Grab Bag Day

With nothing big but a bunch of little stories going on, it’s a perfect day for Grab Bag Day. 

 

~ Staying or going. Yesterday was the deadline for college juniors to apply for early entry into the NFL draft. Surprisingly, a lot of Ohio State guys, most notably James Laurinaitis, will return for their senior season (if Robiskie or Hartline went they would have been stupid). Ohio State will return almost the same team that was overrated in 2007. Can’t wait to see how much more overrated one team can be going into the 2008 season. As for Michigan, Manningham and Arrington left for the NFL as have seniors Jake Long, Mike Hart and Chad Henne, making Michigan’s offense with no returnees at skilled positions. While this could hurt other teams, Michigan will be okay since they are putting in completely new offense. Of course, it would be nice to have Manningham and Arrington but Michigan will find other fast and talented receivers. It doesn’t matter who leaves Ann Arbor. What matters is who comes in (as in Terrelle Pryor).

 

~Really? Him? Speaking of leaving early for the NFL draft, Florida State quarterback Xavier Lee will skip his senior season to try, and I stress try, and enter the NFL. This is the same Xavier Lee who started just six game, going 2-4 mind you, and had a bunch of off the field problems. But when you think about it, why would anyone want to stay at FSU so I guess it makes sense. He sounds like a perfect fit for the Falcons. Oh, he was also suspended from the team for academic reasons. And that was before the rest of the team was trying to cheat on an online test.

 

~ Can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Who would have seen this coming? Mmmm, everyone. Pacman Jones is accused of punch a women at, where else, a strip club. The women, Wanda Jackson, who is also an attorney, says in her filing that she was in the club’s office when an angry Jones accused managers of stealing his money and bracelet.

 

“I was sitting in the office and he lunged at me numerous times in an effort to do grave bodily harm,” Jackson wrote in the warrant application filed Jan. 7. “Veronica Jones, an owner, went into the hall to deal with a member of his entourage. I followed to gawk. He was in the hall, surprisingly reached over or around a security guard and sucker punched me in my left eye.”

 

Classic Pacman. I think we should put Pacman on that plane with Al Sharpton, Brittany, Paris, Steven A. Smith and Graig.

 

Oh, and the strip club was called the Body Tap. What a great name for a strip club.

 

~ Congressional hearings started yesterday so Congress could find out about steroids in baseball and …..  God I really don’t care anymore. Does anyone? George Mitchell can board the plane too.

 

~ No legs = advantage. I’m a little behind on it but did you see how the International Association of Athletics Federations banned Oscar Pistorius of South Africa from the Olympics because he has a competitive advantage over the rest of the athletes? Oscar is a sprinter who specializes in the 400-meter. His advantage? Having no legs. That’s right. He’s a double amputee and he has a competitive advantage over others because he uses carbon-fiber extensions for legs. That sucks for Oscar. Has anyone gone to greater lengths than cutting off his legs to get a competitive edge? 

 

~ Team River City is back in action tonight against or most hated rivals and the second place team. A win, coupled with a loss by the fifth place team, guarantees a playoff spot. It’s a huge game at 7:45 tonight and I’ll let all you anxious fans know how it turned out tomorrow. Seal, I’ll you know too.

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A speedy entry

As everyone knows by now, LeBron James was ticketed for going 101 in a 65 on Dec. 30. A few things about this. First, who give LeBron James a ticket? Did the cop think he was flexing his muscles? Did the cop have a Cartman moment and wanted LBJ to respect his authority? If I was the cop, I would have asked for an autograph or any memorabilia he might have had with him and then escorted him to his house if he really wanted to go that fast.

 

Second, it was LBJ’s birthday. Who gives a ticket out on someone’s birthday? Couldn’t the cop just say, “Well, since it’s your birthday, I’ll let you go but please, please, please, for the love of basketball fans everywhere and the city of Cleveland, slow down.”

 

It should come as no surprise that LeBron likes to drive fast. Who doesn’t? Especially rich young guys with fast expensive cars. But someone should show him a picture of Bobby Phills and what happened when he was driving that fast. Could you imagine if that happened to LeBron. As devastatingly sad as it is anyone time someone dies, or gets seriously injured, I’m pretty sure the city of Cleveland would vanish if something happened to our King.

 

Here’s what LeBron had to say about it, “I was doing 101. That’s it. I was speeding. I’ve just got to abide by the law. I got caught. It happens. I’m not going to jail or nothing like that. I wasn’t drunk. I was just speeding. That’s it.”

