Category Archives: Other Sports

Top 5 Reasons the NFL is better than the NBA

The NBA kicked off the season on Tuesday and now we have all four sports in season.  This Sunday will be the first time ever that there has been regular or post season football, baseball, basketball, and hockey on the same day.

No disrespect to the NBA, I like it an all, but I’m not following it until football season is over.  The NFL is America’s sport and here are five reasons why it is:

Your not going to eat that at an NBA game.

5. The Last 2 Minutes Take Forever

In the NBA, the last two minutes of any remotely close game take forever.  Each team has a seemingly endless amount of timeouts and take one after each possession.  Also even when play is the trailing team will foul in the closing minutes, which leads to plenty of free throws, one of the most boring parts of the game.

In the NFL, the last two minutes will take a little longer than usual but nothing compared to the NBA.  A team will have at most 3 timeouts left by that time and most of the time they’ll have less.  The clock is running otherwise and teams show a sense of urgency instead of standing at the top of the key waiting until the shot clock is about to run out before they make a move.

4. Selfish, Not Team Game

The NBA is built for superstars.  Everybody knows the most talented players who score the most.  You can one player carry his entire team on his back.  LeBron James has done this for the Cavs and so has Kobe for the Lakers.  While there is no denying these players are great, it takes away from the team aspect of the game.

It doesn’t work that way in the NFL.  There are 11 players on the field and everyone needs to do their 1/11 in order for the play to be successful.  If the wide receivers burns the corner but the left guard misses his block the quarter back will be sacked instead of passing to the receiver for a touchdown.

Peyton Manning will go down as one of the best if not the best quarterback of all-time yet he has only won 1 Super Bowl.  Another qb legend, Dan Marino, never won a Super Bowl, his entire career.  You need a complete team to win.  No one player is bigger than the rest of the team.

3. Teams that make playoffs

Eight teams make the playoffs in each conference in the NBA and 16 teams make it overall.  That is more than half of the entire league!  That is ridiculous.  The playoffs are supposed to be for the best of the best.   When you have teams aren’t even in the top half of the league playing in the post season that’s a problem.  For the past four seasons in the Eastern Conference at least 3 teams have made the playoffs that have a .500 or worse record.  That’s is one team away from half of the teams that made it.

In the NFL every few years or so you will see one 8-8 make the playoffs, let alone almost half of the playoff field.  Also, never has a team with a losing record made it.  Even if you win 9 or 10 games your still not even assured a playoff berth.  Last year the New England Patriots finished 11-5 and still failed to make the playoffs!  That is a .6875 winning percentage.  To compare that to the NBA, it is the equivalent of a 55 win team not making the playoffs yet the NBA has team with under 40 years almost every year.

2. Tailgating

This one is an easy one.  Rarely does someone tailgate for an NBA game.  You’d think someone was crazy if you ever saw them in the parking lot cooking up some burgers and dogs before a basketball game.

For the NFL tailgating is a tradition.  People arrive at the stadiums as soon as they open to start tailgating and don’t leave until long after the game is over.  Some of them won’t eve go into the stadium.  They just stay outside, eat, drink, and watch the game on a t.v.  A tailgate is hard to describe but the experience is incredible.  Being with fellow fans, enjoying delicious food; it’s one of the better experiences in life that nothing can compare to.

The Craziest Ending Ever

We take an aside form the NFL as we look at high school football for a second.  The ending to the game will make the Vikings-49ers game look ordinary.

A potential game winning field goal with 2 seconds remaining goes all wrong in a Vermont high school football game.  Got to 1:30 to see the ending.

You have to feel terrible for the kid.  But the blame belongs square on the shoulders of the coach, who decided to put 2 players back for a reason not known to anyone.  Whether he makes it or misses it the game will be over.  There was simply no need to have those two players back there.

Rachel Alexander Holds On

Rachel Alexander has done it again.  The filly survived a late charge from Macho Again to win the Woodward Stakes.

In doing so Rachel Alexander became the first filly to win the race in its 56 runnings and was only the second three year ever to run in the race.

Rachel Alexander wins the Woodward but were left wondering if we will see her race against Zenyatta.

This win marked her nith victory in a row and third against the boys.

She ran the 1 1/8 mile track in 1:48:29 and paid $2.60 on a $2 bet.

