Let the football season begin!!! If you guys have noticed I haven’t posted in awhile it’s because I’ve been saving every ounce of creativity and putting it in my smack reserve. Now that the League of Champions (CBAC Fantasy Football) has begun I’m cocked and loaded ready to unleash a verbal beat down on each opponent each and every week of this fantasy season. Come prepared if you like but either way you’ll be going home cryin’, hatein’, and wishin’ there was something more you could do. If I could count a win for every time I demoralize an opponent to a shell of their former selves, I’m pretty sure I’m going undefeated this year. Wins will be an optional bonus. Get ready losers, Scuba’s coming and he’s bringing the smack.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Cougar Quick Hits
In mid-July, former Utah coach, Urban Meyer said that he didn’t think the 2004 version or the 2008 version of his former team could withstand the grind of the SEC. BYU head coach, Bronco Mendenhall retaliated with, "Sometimes the things said in public are different than the things said in private to the rest of the league," he said. "I guess I would like the ability to see. So we will continue to play and schedule and do the best we can within our given realm of influence to show that. But possibly the system will change, and those matchups will happen more frequently, and everyone will know. Right now, we have Wyoming [beating] Tennessee off of last year [in the regular season]."At some point, unless we are in the same league or have access to compete -- or are deemed worthy to have access -- it will be just speculation. But right now, Utah-Alabama, Wyoming-Tennessee -- at least against the SEC [we've been successful].”
Mendenhall told the Deseret Morning News, that scheduling Oklahoma wasn’t necessarily needed to gain a little humble pie. "We're humble enough," he said. "When you don't win the conference, you don't win your bowl game and you don't win the state championship, there isn't a player or coach on the team who is satisfied with that."
In that vein, Max Hall is the 11th QB at BYU since 1974 to come in and the team’s clear-cut starter as a senior. Every single previous quarterback has led BYU to a conference championship, completing 65% of their passes for an average of 3666 yards, 30 plus TD’s, and 13 INT’s. The numbers are looking like a good bet for anther championship in Cougar Country.
Speaking of Max Hall, he is on pace to finish his career second in passing yards, total offense, and passing TD’s to Ty Detmer. He is set to pass John Beck as the MWC leader in passing yards and touchdowns and take his place along side many other BYU greats, like Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Detmer, and Beck. He’s also been added to the Davey O’Brien watchlist this season.
BYU has released its 2009 game day t-shirts, on sale now at the BYU Bookstore for $5. Absent is the year’s slogan which Bronco opted against this season, for obvious reasons.
Good news for fans of any non-BCS team. A tweak to the Rose Bowl will allow greater access for non-BCS teams to participate in the exclusivity of the BCS games.
Its been 11 years since BYU beat a ranked, non-conference opponent. And its not looking any better for this season against Oklahoma. In that same time, the Cougars only have two wins against ranked opponents: 1999 against CSU (#23) and 2006 against TCU (#17). Since 1999, Utah is 9-6 against ranked, non-conference opponents and TCU is 4-3. BYU’s last top ten win also happens to be its only win against a #1 ranked opponent, 1990 versus Miami. Since that game, they are 0-12-1 against top ten ranked opponents with two of those losses against Utah.
Just a few Utah notes: Highly touted defensive back, James Aiono won’t be suiting up for the Crimson and White this season. He has been declared academically ineligible. The Utes also have scheduled a home and away set against 2004 Fiesta Bowl foe, Pittsburg, to begin next season.
Your Cougar Insider
Mendenhall told the Deseret Morning News, that scheduling Oklahoma wasn’t necessarily needed to gain a little humble pie. "We're humble enough," he said. "When you don't win the conference, you don't win your bowl game and you don't win the state championship, there isn't a player or coach on the team who is satisfied with that."
In that vein, Max Hall is the 11th QB at BYU since 1974 to come in and the team’s clear-cut starter as a senior. Every single previous quarterback has led BYU to a conference championship, completing 65% of their passes for an average of 3666 yards, 30 plus TD’s, and 13 INT’s. The numbers are looking like a good bet for anther championship in Cougar Country.
Speaking of Max Hall, he is on pace to finish his career second in passing yards, total offense, and passing TD’s to Ty Detmer. He is set to pass John Beck as the MWC leader in passing yards and touchdowns and take his place along side many other BYU greats, like Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Detmer, and Beck. He’s also been added to the Davey O’Brien watchlist this season.
BYU has released its 2009 game day t-shirts, on sale now at the BYU Bookstore for $5. Absent is the year’s slogan which Bronco opted against this season, for obvious reasons.
Good news for fans of any non-BCS team. A tweak to the Rose Bowl will allow greater access for non-BCS teams to participate in the exclusivity of the BCS games.
Its been 11 years since BYU beat a ranked, non-conference opponent. And its not looking any better for this season against Oklahoma. In that same time, the Cougars only have two wins against ranked opponents: 1999 against CSU (#23) and 2006 against TCU (#17). Since 1999, Utah is 9-6 against ranked, non-conference opponents and TCU is 4-3. BYU’s last top ten win also happens to be its only win against a #1 ranked opponent, 1990 versus Miami. Since that game, they are 0-12-1 against top ten ranked opponents with two of those losses against Utah.
Just a few Utah notes: Highly touted defensive back, James Aiono won’t be suiting up for the Crimson and White this season. He has been declared academically ineligible. The Utes also have scheduled a home and away set against 2004 Fiesta Bowl foe, Pittsburg, to begin next season.
Your Cougar Insider
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tuesday Tidbits
Hey, much has been discussed on here over the past few months regarding the makeup of the Jazz and what it should be, what we want it to be, etc. Click here to read Scuba's delicious parable.
To provide a counter point that I feel better marks the desires of the current Jazz fan base, I wanted to repost this article I came across while perusing online sports sites. I posted this link to my Facebook page last night, but for those of you who don’t subscribe to online networking channels, here is the link one more time.