 

And when asked if he’d go that fast again, “I don’t know, maybe at times. It’s not a big deal to me. You’ve just got to abide by the rules that’s all. I made a mistake and I’ll live with it.”

 

A couple more things here. Like I said, it’s no surprise LBJ speeds. What’s surprising is he was actually driving himself. Where’s his crew or at least a driver? (Side note: LeBron’s right hand man and head of his managing team, Maverick Carter, has been sited 19 times for speeding. Don’t know where that fits into the story but thought I’d sure it.)

 

So LeBron admits to speeding and yet says “I’ve just got to abide by the law.  I got caught.” Isn’t that a contradicting statement, LeBron? Then when asked if he’d do it again he said “I don’t know, maybe at times. You’re just got abide by the rules.” Another contradicting statement. If you have to abide by the rules, then why would you say you’d go that fast again? Where’s his agent/manager telling him to say, “I’m sorry. I won’t go that fast again. I was just in a hurry to get home after getting back from New Orleans. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” Oh yeah, his agent/manager has 19 tickets of his own.

 

One last thought. If LBJ admits to driving fast, how come his lawyer entered a “not guilty” plea? Doesn’t LeBron saying, “I was doing 101. I was speeding.” kind of hurt you case?

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Lessons learned from Divisional weekend

What we learned this weekend about the NFL while watching the Divisional playoff games (besides the fact that I’m the worse predictor in the history of the NFL playoffs).

 

The Green Bay Packers may have recaptured the Lambeau Field mystic.

 

Don’t ever count Brett Favre out.

 

Or Ryan Grant.

 

The more it snowed, the stronger the Pack became. 

 

There’s no way Favre is retiring with this good of a young, talented team.

 

Atari Bigby is my new favorite player (and not just because his name is Atari).

 

Seattle is awful. Shaun Alexander is Priest Holmes. (Priest Holmes now, not 2002)

 

Does anyone know why Matt Hasselbeck has so many freaking, horribly bad commercials?

 

The Chargers Mike Scifres punts the ball so good because he is one of the best punters in the NFL. (Thanks Dan Dierdorf for that in depth analysis)

 

All color men in the booths this weekend were horrible, led by Dierdorf although Daryl Johnston is right there with him.

 

Amani Toomer is about 55 years old but still a great receiver.

 

Marvin Harrison just looks like he’s 55 years old.

 

Philip Rivers, although he played well, is the biggest punk, littlest girlie crybaby in the entire NFL.

 

The Cowboys 20 play, almost 11 minute drive in the second quarter made that the most boring second quarter in NFL playoff history.

 

That was until Eli did the same thing in 46 seconds.

 

Anyone who made the bet that Eli’s season would be longer than Peyton’s is a very happy, and rich, (and stupid) man.

 

Eli just may be more clutch than Peyton. (OK, he isn’t but he was yesterday)

 

The Manning family has to learn when to say ‘no.’ That commercial when Eli and Peyton becoming “two sport stars” in the DSRL (double stuf racing league) is the worse commercial of all time. I know Peyton’s ultimate goal in life is to take over the world by being in every single commercial ever to appear on TV, but even he couldn’t think this was good ad. I think it came down to Eli begging Peyton to do it because he desperately wants to be commercials but is learning that that won’t even happen without Peyton in them with him. (if you want to laugh for a while go to http://www.dsrl.com)

 

Tom Brady is perfect. Or as close to perfect as one can get. (He really should have been 28-for-28)

 

Kevin Faulk is the most under appreciated guy, outside of his team, in the league.

 

The fake direct snap by the Patriots was the greatest play since Boise State’s Statue of Liberty play.

 

How are teams not ready for a screen pass (or draw) when Darren Sproles enters the game. 

 

Billy Voleck, Michael Turner, Brandon Manumaleuna and Sproles must be better than Peyton, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark.

 

How come no one talked to LaDainaian Tomlinson or Philip Rivers when they were hurt and out of the game? They must be as whiny and bitchy as they seem.

 

Norv Turner out-coached Tony Dungy? No, can’t be true. Turner ran the ball three times on their final possession instead of playing for the first down and it should have cost them the game.

 

TO has a man crush on Romo.

 

R. W. McQuarters isn’t Irish despite the “Mc” in his name. He can’t be. He’s black (right Frank?)

 

Peyton’s interceptions were balls that could have been caught. They were also balls that could have been thrown better or not thrown at all. That’s the  difference between Manning and Brady and anyone that says they’d rather have Manning over Brady is an idiot.

