11.1 points and 2.8 assist per game. Again, these are not All-Star caliber stats, but they aren't as pathetic as Kobe Bryant's dissection of Parker's game. I bet Kobe would be very offended if everyone called him out on his performance in the 05 playoffs when he literally quit on his team in the Phoenix series. He acted like a spoiled brat because he felt he didn't have the guys around him to win. I say he punked out by taking that route to get what he wanted. After the series was over, Jerry West orchestrated a joke of a deal to get Pau Gasol in a Laker uniform. After the move, the Lakers went back to their winning ways. The point of this article is to shine some light on the man who wants to be the duplicate of Micheal Jordan. In Bryant's earlier years as a pro, it would be evident who he emulated his game after. The man wanted to be Jordan so bad that he had Jordan's mannerisms down pact. Every dunk he made, his tongue was wagging, every big shot his fist was held up. I will never forget the worst of all, was the time ESPN did a side by side of Jordan and Bryant walking. Yes indeed, the dude even walked like Mike, now how pathetic is that. Kobe wants to be Mike so bad that I believe he will do whatever it takes to win that 6th championship. Even if he gets it, he will never be as great as Jordan because when its all said and done Jordan 6-0 in the NBA Finals with 6 MVPS. Sorry KOBE

Look at the similarities.

 

THE NBA SEASON IS UPON US.....

The NBA pre-season has begun with exhibition games being played in foreign countries. The 2012-2013 season promises to be an exciting one. There are many questions that have to be answered. Will the Heat repeat as NBA champions? Did the Oklahoma City Thunder gain any experience from losing in the Finals to the Heat? Will the edition of Dwight Howard make The L.A. Lakers a favorite to win the West? All of these questions will be answered in the upcoming season. The Eastern Conference will be more competitive than it has in years. There will be four teams with a legitimate shot of making the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat will go into the season as the favorite. The Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, and Indiana Pacers will challenge the Heat for the top spot in the East. The Brooklyn Nets have made significant changes that could guide them past the Heat. The resigning of Daron Williams, Brook Lopez, and Kris Humphries kept the core players together. They solidified the squad by trading for Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace. The Boston Celtics added Jason Terry and got a little younger via the NBA draft. The Indiana Pacers pushed the Heat to the limit in last year's NBA playoffs, so they will come back a year older and wiser. The Heat's Championship team is still intact with one key addition named Ray Allen who is still a major threat on the perimeter.

The Western Conference will also have a four team race with Oklahoma City leading the way. The Thunder will be stronger with the return of Eric Maynor as the team's steady backup point guard. The L.A. Lakers have made significant additions by adding Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to give Kobe Bryant the true point guard he's never had. The San Antonio Spurs will continue to pile up wins and be in the mix while the L.A. Clippers are an up and coming team that will make some noise. In my opinion, the surprise team in the NBA this season will be the Minnesota Timberwolves with the return of Ricky Rubio from knee surgery. The Philadelphia 76ers will be a much improved squad with the acquisition of Andrew Bynum. If Bynum can stay healthy, the young Sixers can make some serious noise in the Eastern Conference. I fully expect the NBA season to provide fans with plenty of last second shots and overtime thrillers.

My NBA Final's Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Miami Heat II - Thunder wins 4-2

BRADY VS. MANNING: A RIVALRY RENEWED

This Sunday NFL fans will witness the renewal of the best Quarterback rivalry in the modern era. These two combatants have often been called 1 and 1-A when people compare the two. Over the years Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have played classic games in their head to head battles. In the beginning, Tom Brady and the Patriots won majority of the contest. In the last five years Peyton Manning and his former team ( Indianapolis Colts ) have had the upper hand compiling  a 5-2 record. On Sunday afternoon Manning will step into Foxborough Massachusetts as a Denver Bronco. The rivalry between the two Quarterbacks was so great, it lead to the NFL scheduling the two Quarterbacks to face each other for ten straight seasons. The Colts faced the Patriots last season but Manning did not play due to injury. During the 2000's the Colts-Patriots game obtained the highest television rating each time. Everyone wanted to be a part of the debate: Who's the best Quarterback? Both Quarterbacks played their role of convincing the nation who that QB would be. During those years Manning would be known as " The best regular season Quarterback who only won 1 Superbowl" while Brady won 3 with a much better defense. Whenever these two QB's play, fully expect the game to be a nail-bitter. All the Brady-Manning matchups tend to end very close regardless of the winner. I fully expect another classic game between the two all-time greats. NFL fans, prepare to witness the renewal of a classic QB rivalry where both have a mutual respect for one another. Who knows it might just come down to a game winning field goal.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. IS DUCKING MANNY PACQUIAO