I think anyone who holds a team hostage like Boozer has, flip flops for a $12.7M contract, then goes on the war path telling anyone who will listen that he deserves a raise while only putting in 2/3 the work of anyone else needs to have his head checked. Honestly, who, while making a mere $12.7M this next season, says in regards to the slumping economy, “With the lull that we're having, obviously it's a great [incentive] to not have to pay a state tax.” Do you really need a little more money Carlos? Are you really that worried about your future? Might I advise you to not only hire a PR guy to help you wash your mouth out, but also advise you to seek an investment guy who will help you manage your $12.7M?
To provide a counter point that I feel better marks the desires of the current Jazz fan base, I wanted to repost this article I came across while perusing online sports sites. I posted this link to my Facebook page last night, but for those of you who don’t subscribe to online networking channels, here is the link one more time.
I think anyone who holds a team hostage like Boozer has, flip flops for a $12.7M contract, then goes on the war path telling anyone who will listen that he deserves a raise while only putting in 2/3 the work of anyone else needs to have his head checked. Honestly, who, while making a mere $12.7M this next season, says in regards to the slumping economy, “With the lull that we're having, obviously it's a great [incentive] to not have to pay a state tax.” Do you really need a little more money Carlos? Are you really that worried about your future? Might I advise you to not only hire a PR guy to help you wash your mouth out, but also advise you to seek an investment guy who will help you manage your $12.7M?
Please just go away.
If you care to look, here is Carlos's mere $2M home in SL
And here is his $7.3M home in Miami
Photos courtesy of Celebrity Detective.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Cougar Bites
A few more noteworthy snippets for those who, like me, can’t enough:
The MWC is playing 13, non-conference games against BCS foes this season. All but three of those are away from the comfort of home. Wyoming has the Longhorns coming into town. How they pulled that off, I’ll never know. It doesn’t really matter though because I don’t know anyone in their right mind that would give them a snowball’s chance of winning that game without a blizzard acting as their twelfth defender. Each of the “big three” is playing two non-conference BCS foes so if we (as a conference) can win a majority of these games, we can set up a team for another BCS breakthrough.
Click here to see if your TV provider will be proving you with the most games for watching your Cougars this season. I don’t have a quick link for Utah’s TV schedule, but based on the info from the site, Utah has 5 games on the MTN., 2 on CSTV, 2 on Versus, and 2 on ESPN channels. The BYU game will be simulcast on the MTN and CSTV.
Last year’s debacle (is a 10-3 season considered a debacle?) can be blamed on several things: BYU’s over hype for national prominence, the “Quest” misunderstanding, Max Hall’s ability to find wide open defenders . . .. This year they have refocused their goals and their attention. Sure, it helps that they don’t have the big media spotlight shining on their backs to begin this season, but a win over Oklahoma in week one will put the squarely in the public eye again. A win over reining Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and the rest of Sooner Nation and the media will be playing BYU’s song for a possible National Championship birth.
BYU QB Max Hall says this year will be about having fun again and playing for the love of football.
Your Cougar Insider
BYU Quick Hits
The college football season is fast approaching; many college camps open in mere weeks. The time has come to grab a hold on your favorite bandwagon and prepare for the ride. I’m hoping that by making this post, I can inspire one of my fellow CBAC bloggers to take up the mantle of “Ute Insider” and keep us all posted on the happenings for the team “on the hill.” Here is just a quick sampling of some coming highlights for the 2009 football season.
As tough a schedule as I can remember in years, including a neutral site game against:
Oklahoma 
Florida State 
Utah State
Nationally televised games for all the big games – all on HD!
Coach Mendenhall has been hitting the recruiting path hard this off-season, landing a whopping 20 as of today, including top-rated QB, Jake Heaps, as well as other four-star recruits, WR Ross Apo, and DE Bronson Kaufusi and Kona Schwenke.
Check out the new 2009 BYU Football Guide here.
I can smell the football in the air. ESPN is starting to talk more and more about it. If you read any of the local sports chat rooms, rivalry talk is rampant and excited. Utah is coming off unquestionably the best season in its program’s history, the MWC’s history, and possibly all of non-BCS history. TCU is picked to win the conference. But both schools have to come through Provo and that always bodes well for the Cougar faithful.
Your Cougar Insider
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Jazz: A Parable of the Guacamole Six Dollar Burger
This post is in response to Banker’s post concerning the Jazz off-season moves and the discussion it provokes. I know CBAC Smack rules dictate that we respond in the comments section but I felt that my rebuke was enough of its own topic to be a separate post. I’ll start off by saying that I’m no stranger to Carl’s Jr. I’ve been a fan for quite some time and my current belt notch is probably thanks to that franchise. In my years of patronage, I’ve never had the guacamole six dollar burger. I’ve always thought it looked okay and some of my friends would get that burger every time we went there and go on and on about how good the “Guac-burger” is. Recently I had a coupon for it so I thought I’d try it. Man, I opened up that box and it looked great! Bacon, Cheese, Guac, the works. From the first bite only one thought came to my mind. GROSS. I was immediately regretting my choice of lunch. I finished that burger hoping with each bite that the choice I made would somehow get better. By the end, my stomach was reeling and my colon was very upset, almost yelling at me, for making such an ignorant choice. I have a feeling my system will be paying for that choice for awhile longer.
In my mind, this experience could be correlated to the Jazz. This off-season is like the Jazz standing in line, coupons in hand, waiting to order. The choices made could disrupt the system for many moons to come. Everyone’s talking about “Bosh for Booze”, “Get Memo out of Town”, “Lose the bigs and get some defense”, and “Blah,blah,blah”. I’m just here to say that sometimes the best change is no change. Stick with the spicy chicken or the super star. Jazz fans should be careful what they’re wishing for in being so quick to lose our “20&10” guys. If we're not careful we could be on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Loosing records haven’t ever really been part of the Jazz culture but believe me, if we’re too hasty with our coupons, we’ll most likely regret our off-season choices. I say we keep our core group of guys (except CJ – he’s always expendable) and make a go at it again next year. If Boozer gives us 4 or 5 months without injury and solid effort all will be water under the bridge and the fans will love him again. Look at AK, after the Houston series a few years ago the whole city wanted his head on a skewer. Now he’s just “Overpaid but Lovable AK”.