 

Antonio Cromartie is amazing. His interception return, holding call or not, was incredible. 

 

Does Romo know you can throw the ball away? He took way too many bad sacks.

 

As bad as my predictions have been, my Super Bowl is still in tack.

 

The Super Bowl can go either of two ways. It could be the most watched game of all time if the Patriots and the Packers make it, or it could be the most boring, uninteresting game of all time if the Chargers and Giants go. Even if just one of the two between the NEP and the GBP go, it will be fine with either the perfect season on the line or all of America rooting for Favre.

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NFL Divisional games (no way I go 1-3 again)

Since I was so good at predicting the NFL Wild Card games last week (1-3), you know I have to come back and do the same thing for the Divisional games. I think I’ll rebound nicely this weekend. 

 

I really think all four home teams will win. But because I think that, I know think at least one of them has to lose. Dallas is the obvious choice to pick. TO hurting, Romo in love, they haven’t really played in three weeks, Eli forgetting he is Eli and playing well. It all makes too much sense to pick the Giants for the upset. Therefore I don’t think I can. Now I have to examine the rest of the games as if I was Jaws and try to find the upset no one is expecting.

 

Jacksonville at New England – This is the game everyone has been saying could be the upset but no one is picking the upset. My question is why would anyone even think about picking against the NEP? I know Jax has been playing good, they have the run game to control the ball and keep Brady and the crew off the field but their defensive line is more beat up than a low budget pornstar’s… well, you know… and their quarterback, who played great, or I should say efficient in the regular season, looked like the pressure of the playoffs got to him last week. (Yes, he did redeem himself with that final drive but if they lose that game he would have been blasted for playing like Eli) If the pressure of playing in a Wild Card game at Pittsburgh gets to Garrard, what’s he going to do playing in Foxboro against an undefeated, possessed team with a much better defense. NEP is just way too good. NEP rolls.

 

San Diego at Indianapolis – I’ve always wondered how a toe injury can keep someone out of a game. I mean, come on, it’s a toe. But if Antonio Gates doesn’t play Sunday, then I’ll finally know that a toe injury can be serious. Without Gates, the Chargers have to rely on Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers to win. You know the Colts are just going to stack the line of scrimmage and force Philip Rivers to throw the ball. After all, it’s Philip Rivers. Bob Sanders will basically be a linebacker in this game and be all over LDT. I really thought this might be my upset pick up I just can’t do it. Colts win.

 

Seattle at Green Bay – How come the “big” story line for this game is Mike Holgram returning to Lambeau Field to coach against his former team? Mmm, pretty sure this has already happened once. You remember the game. The one where Chunky Soup Matt said, “We’ll take the ball and we’re going to score.” Yeah. So I really don’t know why the media is making a big deal out of Holgram verse Favre. It’s happened a bunch since he left Green Bay. As for the game, Seattle’s defense could keep Favre and the Packers in check but the Packers’ defense will for sure keep the Seahawk’s offense under control. They have no running game and Nate Burleson is their go to receiver. Like I said last week. I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever pick against Brett Favre. Packers win.

 

NY Giants at Dallas – What do you think will be talked about more? A) Romo and Jessica Simpson’s weekend get-a-way, B) TO’s injury, C) the fact that Romo played bad in the last game Simpson was at and how TO said after that game for her to stay away on game days and the fact she isn’t at this game, D) the actually game, E) anything but D. 

 

Oh, as for the game, I got to take Dallas for the reasons above. Plus, the NYG quarterback is still Eli Manning.

 

So in conclusion, I guess I am picking all the home teams to win (which just might be better indication that that won’t happen), but I am confident I will not be 1-3 this week. 

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Finishing yesterday and starting more today

First of all, let me apologize for my slacking of a post yesterday. I just had nothing to really say but it looks like my loyal readers had a good conversation among them anyway. Let me see if I can add to what was posted by you guys yesterday before I try to throw so more thoughts out there.

 

Graig, don’t ever call me a mar-ass bitch again. I don’t even know what that means and yes, I believe Brinda still has a show but they moved him to the 7-9 spot and a lot of times he gets bumped for games.