This wins just adds to the remarkable and historical year Rachel Alexander has had.  Highlights included wiining the Kentucky Oaks by a record 20 1/4 lengths, becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes, and and beating the boys at the Haskell Inviatational.

As for when Rachel Alexander will race again the answer is unknown.  Her owner, Jess Jackson, has already stated she will not race in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

With this win added to her resume Rachel Alexander has all but wrapped up Horse of the Year honors and would become the first three year old filly since 1944 o take home the honors.

Her main competition for the award is the five year old Zenyatta.  There has been much talk of a race involving both horses but as of now it is all just talk.

The most likely scenario for a race would be at the Beldame Stakes on October 3rd at Belmont.  Owner Jess Jackson said “If Zenyatta should come to the Beldame that would certainly direct us to that race.”  While that is not a guarantee we can all hope to see the race everyone is clamoring for.

Rachel Alexander Wins Again

To see the most recent news about Rachel Alexander click here.

As we take a break from the recent football content (if you didn’t get the catch that will be our main focus form now on but we will still occaisly post about other sports like we are now) we update you on the latest news on horse Rachel Alexander.

At the Haskett Invitational yesterday, Rachel Alexander went up against the boys and came out victorious once again bringing her record to 2-0 against the boys.

Rachel Alexander easily won the race winning by six lengths.  On a sloppy track at Monmouth Park the horse finished in 1 minute 47.21 seconds just behind the race record.

Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird came in second.

Rachel Alexander easily wins the Haskell Invitational

This was the filly’s second race since the Preakness after capturing the Mother Goose Stakes by 19 1/4 lengths.

As for Rachel Alexander’s next race as of now that information is unknown. 

List of 103 who tested positive in 2003 leaks out?

Who else is on the list of 103?

In the recent months both Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa have been outed for violating baseball’s drug poolicy back in 2003.

They were not alone however.

In total, 103 players failed the drug test in 2003.  Those players faced no repercussions as the test was implemented to determine if there was widespread use of steroids.

Rodriguez and Sosa have been the only names revealed from the list but 101 still remain.

Many people have been clamoring for the full release of the list saying they cheated and therefore should be outed while others believe they took the test with the knowledge that the results would never be made public so the document should be destroyed.

A few days ago rotoinfo.com posted the rumored list which may have been leaked.  You can take the list for whatever you want but it is interesitng.  The odds of this list being correct may be slim but some of these names have been linked to steroids in the past.

Check out the rumored list by clicking read more.

NBA Mock Draft 3.0

The NBA Draft is tomorrow and there are still many questions at the top as to what the teams will do.  Here is my latest take on what will go down tomorrow night.

1. Los Angeles Clippers- Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma
A no brainer for the Clippers.  Griffin is the consensus number one player in the draft and even the Clippers can’t screw this up.

Thabeet will be blocking shots in Memphis now.

2. Memphis Grizzlies- Hasheem Thabeet, C, UCONN
The Grizzlies need some interior defense and Thabeet will bring that.  His offensive game is still developing but he can contribute immediately on defense.  The Timberwolves are interested in moving up to this pick to take Thabeet too.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder- Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain
The rumor lately has been the Thunder will pick Rubio if available.  If they pick Rubio it will shift Russell Westbrook to the 2 guard.  Rubio is only 18 and has been playing professionally in Spain since he was 14.

4. Sacramento Kings- Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse
No one really knows what the Kings will do.  If Rubio is available he will likely be the pick but if he’s not it be a number of guys including Flynn, Evans, Holiday, or Curry.  Flynn is a leader at the point guard position and has been playing great in workouts recently.

NBA Draft Decisions: Should I stay or Should I go?

The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft was yesterday and some prospects including Jodie Meeks, Luke Harangody, and Greivis Vasquez didn’t make their decisions until the final moments.  In this article I’m going to discuss and analyze the decisions made by some prospects.

Scotty Reynolds, G, Villanova- Return to Villanova
Reynolds decided to return to Villanova for his senior season.  The Wildcats made the Final Four last year and will try to repeat this season with a stacked recruiting class.  Reynolds though, hasn’t improved much since his freshman year and his stock was high as it was ever going to be after his clutch shot against Pittsburgh.  With incoming freshman Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns set to steal playing time from Renyolds this doesn’t like the right decision.