Keep the team. Ride out the waves and turmoil. Take the cap hit for a year and we’ll have a look at going deep in the playoffs this coming season. Hasty decisions this off-season could be more damaging to the Jazz system than the Guac-burger was to my system. Just saying…
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday Conversation
So, this will be a quick thought to hopefully spur on a conversation. I was recently contemplating the quick exit from the playoffs the Jazz made this year (not bad considering we were in the Conference Finals, the second round, and then bounced in the first this season) and wondering what the future might hold for the Jazz. The team has a new president who said he likes all our players. But I, as do many of you I am sure, feel that this relationship has gone on too long with some of these players, and dare I say coaches?, and its time to cut ties and start the healing now.
That being said, of the current roster, who would you like to see go or stay and why?
I've reviewed several mock drafts and one has the Jazz drafting two point guards. The other has the Jazz drafting 6-11 PF out of Gonzaga, Austin Daye. What do you expect to see in the draft?
And of the potential free agency market, does anyone catch your eye?
That being said, of the current roster, who would you like to see go or stay and why?
I've reviewed several mock drafts and one has the Jazz drafting two point guards. The other has the Jazz drafting 6-11 PF out of Gonzaga, Austin Daye. What do you expect to see in the draft?
And of the potential free agency market, does anyone catch your eye?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Banker's Bites
Ah, I can feel the lethargy settling in like a thick fog on my brain. We’ve officially entered the doldrums of summer in the sports world. The Jazz season came to a crashing halt in Los Angeles two weeks ago and all we have left is to sit and watch while the Jazz face a reconstruction period, possibly equivalent to the size of the I-15 reconstruction pre-2002. Does Boozer opt out? Do they try to keep Millsap if Boozer stays? What about Memo, Korver, and the other five players currently in the final year of their contracts?
Football is on hold now till the end of summer. The draft is past, spring camps have opened and closed and now all we have to hold on to is how does BYU prepare to face the Big Time in OU in Jerry’s New House and how does Utah plan to maintain the same level they played at last year. Fantasy football is approaching, but you can only mock draft so many times before you want to rip your face off just to change up the monotony.
RSL is in full swing and despite Scuba Steve’s belittling of soccer on this very blog last October; I’m a big fan. (For those who may also be fans, but haven’t found where to watch the games, I’ve found them on 2.2 on the new digital channels.) But you can only hold on to so much soccer.
So what does that leave us? I’ll tell you what’s piling up on my radar screen: lots and lots of outside time. Yard work, swimming pools, park playgrounds, camping, hiking, backpacking. It’s a great thing to live in this state where we get to enjoy seasons because there is so much to do. So shake off those cobwebs, put the Jazz, the Cougars and Utes, and the rest of the I-don’t-care-who-wins-it-all NBA out of your mind and get outside and enjoy the weather.
Football is on hold now till the end of summer. The draft is past, spring camps have opened and closed and now all we have to hold on to is how does BYU prepare to face the Big Time in OU in Jerry’s New House and how does Utah plan to maintain the same level they played at last year. Fantasy football is approaching, but you can only mock draft so many times before you want to rip your face off just to change up the monotony.
RSL is in full swing and despite Scuba Steve’s belittling of soccer on this very blog last October; I’m a big fan. (For those who may also be fans, but haven’t found where to watch the games, I’ve found them on 2.2 on the new digital channels.) But you can only hold on to so much soccer.
So what does that leave us? I’ll tell you what’s piling up on my radar screen: lots and lots of outside time. Yard work, swimming pools, park playgrounds, camping, hiking, backpacking. It’s a great thing to live in this state where we get to enjoy seasons because there is so much to do. So shake off those cobwebs, put the Jazz, the Cougars and Utes, and the rest of the I-don’t-care-who-wins-it-all NBA out of your mind and get outside and enjoy the weather.
(By the way, does anyone know of any great, lesser-known or unknown camping spots here in the State that are good for families?)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Fry Sauce is Always a Recipe for Success
Would you like this?
If you ask most people who have had the opportunity to taste a burger of any proportion from In ‘N Out Burger (I personally recommend the 3x3 with extra cheese) they will tell you they either love it or hate it. Until recently, I hated it. But I digress. A few years ago a new company moved into American Fork that served a similar menu called Chadders. Set side-by-side, the burgers are nearly identical, but in my opinion, there are one or two little things that make one better than the other. Comparing these pictures of the Utah Jazz’s Mehmet Okur seems unsubstantial; in fact, they were taken only two months apart. The first one is Memo hitting a huge shot in the dwindling minutes of a game against the Lakers just before All-Star Weekend and the second is Memo getting scored on by a short-handed Golden State team in a game we should have easily won.
I’m still struggling to see much difference myself. They are both tasty and delicious and writing this makes me want to drive to West Valley or American Fork and grab another hat trick with double cheese, fries, and a Coke. The differences are so negligible as not be noteworthy. One huge difference in my esteemed opinion is the fry sauce. What? I said fry sauce.
Fry sauce makes everything better. It’s awesome and it makes a world of difference. What goes into fry sauce varies, depending on the maker. I usually prefer a little Miracle Whip (gotta love the zip), BBQ sauce (its tangier than ketchup), some limejuice, and a little pickle juice if available.But the subtle differences between the Jazz of the longest win streak in more than a decade and the one that couldn’t even beat an eight man rotation of a lottery-bound Warriors team are more glaring and obvious. Several that come to mind include defense (or a serious lack of it), a lack cohesiveness stemming from all the injuries, Sloan says they need “nastiness,” and a not-so-apparent lack of commitment to the overall goal. So what is the recipe for getting back to that team that beak Los Angeles barely two months ago? Let’s just call it fry sauce. You mix in a little bit of this and a little bit of that and you’ll have fry sauce. This fry sauce needs some “nastiness.”
By the way, I prefer Chadders . . . in case you were wondering.
Or this?