The time has come for everyone to start calling Floyd Mayweather Jr. out. The public has been waiting three long years for this fight to happen. Mayweather has always said he would fight Pacquiao on his own terms. Well Floyd, you have been officially called out by Pacquiao on a national platform. Manny Pacquiao was on ESPN First Take promoting his December bout with Juan Manuel Marquez. He was asked if he was OK with taking all the performance enhancing test and a smaller purse in order to fight Floyd. These were the terms required by Mayweather in order to make the fight happen with Pacquiao. Since Pacquiao has made it known that he would do whatever it took to get the bout against Mayweather there has been one statement from Floyd's camp. That statement came from his manager Leonard Ellerby. Ellerby basically said what was said before " Floyd dictates his own terms with his fights". In my opinion, this is a sign of stalling or ducking. Floyd believes there's a chance he could lose this fight so he will continue to keep the public waiting. Floyd is trying to maintain his Sugar Ray Robinson status as one of the best all-around boxers without a blemish on his record. Ray Robinson finished his professional career with a 128-1-2 record. Floyd is currently 43-0 and I know he wants to keep it that way. I believe Floyd knows how dangerous Pacquiao can be inside the ring. He has never fought an opponent that has a combination of speed, power, and tenacity. Manny Pacquiao exhibits all the traits that make Floyd's decision to step in the ring a giant risk to his perfect record. I agree with all the analyst that believe Mayweather is the best defensive fighter pound for pound. The problem is: Manny will land punches because he would not be afraid to take the fight to Mayweather. I believe we would see Mayweather really get hit for the first time in his career. The questions then, would go this way. " How good of a chin does Mayweather have? Can he endure the punishment from Pacquiao?"

IT'S TIME FOR THE REPLACEMENT REFS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

The situation between the NFL and the referees calls for a desperate resolution. The integrity of America's game is definitely being challenged right now. Everyone knew the day would come when the replacements refs would be the direct cause of a team losing. That day would be last night, when the Green Bay Packers went into Seattle to play the Seahawks. The game was a defensive battle that saw two teams combine for double-digit sacks. As the game progressed into the 4th quarter, the penalties against the Packers were coming more frequently. These penalties seemed to be bail outs that benefited the Seahawks. The penalty that really got my attention, was the flag thrown against the Packers DB Sam Shields. He was flagged for interfering with Seahawks WR Sidney Rice. In my opinion, the call was ludicrous because everyone could clearly see that Sidney Rice had his hand in Shields face mask while riding his back. The call should have been offensive pass interference against Sidney Rice. The pass interference call was crucial because it helped Seattle get into scoring position. The Packers would ultimately stop the drive and get the ball back. After the Packers went three and out, the Seahawks received the ball back with 55 seconds. The last play of the game came down to a hail Mary pass from Seahawks QB Russell Wilson. The pass was caught in the endzone by  Packers DB M.D. Jennings. Any logical human being would see this as a interception, but No! not the replacement referees! When Jennings caught the ball, Seattle WR Golden Tate slipped one hand in on the ball and began to fight for it while the two men were on the ground. The two referees stepped in with indecisiveness. One official signaled to stop the clock which means interception, while the other official seemed to hesitate before he gave the touchdown sigh. What makes the situation even more ridiculous, is the fact that the play was reviewed and still called a touchdown. I was left to wonder " How did they rule it as a touchdown! Are they blind or just plain idiotic!) The Green Bay Packers were clearly robbed of a victory last night. If the NFL doesn't resolve this issue, I expect more games to turn out this way. Well football fans, the rest of the season will be a long one because I don't see team owners budging on their stance against the regular referees. The owners believe the league is fine, as long as their not losing money.

 

 

  

THE LITTLE GIANT THAT RESIDES IN TERRE-HAUTE

Shakir Bell is the little known " dynamo" who puts in work at Indiana State University. Shakir Bell attended Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. He was one of the top running backs in the state when he finished his  High school career. Shakir had desires of attending one of the major programs in Indiana, but was ultimately snubbed because of his size.( 5'8, 185 ) Two years ago Indiana State University decided to give him a shot. I must say "Indiana State has reaped the benefits of his talents". In his first two seasons Shakir Bell has rushed for 2,319 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bell has began his Junior season with a "Bang"! In four games he rushed for 664 yards and 5 touchdowns, to go along with a performance that was the best of any NCAA athlete last week. Shakir Bell went into the history books by rushing for 349 yards on 33 carries against Drake University. The young man averaged 10.5 yards a carry. These are numbers that should not be ignored, but Indiana State is a small school that's not mentioned amongst the major schools in the state of Indiana. I guarantee, Bell's performance would have instantly put him in the Heisman race if he attended Notre Dame. The performance would have at least been mentioned if he attended Indiana or Purdue. After looking at Shakir Bells career stats I wonder if the major programs in Indiana have regrets of not taking him. Shakir was able to make a statement in the season opener against Indiana by piling up 192 yards on 24 carries. Hopefully someone will give this young man some national recognition because he definitely deserves it.  

