No Surprise to Me

Question: Who was the better team?
Answer: 31/17 Saints

But this was no surprise to anyone who took the time to look at the stats.   it’s just no one was looking.  They were more concerned in turning Peyton Manning into Davy Crockett.  So what were the question no one answered

Question: Were the Colts the best offense in the 2009?
Answer: No, the Saints were.  Infact, the Colts were only #7

Question: Were the Colts a better defense team?
Answer: The Colts were ranked 7th vs Saints 20 overall, but the Saints were # 3 in interceptions vs Colts #15 and Saints #1 in fumbles vs Colts #19.  The Saint’s obvious bend but don’t break style defense lead the league in defensive touchdowns.

Question: Was Peyton the best quarterback in ’09?
Answer: No, actually he was #3 behind Bress #1 and Brady #2.  Brees lead Manning in:  Touchdowns, passing percentage, passing yards per game, interceptions, and most significantly, quarterback ranking (Brees #1 with 109 vs Manning ranked 6th with 99).

So, if you took the time to do just a little research rather than falling for the bigger than life fairy tale that is Peyton Manning, you would have seen that the results were no surprise.  Just one last question.

Question: What’s the difference between Peyton Manning and Dan Marino?
Answer: Joe Montana truly the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but then Manning may have just faced his own Joe Montana.  Only time will tell.

Dodgers sign OF Matt Kemp to Two-Year Deal

Dodgers made the right move today signing Matt Kemp to a two-year deal and basically, buying up his two arbitrations years. This will keep him focused on the field and not impending contract talks. Kemp had a breakout season with a .297 average, 20+ HR and 100+ RBI’s. He’s gonna be a needed stick since the pitching staff looking okay at best.

Let’s see what Ned Colletti has up his sleeve as we head into the spring – there are several holes still needed to fill.

Dodgers lock up Kemp with a 2-year deal.

It’s a Third of the Way Thru The Season and Still No Doubt

Pau has missed 13 of the first 34 games, Artest was out for 5 games, Kobe has a broken finger that is affecting him almost every game, Lamar has the stomach flu, Walton has missed most the season, and many of the bench guys haven’t even shown up, yet the Lakers have the best record in the NBA.

Yeah, they lost to Cleveland on Christmas day, but even if they lose all their games to Orlando, Boston, and Cleveland, it means nothing.  Trying to beat any Phil Jackson Laker team in a seven game series is hard enough, but beating this team?   After the Suns win, Alvin Gentry still maintained that the Lakers are far and above the best team in the NBA. His theory for the Suns winning is that the Lakers get bored, which could explain how they can destroy the second best team in the west (Dallas) and two days later struggle against the 7th best. Maybe it’s not just boredom, maybe it’s because they haven’t been fully healthy for one game yet.  Get Kobe’s finger back, Pau and Luke back and give them a month to gel, and David Stern has a big problem trying to keep the season inviting to viewers.

So, as the halfway point of the season approaches, the conclusion is still the same.  Just mail it in this year.

USC Wins Nut Bowl to End Forgettable Season

The USC Trojans beat BC in the Emerald Nut Bowl in San Francisco on Saturday. Out the BCS bowls for the first time in 7 years and barely holding onto a top 25 spot, the Trojans took care of business. Like all the wins this season, it wasn’t pretty, it had moments of greatest but it fell short of expectation. Carroll has to regroup, club his offensive coordinator like a caveman and get back to his winning ways.

The defense and offense had some good plays but let’s be honest, if it wasn’t for an offensively struggling Boston College, this could have been a whole lot worse. The off season hopefully brings new blood as USC needs to retool if they don’t want another 2009 season in 2010!!

Lakers Get Kicked on Xmas by Cavs

Lakers show little fight against the Cavs

Kobe showed again that he has little self control when things don’t go his way against a tough defense on Christmas. The Cavaliers shut down the Black Bamba on national TV and frustrated the pride of the Western Conference on national TV with the Cavs shooting daggers in the first and second quarter.  The Lakers, who love an opponent that don’t put up an a fight, were shown the door early as Jackson, who loves to coach with his rings instead of brain, could not show an affective deterrent to great shooting, let the Cavs pound the Lakers.

It’s a proven point the triangle offense is not a great “catch-up offense”, it’s a great only when you can control the first 20 minutes of action for solid offense dominance. With the right players, you’re 80% sure of win. If not, it’s hit or miss, and when it is miss, you might as well play for a ‘non-losing face’ loss — i.e. Xmas’s game at Staples.

USC Tanks It Again with a Season Ending Loss to Arizona

USC once again showed how uninspired their offense really is. Unable to establish a run or pass offense, they only scored 17 points at HOME to Arizona. Given that Arizona has 4 losses that could easily be wins, they are underrated in a year where the PAC-10 is a juggernaut. Still, USC provided little spark and Barkley continues to fall further down the growth chart.  Actually, he has digressed since opening with such confidence at the start of the season – remember the final drive against Ohio State. If it wasn’t for his man crush on Barkely, Carroll should have pulled him for this final game and go for the win!!!

Let Shannon Dunk…Can’t a Guy Get a Break??

Do you want a real dunk contest?  With the best of the best?  Then get on board, and tell the NBA that  Shannon Brown has to be in the competition.  The Lakers have started a grassroots plea for Shannon to be put in the all-star dunk contest by giving him has his own website, Facebook, and Twitter.  Check it out at letshannondunk.com get on board.  Together, we can wake the NBA up.