If you ask most people who have had the opportunity to taste a burger of any proportion from In ‘N Out Burger (I personally recommend the 3x3 with extra cheese) they will tell you they either love it or hate it. Until recently, I hated it. But I digress. A few years ago a new company moved into American Fork that served a similar menu called Chadders. Set side-by-side, the burgers are nearly identical, but in my opinion, there are one or two little things that make one better than the other. Comparing these pictures of the Utah Jazz’s Mehmet Okur seems unsubstantial; in fact, they were taken only two months apart. The first one is Memo hitting a huge shot in the dwindling minutes of a game against the Lakers just before All-Star Weekend and the second is Memo getting scored on by a short-handed Golden State team in a game we should have easily won.
I’m still struggling to see much difference myself. They are both tasty and delicious and writing this makes me want to drive to West Valley or American Fork and grab another hat trick with double cheese, fries, and a Coke. The differences are so negligible as not be noteworthy. One huge difference in my esteemed opinion is the fry sauce. What? I said fry sauce.
Fry sauce makes everything better. It’s awesome and it makes a world of difference. What goes into fry sauce varies, depending on the maker. I usually prefer a little Miracle Whip (gotta love the zip), BBQ sauce (its tangier than ketchup), some limejuice, and a little pickle juice if available.But the subtle differences between the Jazz of the longest win streak in more than a decade and the one that couldn’t even beat an eight man rotation of a lottery-bound Warriors team are more glaring and obvious. Several that come to mind include defense (or a serious lack of it), a lack cohesiveness stemming from all the injuries, Sloan says they need “nastiness,” and a not-so-apparent lack of commitment to the overall goal. So what is the recipe for getting back to that team that beak Los Angeles barely two months ago? Let’s just call it fry sauce. You mix in a little bit of this and a little bit of that and you’ll have fry sauce. This fry sauce needs some “nastiness.”
What recipe might you suggest for the Jazz’s secret fry sauce?
By the way, I prefer Chadders . . . in case you were wondering.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
...And we'll find a way.
This song is dedicated to a special group of people in this world. Right now it seems like there are three types of NBA fans with regards to our beautiful Jazz team. They are the Jazz-Faithful, the Jazz-Undecided and the full blown Jazz-Haters. I, a Jazz-Faithful, am dedicating this song to all the Jazz-Undecided and a few select Jazz-Haters with a soft heart. I extend this song to you with a stretched out hand and an olive branch. I have a dream that all Jazz fans can join hands and say, "Jazz, amidst all the Jazz-Hatred and Booze-Hatred and Sloan-Fairweathering, you do still have fans that love you. We’ll Stick with you baby...and together...we’ll find a way."
It's a commonly accepted principal of the NBA that the playoffs are a different beast than the regular season. Remember the year the Jazz went to the Western Conference finals they limped into the playoffs like a sick puppy, licking it’s wounds. In this desperate time the team needs us more than ever. We'll be faithful to Jazz, through thick and thin, sickness and health for richer or for poorer as long as the Jazz's slump shall live. I guarantee when the rain stops and the sunshine shines on this beautiful team again, you won’t be disappointed. You will be joyous and happy that you stuck it out with a defenseless, and lazy, stagnate, slum of a team. It’s always darkest before the dawn so stick with them baby. They’ll find a way.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Cut-throat Cutler to Da Bears!
So the divorce is final huh? Too bad for the Denver, they lost a great tough quarterback. Too bad for Green Bay, because Bret Favre II is about to roll into Chicago and start slapping Green Bay around. This guy is tough, accurate and a flat out competitor. He, like Brett, negotiates like he plays - very very tough. Good luck talking to him down the road!Who knows if he is the real deal, but he's one player that doesn't play soft, then talk tough. He talks tough because he plays tough. For that reason, he'll fit in well in Chicago.
And thumbs, you should give this one a double thumbs up. Pedro mustache Orton is out, Cut-Throat Cutler is in.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Cinderella is HOT!!
Every year I cheer for her, the ugly duckling that has hardly a chance to score with Zach Morris. But don't forget, Cinderella did score with the Prince! The great thing about this tourney is she DOES have a chance. Which ugly duck will I pull for this year? Hmmm. Utah State is definately on the list. The fact that BYU hasn't passed the 1st round since I was knee high to a grasshopper puts them on the list, IN BOLD. Utah has a good chance of advancing, but it all depends on Lucas de Neville. Baseline. Baseline. Cheers to spring time temps and Luther's "One Shining Moment" song with CBS's recap. I shed a tears every year. "The ball is tipped....."
I'm off to Vegas to put all my economic stimulas money on an ugly yet very confident duck. Have a great tourney and may your team's dream come true.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Its March
And in case you've under a rock, the NCAA Tournament begins soon. In preparation, collegiate conferences are holding tournaments all across the country to play for the right to go Dancing. Right here in our own backyard, the Mountain West Conference is having a pretty good season. We had Utah holding a lead in the conference for most of the season, but BYU and New Mexico stepped it up to even the chase and finish with a three-way tie. UNLV and SDSU are having very good seasons as well and with the tournament being held in Vegas; look for UNLV to make some noise.
Just like during the football season, the MWC is showing that it has the ability to be a competitive league both internally and against foes from across the country.
I for one am excited for the dancing to begin. I love March Madness.
p.s. I got a bracket group set up on ESPN. If you want in and I didn’t already email you, let me know.
Just like during the football season, the MWC is showing that it has the ability to be a competitive league both internally and against foes from across the country.
I for one am excited for the dancing to begin. I love March Madness.
p.s. I got a bracket group set up on ESPN. If you want in and I didn’t already email you, let me know.
Where's the passion?
“We just had a baby.”
“I have been traveling a ton for my job.”
“My computer broke.”
“The dog ate my homework.”
What do all these excuses have in common? Well, all but maybe the last one. They are all pretty valid excuses for an extended (read, 63 days) break from writing on the most exciting, power-packed, insightful sports blog on the web. Unfortunately, I cannot lay claim to a single one of them. Let me try again:
“I don’t have Sports Center.” “I still don’t have a radio in my car, 4 and ½ years after it was stolen, thus no sports talk radio.” “Ummm, I’m kinda lame.”
Wow, I am a little lame.