Harangody will return to Notre Dame as the Irish try to rebound from last years dissapointing season

Luke Harangody, PF, Notre Dame- Return to Notre Dame
Harangody waited until the final day to decide to come back to Notre Dame for his senior season.  Harangody was a likely second round pick in this years draft if he stayed in.   Harangody will return to Notre Dame and try to make up for a poor seaosn which saw the Irish miss the tournament.  Also by coming back Harangody will break many Notre Dame school records making him go down as one for the best to ever play at Notre Dame.  His draft status probably won’t change much but the allure of the records and fame make it worth going back for Harangody.

Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest- Stay
Teague waited until the last minute to decide whether or not to stay in but it seemed like a forgone conclusion he would stay in from the start.  Teague had a great start to the season but tailed off a little at the end including a dreadful performance in the NCAA Tournament against Cleveland State but his stock is still solid.  Teague should go somewhere from the mid first round to the early 20’s in the draft.  A shooting guard in a point guard’s body Teague will need to work on his decision making skills in the NBA to be an effective point guard.

"Joe Buck Live" Debuts

The debut of “Joe Buck Live” was on HBO last night.

Buck taking over for Bob Costas had a great cast of athletes and celebrities.

Joe Buck gets roasted by Artie Lange on his own show

He talked with Brett Favre, Michael Irvin, Chad Ocho Cinco, and David Wright.  The segments with them were mildly entertaining but the show really picked up steam when Buck had a live panel with Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, and Artie Lange.

Lange, a comedian on the Howard Stern Show, stole the segment cracking jokes left and right and ripping on Joe Buck which created in what created for quite the awkward situation as you could see Buck getting visibly frustrated.  Then the panel continued in a part that was broadcasted over the internet when Lange continued his assult on Buck and started it with the other panelists as well.  Michael Irvin eneded it all with the quote “It’s refesing to see white white on white crime.”

Whether or not the show will continue is unknown but one thing is for sure and that’s it couldn’t have gone worse for Joe Buck.

You can check out the video here courtesy of The Big Lead.

And head over to Deadspin to check the “Overtime” segemnt of the show.

NBA Mock Draft Part 2

In case you missed the first part of my mock draft you can check it out here.

15. Detroit Pistons- B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State
The Pistons could lose Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, and Kwame Brown in the off season so a froncourt player is needed.  With the Piston looking toward the future they can take a chance on Mullens who will take time to develop.

Blair would give the Bulls some much needed toughness

16. Chicago Bulls- DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh
There is talk the Bulls have promised to take Mullens here but if he is off the board the next best big available is DeJuan Blair.  Blair would add some much needed toughness and despite his size (6’6) his 7’2 wingspan makes up for it.

17. Philadelphia 76ers- Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
Andre Miller is set to become a free agent this summer so addressing the point guard position is a necessity.  Maynor despite playing at VCU got plenty of media attention thanks to his NCAA tournament performances and can step in and play right away.

NBA Mock Draft

Now that the deadline for underclassman has come and gone we officially know who is in and who is out of the draft.  Some last minute withdrawals were Greivis Vasquez and Luke Harangody.  With the NBA Finals over the focus in the NBA world switches to the draft.  The draft will be held on June 25th.  With that said here is my latest NBA Mock Draft.

Good News: Blake Griffin is going to Los Angeles. Bad News: It's the Clippers

1. Los Angeles Clippers- Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma
This pick has been a lock since the start and apparently since last year.  Even the Clippers can’t screw this one up.  Griffin is the consensus top player in what is considered a weak draft.  The drafting of Griffin will probably force the Clippers to trade either Zach Randolph or Chris Kamen.
Previous Pick: Same

2. Memphis Grizzlies- Hasheem Thabeet, C, UCONN
This is where the drafts starts to get interesting.  The Grizzlies could take Thabeet, Ricky Rubio, or trade the pick perhaps to Sacramento.  The Grizzlies don’t have a big need at center or point guard with Marc Gasol and Mike Conely Jr. at both positions but while Gasol is a solid player you don’t pass up a player like Thabeet for him.  Thabeet will be a defensive force early and if his offensive catches up he could have a career similar to Dikembe Mutombo.
Previous Pick: Ricky Rubio