 

Nick, if you can’t figure out why OSU is lucky then I don’t know what team you’ve been watching. That’s not trash talking, it’s the truth. You weren’t lucky in games like you were in 2002 but a different kind of lucky. Let me throw an example of how lucky you were. My brother, Scott, had two friends who made a bet. One said Ohio State would reach the national championship game, the other said they wouldn’t. After Ohio State lost to Illinois, the one who said the Luckeyes would reach the title game, paid up. That’s how dead OSU was. Then every other team a head of them in the polls loses in games they should have easily won. You’re telling me that’s not lucky. If eight teams have to lose for you to make the title game, that is the definition of lucky. That’d be like wanting to be with the girl of your dreams but only she had to date eight guys and not like any of them before she would go out with you. Some how all eight of those better looking, more money making, more classy, more savvy guys, all some how mess up their chance by puking or farting at dinner and then she finally settles on going out with you. And in Ohio State’s case, she realized you weren’t any good either and went back the guy she thought was the best in the first place. 

 

Girlfriend’s Brother, one more intelligent observation from you like that and you will be banned from the site. (Oh, kind of miss you. When’s our next game night?)

 

There, I feel better. What else is going on out in this crazy sporting world we live in.

 

The Cavs fell back to their Ashlee Simpson performance last night. They were so bad last night not even Super 4th Quarter Man himself could bring them back. They need to get back on track at home against Charlotte before they travel a nasty little trip to Memphis, San Antonio and Miami. Then home against Washington and Phoenix followed by a mini west coast trip to the Lakers, Portland and Seattle. By the end of January, we’ll know what kind of team the Cavs really are. 

 

Why are the Atlanta Falcons interested in Pete Carroll? Didn’t they learn anything from hiring Bobby Petrino? Don’t they know very few college coaches are good in the NFL and Carroll already struggled with the Jets and was only decent with the Patriots? Supposedly, Carroll wants complete control of all personal decisions and the GM title. That rarely works in the NFL with experienced, established guys, let alone college guys. So why would the Falcons, who need a GM willing to stick it out for the long run and be 100 percent dedicated to the job to come up with creative drafts and trades and free agents to rebuild the team, be willing to give it to a guy with limit experience and a coach who, if the team struggles, will be looking to jump back to college just like Petrino? I never knew Mike Vick’s dogs would hurt a team for 8 years.

 

How about that Kelly Tilghman? You know, the Golf Channel anchor who said young golfers who want to challenge Tiger Woods should “lynch him in a back alley.” She said it during a joking conversation with Nick Faldo and Tiger’s agent at IMG. I know what she was getting at but, come on Kelly, you’ve got to realize what you’re saying. You have to know, no matter how funny it is and no matter how many people think it’s no big deal (including Tiger) there will be plenty of people who make it a bigger deal than it is. And guess who jumped all over it? That’s right, freedom lovin’, white hatin’, Al Sharpton. Sharpton demanding Tilghman get fired immediately. Rise your hand if you wish Sharpton would jump on plane with Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, Steven A Smith and Graig and fly over the Bermuda Triangle? 

 

I’ll end this every increasingly long post with more college football talk. Michigan and Ohio State are supposedly the final two choices for high school senior phenom Terrelle Pryor. Ryan Mallet appears on his way to Tennessee leaving Michigan with no quarterback. Pryor will visit Michigan sometime in January (he’s already been to OSU). I said it in a post when Michigan hired Rich Rodriguez but Michigan’s got to the front runner. Rod can tell Pryor, “Look, I have a new offense here but I don’t have the quarterback I need to run it. You are that quarterback. You can come here and play right away. The entire offense will be completely built around you. You can come to winningest football program in history and completely reshape how they play football there and how people think about the Maize and Blue. Plus, we can beat SEC schools.” Pryor won’t make his decision until Feb. 6. That is the biggest day in the future of the OSU-UM rivalry. If Ohio State gets him, Michigan will struggle for a year or two in the spread offense. If Michigan gets him, the switch to the spread will be much smoother and they should have the edge in the rivalry for years to come.

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Playing some catch up

So I leave for Myrtle Beach last Wednesday in some 30ish degree weather. I traveled 11 hours to play golf in 36 degree weather on Thursday, 50 on Friday before finally getting warm in the low to mid 70’s on Saturday and Sunday. Then I return back to Ohio from MB last night at 7:30 and the temperature was still 65 degrees. What’s going on here? Something isn’t right. When I go on vacation it’s suppose to be warm there and cold here. I guess we brought the cold with us there and brought the warm back when we came home.