Since football season ended, I’ve been a bit of a hermit when it comes to sports. I’ve picked up right where we left off with 24, Idol, The Office, and a few other new shows, including Lie To Me. By the way, that Michael Scott roast on SuperBowl Sunday was one of the best moments from the show this season. Hilarious.
What I haven’t been able to figure out is why it has taken me until just recently to really start embracing the passion that is being a Jazz fan. Is it because we’ve all been on a gigantic Carlos Boozer roller coaster (is he hurt?, will he leave?, do we care?), is it because the team (until recently) has been hurt and running at half speed? Did it take LHM’s passing to shake me from this funk? I don’t really know what it is, but I’ll tell you, whatever is helping me to shake off the cobwebs, I am grateful. I don’t have cable or satellite so I only get to watch the occasional game at home or when someone is nice enough to invite us to watch at their place, but I am finding myself in front of my computer watching it via GameCast on ESPN. This team is hot and peaking at the right time. 12 in a row is amazing. Longest streak in nearly a decade. Approaching the longest streak in franchise history. Boozer is back and the team is gelling quickly. We sit atop the division and look poised to move into that third seed in the West.
If you aren’t excited yet, you are missing out. This team is exciting and fun to watch. The games for the rest of this week will show us a little bit more of the mettle of this team as the Jazz get Atlanta on the heels of a back-to-back, and then Miami and Orlando on a back-to-back all on the road. The regular season comes to a close soon and I am ready for the playoffs.
“I have been traveling a ton for my job.”
“My computer broke.”
“The dog ate my homework.”
What do all these excuses have in common? Well, all but maybe the last one. They are all pretty valid excuses for an extended (read, 63 days) break from writing on the most exciting, power-packed, insightful sports blog on the web. Unfortunately, I cannot lay claim to a single one of them. Let me try again:
“I don’t have Sports Center.” “I still don’t have a radio in my car, 4 and ½ years after it was stolen, thus no sports talk radio.” “Ummm, I’m kinda lame.”
Wow, I am a little lame.
Since football season ended, I’ve been a bit of a hermit when it comes to sports. I’ve picked up right where we left off with 24, Idol, The Office, and a few other new shows, including Lie To Me. By the way, that Michael Scott roast on SuperBowl Sunday was one of the best moments from the show this season. Hilarious.
What I haven’t been able to figure out is why it has taken me until just recently to really start embracing the passion that is being a Jazz fan. Is it because we’ve all been on a gigantic Carlos Boozer roller coaster (is he hurt?, will he leave?, do we care?), is it because the team (until recently) has been hurt and running at half speed? Did it take LHM’s passing to shake me from this funk? I don’t really know what it is, but I’ll tell you, whatever is helping me to shake off the cobwebs, I am grateful. I don’t have cable or satellite so I only get to watch the occasional game at home or when someone is nice enough to invite us to watch at their place, but I am finding myself in front of my computer watching it via GameCast on ESPN. This team is hot and peaking at the right time. 12 in a row is amazing. Longest streak in nearly a decade. Approaching the longest streak in franchise history. Boozer is back and the team is gelling quickly. We sit atop the division and look poised to move into that third seed in the West.
If you aren’t excited yet, you are missing out. This team is exciting and fun to watch. The games for the rest of this week will show us a little bit more of the mettle of this team as the Jazz get Atlanta on the heels of a back-to-back, and then Miami and Orlando on a back-to-back all on the road. The regular season comes to a close soon and I am ready for the playoffs.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Oden Solution
I think I figured out the answer to many of the questions regarding Greg Oden. Very Curious indeed.
…he’s aging in reverse.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Scuba's IcyHOT! and Not-So-Hot NBA Lists
I’ve had top ten lists on the brain lately. Watching different games around the NBA has brought me to the conclusion that there are players that bring out three different types of emotions within me. Good emotions, bad emotions, and indifference. With that in mind I’ve come up with two lists of my top ten NBA players. The good and the bad. I can’t make a top ten list of indifferent players because they’re all indifferent to me.
Top Ten List signifies the tippity-topness of the NBA's elite according to Yours Truly. – These are the guys I love to watch. They're getting paid ridiculous amounts of money and earning every penny. Give them a raise!!! Bottom Ten list is full of Scuba's pretenders, prima donas, and the disgraceful. Enjoy.
Top Ten (In no order)
1.D-Will - Amazing. He makes me proud to be a Jazz fan.
2.LeBron - No question. This man could make any team great.
3.Kobe - Rapist or not, he is the best player in the entire association.
4.Andre Igoudala - I don't know how many people are actually big fans of the real AI but his is top tier in my opinion.
5.Monta Ellis - Always been a big fan of Mon-tay. Stud on the court.
6.CP3 - Amazing, amazing, amazing. Reminds me of me. j/k
7.Devin Harris - Freakishly fast.
8.Dwight Howard - Imagine Karl Malone jumping high enough to touch the top of the backboard. 9.KG - Domination from dedication
10.Derrick Rose - Very impressive. I'm more a fan of his game than he himself.
Bottom Ten (In no order)
1.Caron Butler - I see this guy on the TV and I want to throw my ottoman through a wall.
2.Gilbert Arenas (Ov-ver-rate-ted Clap, clap, clapclapclap)
3.David West - Never been impressed.
4.CJ Miles - Still waiting for him to start earning his 15mill. I shouldn't hold my breath though.
5.Nate Robinson - This guy's attitude screams "I'm a Chump" every time he's on the court. The dunk contest cemented my opnion of him.
6.Sasha Pavlovic - Coattails.
7.Tony Parker - Flopper
8.Jason Kapono - I'm not sure what it is about him that I don't' think I'm the only person that would like to punch him in the face.
9.Eddie House - His game is very "Churchball".
10.Carmelo Anthony - Flopper and a crybaby.
All are welcome and invited to disagree in the comments section. I'll think you're wrong for disagreeing but you're welcome to nonetheless.
Top Ten List signifies the tippity-topness of the NBA's elite according to Yours Truly. – These are the guys I love to watch. They're getting paid ridiculous amounts of money and earning every penny. Give them a raise!!! Bottom Ten list is full of Scuba's pretenders, prima donas, and the disgraceful. Enjoy.