WHY ARE THE PATRIOTS "FREEZING" OUT WES WELKER?

The situation going on in New England has been sickening. I have been trying to be biased and not discuss my team of interest, but the treatment of Wes Welker has been horrible. Wes Welker has been one of the top pass catching threats in the NFL. He has lead the league in receptions four out of the last five years. In those four years he managed to have over one hundred receptions, which is amazing coming from a man who measures 5'9 and weighs 185 lbs. In my opinion, this current dilemma dates back to the off-season when the Patriots and Welker could not agree to a contract. Wes Welker wanted to be paid market value and the Patriots want to continue their tight-wad ways of not paying their players. It pains me to say this as a Patriots fan, but they have to be the cheapest franchise in the NFL. Over the years they have let countless All-Pro players leave because they were to cheap to pay them. The biggest effect of their penny pinching has been on the defense over the years. The depletion of their defense is the reason why they have lost 2 Superbowls in the last 4 years to the New York Giants. The Patriots need to stop freezing out Welker and get him the ball. If they plan on continuing this process, then I say " just trade him and be done with it" because this is ridiculous. Get it together Patriots !!!!!!!!!!! You have an Pro-Bowl caliber receiver, Use him !!!!!!!

IS RGIII AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED ?????????????

The opening day of the NFL season saw a rookie play the best game of the weekend. Robert Griffin III ( RGIII ) lead his Washington Redskins into hostile territory to take on Drew Brees and the high powered New Orleans Saints. The Redskins jumped out to an early lead when RGIII connected on a 10 yard slant with Pierre Garcon that he took 88 yards to the house. The Skins dominated the game for the most part, but inevitably Drew Brees would make some plays to bring his team closer. The Saints could not make the necessary plays to get over the hump.I watched the game on NFL Replay and had the premise that Washington would win the game. The atmosphere of the raucous Superdome was very quiet as RGIII continued to make plays on Sunday. The final score of the game was Skins-40, Saints-32. RGIII would finish 19 of 26 for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns. These are excellent statistics for a rookie making his first NFL start. I don't believe in proclaiming players as the "Greatest ever" after one game because he has a long career ahead of him. I do have a strong belief that he will have a Hall of Fame career when its all said and done. Robert Griffin III showed the poise of an NFL veteran with his play on Sunday. The score doesn't reflect the dominating performance of the Redskins as a whole. RGIII definitely sparked what is being called the upset of the weekend. In my opinion Robert Griffin III is as good as advertised. (no doubt)

Highlights of the The Redskins vs. The Saints

NFL- OPENING DAY IS HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!

The NFL season is finally here!

Everyone's anticipation of the upcoming season comes to an end at 1 Eastern,12 Central. The season will be opening up with some great matchups. The most anticipated games will be the Green Bay vs San Francisco pitting the high powered Packers offense against the stout 49ERS defense. Will the Packers offense generate enough points or will the Niners defense get enough pressure on Aaron Rodgers to pull out a victory? Today's games will also feature the debuts of five rookie Quarterbacks. These rookies have all made NFL history. There has never been a time when five rookies have made opening day starts. Of course the two most anticipated rookie starts belong to Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. ( RGIII ) Both Quarterbacks have tough matchups today. Luck and the Colts travel to Chicago to take on the Bears and RGIII has the daunting task of traveling to the Superdome and taking on the high scoring New Orleans Saints. The highlight game of the night will feature the return of Peyton Manning. Manning will play his 1st regular season game in almost 2 years because of multiple neck procedures. Manning's Denver Broncos will take on Ben Rothlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Everyone will tune in to see how Manning will perform on the field and how he takes a hit form the Pittsburgh defense. Manning health is the giant elephant in the room. People want to know if  he can take enough punishment to get through the season. Everyone will spend Sunday night anticipating that first major hit on Peyton Manning. The Steelers will be a great barometer to for him to make a statement " That he is back to being the old Peyton Manning." It is great to have the number 1 sport in America back for another 6 months. WELCOME BACK NFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!