 

It was, like every year, an amazing trip with all kinds of classic stories. I won’t bore you with them all since most of them would only be funny if you were there but just know we got one guy to chug to beers back-to-back, then made him do three in a row only to have him puke on himself, got another so drunk we convinced him to shave his chest and jump in the lake by our condo, I think I set the world record for most lemon drops done in an hour span, talked to a guy at the bar with two Chicago Bulls championship rings on but wouldn’t tell me what he did for them, and a third guy got confused and thought a bed with someone sleeping in it was a toilet then got pissed when the man in the toilet bed got mad and threw him across the room, but don’t worry, man-to-man, he was sorry.

 

Having wrote what feels like one post in the last month, there is a lot to talk about. I’ll try to quickly hit up a few things that standout as I go over the past few days in the world of sports.

 

Of course I have to start with those poor, poor Buckeyes. I wish I could say I was rooting for the Big Ten but no way was I. I wouldn’t have been able to stand all the ignorant talk from the Luckeye fans. When I see pictures of OSU fans from last night I feel about as bad as I do that I was wrong picking Pittsburgh over Jacksonville. That is, I don’t feel bad at all. Watching the game with half interest, I couldn’t believe how good OSU was the first four minutes of the game. Actually it was more couldn’t believe how bad LSU looked. But I had a feeling that, for whatever reason, it was going to be like last year. I actually said to the Girlfriend (not that she knew what I was talking about) wouldn’t it be funny if OSU blows this game like they did last year. I, frankly, find hysterical and satisfying. They got what they deserved, an ass kicking from a better team. I can’t believe playing Akron, Kent State and Youngstown State didn’t get the Buckeyes prepared for an SEC team. Ohio State is no 0-9 all time in bowl games against the SEC. Until they win a game against a team from the nations best conference, not another word Luckeye fans.

 

It’s too bad this isn’t next year. I’d love to see USC play LSU for the national title and that’s what this, and-one game they are talking about for next year would do. 

 

LeBron James reached a whole new level over the weekend. How great was it to see him jarring with Chris Bosh’s girlfriend and cousin and then single handily beat the Raptors? It wasn’t quite Reggie and Spike but it’s good to know that when people piss off the King, he can stick his crown up their crown hole. And how great was LBJ’s line after the game, “They are the reason the Raptors loss tonight.” Classic.

 

As bad as the season has been for the Cavs, as bad as they’ll looked at times, with LBJ playing like Michigan did against Florida, you can’t count them out or bet against them. He can win games and entire playoff series by himself.

 

Didn’t really get a chance to watch too much football since golfing and drinking consumed most of my time but I was extremely happy Pittsburgh lost and slightly upset the Redskins didn’t win. I really thought they had something going there. Still, a great season and some of Joe Gibbs better work to retire on. 

 

And finally, Roger Clemens, just go away. In fact, the whole baseball and steroids thing go away. If that means, getting rid of the whole sport of baseball, so be it.

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NFL playoff predictions

A quick NFL playoff prediction before I head up to The Q to watch some high school basketball and then head south for five days.

 

AFC

 

San Diego over Tennessee – There’s no way I can watch this game and not think about what could have been with the Browns. Tennessee will lose by 24 and Browns fans every where will think, at least we would have only lost by 14.

 

Pittsburgh over Jacksonville – I don’t want the Steelers to win but I just don’t see them losing in the first round. They haven’t played good in three weeks but I still don’t think Jacksonville is that good. Jax has beat Pitts three straight times but I think the playoffs will be different. The last time the Jags won a big game they were in their second year of existence.

 

New England over Pittsburgh – That’s an easy one.

 

Indy over SD – I want to pick the Chargers here because they are playing so well but Indy won’t lose, until…

 

NE over Indy – Brady and Bill won’t lose the AFC Championship game at home, even if they have to cheat to get it done.

 

NFC 

 

Washington over Seattle – The only reason I don’t want the ‘Skins to win is so I can talk smack to loyal reader Graig. But it is a remarkable story and Todd Collins is a Michigan Man so, Go Redskins!

 

Tampa Bay over NY Giants – I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever pick Eli Manning to win a big game. Ever. 

 

Washington over Dallas – Why not? You say they can’t. They also said the ‘Skins would never make the playoffs after being 5-7. And Dallas likes to lose winnable playoff games. If Jessica Simpson is there, Washington will win by 85.

 

Green Bay over Tampa Bay – I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever pick against Brett Favre, especially against Jeff Garcia.

 

Green Bay over Washington – In the match-up of two great stories, there will can’t be a bad winner here. However, if I’m taking Favre over Garcia, obviously I’m taking him over Collins.