Top Ten (In no order)
1.D-Will - Amazing. He makes me proud to be a Jazz fan.
2.LeBron - No question. This man could make any team great.
3.Kobe - Rapist or not, he is the best player in the entire association.
4.Andre Igoudala - I don't know how many people are actually big fans of the real AI but his is top tier in my opinion.
5.Monta Ellis - Always been a big fan of Mon-tay. Stud on the court.
6.CP3 - Amazing, amazing, amazing. Reminds me of me. j/k
7.Devin Harris - Freakishly fast.
8.Dwight Howard - Imagine Karl Malone jumping high enough to touch the top of the backboard. 9.KG - Domination from dedication
10.Derrick Rose - Very impressive. I'm more a fan of his game than he himself.
Bottom Ten (In no order)
1.Caron Butler - I see this guy on the TV and I want to throw my ottoman through a wall.
2.Gilbert Arenas (Ov-ver-rate-ted Clap, clap, clapclapclap)
3.David West - Never been impressed.
4.CJ Miles - Still waiting for him to start earning his 15mill. I shouldn't hold my breath though.
5.Nate Robinson - This guy's attitude screams "I'm a Chump" every time he's on the court. The dunk contest cemented my opnion of him.
6.Sasha Pavlovic - Coattails.
7.Tony Parker - Flopper
8.Jason Kapono - I'm not sure what it is about him that I don't' think I'm the only person that would like to punch him in the face.
9.Eddie House - His game is very "Churchball".
10.Carmelo Anthony - Flopper and a crybaby.
All are welcome and invited to disagree in the comments section. I'll think you're wrong for disagreeing but you're welcome to nonetheless.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Jazz Fans: Take a memo from Memo
Over the past couple of years I have observed an interesting charicteristic of Mehmet Okur. It's been commented about in the media as well. The trait being that emotionally, Mehmet Okur never gets too high or too low at any point in time during his NBA career. The outcome of the games affect him but not to any one extreem.
I think the ruthless fans in this What-Have-You-Done-For-Me-In-The-Last-Two-Seconds Town should take a page or two out of Memo's book and just relax a litle bit. Don't get too hyped up or too wiped out. This goes for the media as well. I remember before the seaon started and David Locke and all his KFAN girlfriends were predicting the Jazz's season for this year and they hyped the Jazz so high up that anything less than a championship is an utter disaster of a season.
Let's all just take a few deep breaths, relax, and enjoy the season. Sleep sound when they win but don't start planning the victory parade or heating up the bronze for another statue. When they lose...well, you can be upset but you might want to think twice before jumping out of your bedroom window. It might provide your neighbors with some good entertainment and your doctor with some itinerary, but it won't overturn the defeat.
Jazz fans, take a memo from Memo and just accept this Tiny Tim of a team for what they are and you'll see that they're fairly constant. Pluggin' along. For every unexpected loss, they usually have an unexpected win and when it comes playoff time they'll be in the playoff picture.
Last thing, (for crying out loud) stop calling in to the radio stations to nitpick after every single loss. Recognize that for every one of you callers there are 100,000 listeners rolling their eyes on the way into work. Stop doing it! It's annoying.
Memo, you the man. Thanks for the example.
I think the ruthless fans in this What-Have-You-Done-For-Me-In-The-Last-Two-Seconds Town should take a page or two out of Memo's book and just relax a litle bit. Don't get too hyped up or too wiped out. This goes for the media as well. I remember before the seaon started and David Locke and all his KFAN girlfriends were predicting the Jazz's season for this year and they hyped the Jazz so high up that anything less than a championship is an utter disaster of a season.
Let's all just take a few deep breaths, relax, and enjoy the season. Sleep sound when they win but don't start planning the victory parade or heating up the bronze for another statue. When they lose...well, you can be upset but you might want to think twice before jumping out of your bedroom window. It might provide your neighbors with some good entertainment and your doctor with some itinerary, but it won't overturn the defeat.
Jazz fans, take a memo from Memo and just accept this Tiny Tim of a team for what they are and you'll see that they're fairly constant. Pluggin' along. For every unexpected loss, they usually have an unexpected win and when it comes playoff time they'll be in the playoff picture.
Last thing, (for crying out loud) stop calling in to the radio stations to nitpick after every single loss. Recognize that for every one of you callers there are 100,000 listeners rolling their eyes on the way into work. Stop doing it! It's annoying.
Memo, you the man. Thanks for the example.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Ode to Joy
Close your eyes and imagine with me for a moment that you are driving down the freeway. You are maintaining a safe speed and are alert with both hands on the wheel. Suddenly a reckless vehicle speeds past you at 100 mph weaving in and out of lanes like some doped-up Frogger getting paid on lane-change commission.
A few thoughts and feelings pass through your body all at the same time. Anger: "That idiot's going to kill himself and someone else!!". Fear: "Get out of his way!". My personal favorite, Rage: You say under your breath all the soft explitives you can think of including "Piece of Crap Chump Sauce". Along with those feelings there’s also a feeling deep down that longs for justice to be paid out. “Statistics are going to catch up with that guy and he’s going to end up in the hospital”.
Okay now imagine driving a few more miles to find the car pulled over while a highway patrol officer issues him a speeding ticket. What a satisfying feeling that is. Or imagine catching up to the car a few miles down the road only to find that the vehicle was in a horrendous rollover accident. Satisfaction suddenly turns to regret, remorse, and concern for the reckless driver and those involved.
Now open your eyes…(congratulations on reading with your eyes closed). This illustration was to help the readers and the media understand the feelings they have for the Dallas Cowboys. That football team, whether you like them or you hate them, demands your attention at all times. They’re flashy, they’re controversial, they aren’t the quiet Jags or Vickings slipping into NFL 08-09 oblivion.
They are the reckless driver on the freeway and everyone's eyes are on them for better for worse. Whether it be the satifcation of seeing the Pacman Pullover, or the worrying sickness of the T.O. locker room Rollover/Explosion. The Cowboys didn’t even make the playoffs and they’re still filling the all the sports airways and we're just days from the Super Bowl.