 

SUPER BOWL

 

Green Bay over New England – How much do I really think this will happen? How about as much as I think I’ll make a hole-in-one this weekend in Myrtle. But however, it is possible. Wouldn’t America love to see the quarterback who can do no wrong beat the team everyone has started to hate. What a great way for Favre to end his career. 

 

(I really think NEP will role to a championship but how boring would that be. Everyone is picking that. Go Packers!!) 

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A meaningless win, a devastating loss, a great sendoff

IIt’s been quite some time since J Beanie shared his wisdom and a lot has happened – some good, some bad. This will also be the last post until some time after Jan. 7. I’ll be heading to Myrtle Beach for a drinking, err, golfing weekend with some 23 other guys.

 

There’s so much to talk about since my last post but I’ll try not to ramble and gramble too much. First, happy New Year to everyone. 2007 ended with a loud disappointing thud and 2008 began with a surprising and enjoyable farewell.

 

Damn you Jim Sorgi and the rest of the Colts practice squad. How could you not beat the Titans? That game could have been the worse excuse ever for an NFL football game which had meaning. Has there ever been anything so ugly, other than Colt Brennan’s performance last night? I mean seriously, the Titans are the worse playoff team in the history of football. How does a playoff team not totally dominate a group of has-been’s and never-will-be’s? It boggles the mind. 

 

But the Browns had their chance and they blow it in Cincinnati. Being at the game Sunday between the Browns and the 49ers was a lot of fun. You never would have guessed it was meaningless game besides the Let’s Go Browns chants being followed by the Let’s Go Colts ones. The crowd was great, like they always are, winning seven home games is very impressive and Josh Cribbs is amazing. The best part of the game, though, was that two rows in front of us, there sat a guy in a Jerry Rice jersey. That was a mistake. We constantly were chanting “Jerrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy, Jerrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy,” to the point that the whole section (probably just the 5 or 6 drunk guys with us) starting do it too. It was non-stop abuse. I think we made him leave by the middle of the third quarter. That was right up there with throwing pretzels at the 49er fans waiting in line to pee during our tailgate.

 

While it sucks not to make the playoffs it was a great season. If you would have said the Browns would 10 games and just miss the playoffs at the beginning of the year, there’s isn’t a Dawg that wouldn’t take that. (Especially since we don’t have first round draft pick) As much as I’d rather see them in the playoffs, I look at this as a stepping stone season. The Cavs won improved every season after getting LeBron – better record, just missed playoffs, made playoffs and won a series, won Eastern Conference. The Indians just missed the playoffs in ‘05 then, minus the mess in ‘06, made the playoffs and beat the Yankees in ‘07. The Browns improved and just missed the playoffs so hopefully ‘08 will continue to see improvement. Things do get tougher for the Browns, however. A much tougher schedule and they are no longer a team that can sneak up on people. 

 

Ten wins usually will get you in the playoffs in the NFL. Even nine wins gets you in (damn, NFC). But this year the Browns and all us Orange and Brown gurus will have to settle for a season the for the first time a long time, was thoroughly enjoyable. 

 

As hard as the Titans game was to watch, since it meant the end of the season for one of my teams, another game, that also meant the end of the season for another of my teams, was as enjoyable as the post-Thanksgiving dinner nap. That game was Michigan’s victory over Florida in the Capital One “don’t call it the Citrus Bowl” Bowl in Lloyd Carr’s final game as a college football coach.

 

First the game was a lot of fun to watch. Tons of offense. Second, seeing Carr get the water dumped on him, as over played and lame as it is, and then seeing him being carried off the field, was about as good of a moment in Michigan football since 2003. The Wolverines came out ready to play and wanted to send Carr out with a victory. My one complaint with that is this – everyone knew this was Carr’s last season. If the players really wanted to send Carr out the right way, why didn’t they come to play like that from the start of the season? (Injuries really did play a big role in the season, however) But let’s not let that spoil the party. Whatever you think about Carr the football coach, you got to like/respect Carr the man. It was obvious those who know him best, his players, think the world of him. Carr may be remember for his 1997 national title, his dominance over John Cooper, being dominated by Jim Tressel, his cold halftime interviews or running a clean top tier college football program, but now he’ll also be remembered as the third winningest coach in Michigan history and the coach who was carried off the field in his last game. I that image will, at least in my mind, stand out as the years go by.

 

I’ll try to get back a little later today with a post about the NFL playoffs. I want to get my always accurate predictions out there before I head off to Myrtle.

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