I know what you're thinking and I can just say that you may not feel the regret, remorse, and concern that I do right now, but wait until you’re yawning your way through the Steelers/Cardinals Super Bowl and you start longing to see those cool Stars that everyone loves to hate and it will hit you like a mule-kick to the groin.
Even in this most dissapointing of years, I still find it quite easy to be a Cowboys fan. It must be that one feeling that I forgot to mention earlier that the whole National Football League seems to be feeling.......Envy.
Closing Ode to My Joy
Cowboys count your casualties. Regroup, refocus, and return. The nation's eye is on you as it has been for decades. Let the star shine and sing back with a brilliant bellowing baritone blue and a majestic magical miricle that will truely land you on top. Superbowl XLIV Victors. A Lonestar atop the National Football League.
A few thoughts and feelings pass through your body all at the same time. Anger: "That idiot's going to kill himself and someone else!!". Fear: "Get out of his way!". My personal favorite, Rage: You say under your breath all the soft explitives you can think of including "Piece of Crap Chump Sauce". Along with those feelings there’s also a feeling deep down that longs for justice to be paid out. “Statistics are going to catch up with that guy and he’s going to end up in the hospital”.
Okay now imagine driving a few more miles to find the car pulled over while a highway patrol officer issues him a speeding ticket. What a satisfying feeling that is. Or imagine catching up to the car a few miles down the road only to find that the vehicle was in a horrendous rollover accident. Satisfaction suddenly turns to regret, remorse, and concern for the reckless driver and those involved.
Now open your eyes…(congratulations on reading with your eyes closed). This illustration was to help the readers and the media understand the feelings they have for the Dallas Cowboys. That football team, whether you like them or you hate them, demands your attention at all times. They’re flashy, they’re controversial, they aren’t the quiet Jags or Vickings slipping into NFL 08-09 oblivion.
They are the reckless driver on the freeway and everyone's eyes are on them for better for worse. Whether it be the satifcation of seeing the Pacman Pullover, or the worrying sickness of the T.O. locker room Rollover/Explosion. The Cowboys didn’t even make the playoffs and they’re still filling the all the sports airways and we're just days from the Super Bowl.
I know what you're thinking and I can just say that you may not feel the regret, remorse, and concern that I do right now, but wait until you’re yawning your way through the Steelers/Cardinals Super Bowl and you start longing to see those cool Stars that everyone loves to hate and it will hit you like a mule-kick to the groin.
Even in this most dissapointing of years, I still find it quite easy to be a Cowboys fan. It must be that one feeling that I forgot to mention earlier that the whole National Football League seems to be feeling.......Envy.
Closing Ode to My Joy
Cowboys count your casualties. Regroup, refocus, and return. The nation's eye is on you as it has been for decades. Let the star shine and sing back with a brilliant bellowing baritone blue and a majestic magical miricle that will truely land you on top. Superbowl XLIV Victors. A Lonestar atop the National Football League.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
To the REAL National Champs
Credit actually goes to DK Smack for finding this article, but I thought it would be nice to share with everyone. http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3815656. Nice to see some of the ESPN powers have their heads on straight.
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
The Utes trampled Alabama to complete a perfect season. How are they not national champions?
Some gifts people give are pointless: Styling mousse to Dick Vitale. An all-you-can-eat card to Kate Moss. The BCS Championship given to Oklahoma or Florida.
It means nothing because the BCS has no credibility. Florida? Oklahoma? Who cares? Utah is the national champion.
The End. Roll credits.
Argue with this, please. I beg you. Find me anybody else that went undefeated. Thirteen-and-zero. Beat four ranked teams. Went to the Deep South and seal-clubbed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The same Alabama that was ranked No. 1 for five weeks. The same Alabama that went undefeated in the regular season. The same Alabama that Florida beat in order to get INTO the BCS Championship game in the first place.
Yeah, that's how it is now in the shameful, money-grubbing world of college football. If you're Florida and you beat Alabama, you get a seat in the title game. If you're Utah, you get a seat on your sofa.
Hey, remind me: What do they give out for one of those BCS things anyway? It's been so long since I cared. Something from Sears? This is the sixth year in the past 10 that the title has been in dispute under this cash-grab, fan-dis, monopoly that the BCS has created. Which is why the title game just doesn't matter anymore. It's like being named Miss Ogallala. Or Best Amish Electrician.
Just take a look at the teams that think they're worthy of being called national champs:
USC? Great year. Wonderful. Let's all go to SkyBar and celebrate. But it lost to Oregon State, a team Utah beat.
Texas? You think beating Ohio State by a nubby three points gets you the title? The Big Ten was 1-6 in bowl games! That's like pinning David Spade!
Florida and Oklahoma? They lost. Utah never did.
So that's it. Utah is the national champion. The Utes should probably have two now, actually. They went undefeated in 2004, too, and their coach still thinks they were the best team in the land. Smart fella named Urban Meyer. Coaches Florida now.
By the way, we're calling our title the "national" championship because it actually includes the whole nation—all 119 Division I schools—unlike the BCS, which includes 66. Yeah, the BCS somehow eliminated the middleman—the NCAA. The conferences these schools play in take their dump trucks full of cash straight from the TV networks and fairness can go suck a lemon.
The Utes won't get the trophy they really deserve, so we gave them one of our own design.
Do me a favor. Call Ohio State president Gordon Gee and ask him why he won't support a playoff. He's one of the most powerful presidents in the NCAA. He could get it done. If he says anything other than, "We don't want to share the loot" then you know he's lying his bow tie off.
"This is not how we normally do things in America," says Utah president Michael Young. "In America, quality usually wins, not conspiracy. And there's a reason people usually enter into a conspiracy. It's money. You make money doing it. And those that are in on the conspiracy want to stay in and keep everybody else out."
Sure, BCS blowhards will hand you schlock about how the college football season is like a playoff, how it's an elimination tournament every week. Really? Well, how come Florida and Oklahoma weren't eliminated with their losses? Utah ran the table, beat everybody set in front of them, including Ala-damn-bama in no less than the Sugar Bowl, and gets the bagel.
Oh, by the way? It was Utah's eighth straight bowl win, the nation's longest streak. Among the losers during that run? Let's see USC, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, and now the legendary Houndstooth Hats.
"What else do we have to prove?" asks Utah's magical quarterback, Brian Johnson. Good question. He and the Utes essentially whipped Alabama at home. Handed Nick Saban a garlic necklace to wear the entire off-season. Stepped on his team's neck 21-0 in the first three possessions and never looked back. Let's see. Who was it that was losing to Alabama until nearly six minutes into the fourth quarter? Oh, yeah. Florida.
What, you want the Utes to win a spelling bee? Make a prize-winning souffle? Knock up Angelina Jolie? What?
It just slays me. It really does.
Call Myles Brand, president of the asleep-at-the-wheel NCAA, and ask him if he and his greedy presidents are going to stand in defiance of president-elect Barack Obama, who wants a playoff and wants it yesterday.
Ask Brand what he's going to do if Obama starts asking the Justice Department to look into anti-trust hearings against the BCS. The Utah Attorney General has already launched an investigation into that very thing. Or ask him what he'll do if Obama asks the Department of Education to consider withholding federal funds from these schools that have entered into this secret club called the BCS. You don't think playing in the title game means millions in general-fund donations for a school? That's as unfair as anything Title IX fought against.
Until all these people do the right thing, I'll be celebrating with the true national champions—the undefeated, untied Utah Utes. (Our new slogan: Utahk about a team!)
Lemonades for everybody!
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
The Utes trampled Alabama to complete a perfect season. How are they not national champions?
Some gifts people give are pointless: Styling mousse to Dick Vitale. An all-you-can-eat card to Kate Moss. The BCS Championship given to Oklahoma or Florida.
It means nothing because the BCS has no credibility. Florida? Oklahoma? Who cares? Utah is the national champion.
The End. Roll credits.
Argue with this, please. I beg you. Find me anybody else that went undefeated. Thirteen-and-zero. Beat four ranked teams. Went to the Deep South and seal-clubbed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The same Alabama that was ranked No. 1 for five weeks. The same Alabama that went undefeated in the regular season. The same Alabama that Florida beat in order to get INTO the BCS Championship game in the first place.
Yeah, that's how it is now in the shameful, money-grubbing world of college football. If you're Florida and you beat Alabama, you get a seat in the title game. If you're Utah, you get a seat on your sofa.
Hey, remind me: What do they give out for one of those BCS things anyway? It's been so long since I cared. Something from Sears? This is the sixth year in the past 10 that the title has been in dispute under this cash-grab, fan-dis, monopoly that the BCS has created. Which is why the title game just doesn't matter anymore. It's like being named Miss Ogallala. Or Best Amish Electrician.
Just take a look at the teams that think they're worthy of being called national champs:
USC? Great year. Wonderful. Let's all go to SkyBar and celebrate. But it lost to Oregon State, a team Utah beat.
Texas? You think beating Ohio State by a nubby three points gets you the title? The Big Ten was 1-6 in bowl games! That's like pinning David Spade!
Florida and Oklahoma? They lost. Utah never did.
So that's it. Utah is the national champion. The Utes should probably have two now, actually. They went undefeated in 2004, too, and their coach still thinks they were the best team in the land. Smart fella named Urban Meyer. Coaches Florida now.
By the way, we're calling our title the "national" championship because it actually includes the whole nation—all 119 Division I schools—unlike the BCS, which includes 66. Yeah, the BCS somehow eliminated the middleman—the NCAA. The conferences these schools play in take their dump trucks full of cash straight from the TV networks and fairness can go suck a lemon.
The Utes won't get the trophy they really deserve, so we gave them one of our own design.
Do me a favor. Call Ohio State president Gordon Gee and ask him why he won't support a playoff. He's one of the most powerful presidents in the NCAA. He could get it done. If he says anything other than, "We don't want to share the loot" then you know he's lying his bow tie off.
"This is not how we normally do things in America," says Utah president Michael Young. "In America, quality usually wins, not conspiracy. And there's a reason people usually enter into a conspiracy. It's money. You make money doing it. And those that are in on the conspiracy want to stay in and keep everybody else out."
Sure, BCS blowhards will hand you schlock about how the college football season is like a playoff, how it's an elimination tournament every week. Really? Well, how come Florida and Oklahoma weren't eliminated with their losses? Utah ran the table, beat everybody set in front of them, including Ala-damn-bama in no less than the Sugar Bowl, and gets the bagel.
Oh, by the way? It was Utah's eighth straight bowl win, the nation's longest streak. Among the losers during that run? Let's see USC, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, and now the legendary Houndstooth Hats.
"What else do we have to prove?" asks Utah's magical quarterback, Brian Johnson. Good question. He and the Utes essentially whipped Alabama at home. Handed Nick Saban a garlic necklace to wear the entire off-season. Stepped on his team's neck 21-0 in the first three possessions and never looked back. Let's see. Who was it that was losing to Alabama until nearly six minutes into the fourth quarter? Oh, yeah. Florida.
What, you want the Utes to win a spelling bee? Make a prize-winning souffle? Knock up Angelina Jolie? What?
It just slays me. It really does.
Call Myles Brand, president of the asleep-at-the-wheel NCAA, and ask him if he and his greedy presidents are going to stand in defiance of president-elect Barack Obama, who wants a playoff and wants it yesterday.
Ask Brand what he's going to do if Obama starts asking the Justice Department to look into anti-trust hearings against the BCS. The Utah Attorney General has already launched an investigation into that very thing. Or ask him what he'll do if Obama asks the Department of Education to consider withholding federal funds from these schools that have entered into this secret club called the BCS. You don't think playing in the title game means millions in general-fund donations for a school? That's as unfair as anything Title IX fought against.
Until all these people do the right thing, I'll be celebrating with the true national champions—the undefeated, untied Utah Utes. (Our new slogan: Utahk about a team!)
Lemonades for everybody!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
