College Football Preview

As I probably mentioned a year ago this week, "I am so glad that football season has begun!". Between the NFL Draft, the Spring Game, summer workouts, then Pre-Season, tonight we can finally say football season has officially begun. College football kicks off tonight with the major game being Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks verses a Bowl hopeful N.C. State team. This weekend though I am thoroughly excited about the great opening season game between #24 Alabama and #9 Clemson. Being in SEC country now, Clemson is probably the only other southern football program not in the SEC that I have a very high interest in this season. If they are not going to be "the team" this season than my promise is it will be next year.

Georgia, has we all know, is the pre-season #1 team which to me is highly unfair, for there sake. They have a tough enough season already, now you have that #1 in front of them everywhere you go. You can't tell me that their opponents won't be more amped to upset a #1 than say a #4, especially being in the SEC. Instead of giving you all a run down on the my top 25, and since my pre season predictions have been outstanding this past year in the major sports. I will give you who I think will make it to the major bowls at the end of the year and finally who I think is my sleeper teams and bust teams for the season. Enjoy tonight's start to the college football season and do not, I repeat, do not miss the Clemson/Alabama game Saturday night, you'll see why.

ROSE BOWL

PENN ST VS. USC - This is by all means not a homer call because I am taking classes at PSU this year. I really like JoePa and his offense this season but they will get absolutely destroyed by the Trojans in the Rose. USC will beat Ohio State the third game of the year but they will falter two games in conference which will cause them to lose the conference title.

ORANGE BOWL

CLEMSON VS. WEST VIRGINIA - The easiest bowl to predict. Clemson will win the ACC and West Virginia will win the Big East but they will only get as far as the Orange Bowl. Like I said at the start, really like the Tigers this year and next will beat the Mountaineers closer than some might think though.

SUGAR BOWL

MISSOURI VS. FLORIDA - Chase Daniel will lead his Tiger team all year till losing the Big 12 title. The Heisman Trophy candidate will play the former Heisman winner in Tim Tebow in what looks to me could be an absolute shootout. The Gator's defense will not be good this year but Tebow will keep them in every game and will keep us talking about a repeat Heisman all year. I like Missouri in this game.

FIESTA BOWL

GEORGIA VS. ARIZONA ST - The Bulldogs and SunDevils will run the table in their respected conferences, I would say easily but it won't be especially for Georgia in the tough SEC. I love Georgia this year, love 'em! But, I can't tell you that they will run the table even have a loss in the SEC...I just can't. I hope that I am wrong because they are good enough have a shot at the title. If we get rid of the BCS then we wouldn't have a great team like the Bulldogs on the outside looking in. Georgia will blow out Arizona St to try and swede voters but it won't work.

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP

OHIO STATE VS. OKLAHOMA - Two teams that have had problems in the past in the championship game won't have to play a SEC team this time. Hence the reason for a mini tourney, no SEC team in the championship will cause a huge uproar and I am all for it. Ohio State, who made the BCS title game the last two seasons might have their best team this season of the three. They will lose to USC, but since it is an early game they will run the rest of the table and get into the BCS game with one loss. The Sooners will be in the 2nd best conference this season and what helps them will be beating a Missouri team in the title game which will boaster them into the final.

OKLAHOMA - 42 OHIO STATE - 35

HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER - Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia

Sleeper teams:

1. Nebraska

2. Miami

3. Alabama

Busts:

1. Tennessee

2. Texas Tech

3.Wisconsin

The Best and The Worst

Finally back at it on the blog and will continue my best and the worst sleeper fantasy football players this season. I hope that I will get this finished before this weekend when all the drafts should be done. Without further delay, let's get right to it.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Absolutely the toughest position to judge in my opinion on draft day. Once you get through the top 10 receivers which in my rankings include: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Reggie Wayne, Braylon Edwards, Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Marques Colston, Steve Smith, Plaxico Burress, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. After this list you are taking a chance of a fall or making it far in your league this season.

BEST

1. WES WELKER - 112 catches last season with 8 touchdowns surprising could be better this season. His speed and having a player like Randy Moss on your team will get you more throws. This was pretty much an easy call.

2. TORRY HOLT - A homer call because I have him on my team this year, but I really don't understand why he is getting slept on this season. 7 TDs and close to 1200 yards without Marc Bulger, pretty impressive.

3. BRANDON MARSHALL - After the 3 game suspension he will be a top 10 receiver, you can bet on that!

4. CALVIN JOHNSON - For whatever reason I really seem to think that the Detroit Lions is going to have a great season, and Johnson will be a big factor why.

5. JERRICHO COTCHERY - With the addition of Brett Favre we all know how he loves to throw the ball down field. Cotchery should really benefit.

WORST

1. DERRICK MASON - Baltimore will be juggling quarterbacks all season which will cause frustration in the offense and Mason stats to plummet. At 34, he will be losing catches to the likes of younger players looking to prove themselves this year.

2. VINCENT JACKSON - I have no idea why but this guy is getting drafted way to early in the drafts I have been in so far. With Chris Chambers and Antonio Gates on the same field he will see less amount of touches than usual.

3. SIDNEY RICE - Another one getting drafted high in my drafts thus far. Even over teammate Bernard Berrian. Why, I think people like his speed, but personally he will bust this season.

4. ISAAC BRUCE - Has always been a class act in the NFL but unfortunately his career is winding down. Don't expect more than 3 touchdowns this season as a 49er.

5. DWAYNE BOWE - I really like this kid a lot but his team has many concerns this season. Two that concern me, a shaky offensive line and a quarterback I am not sold on.

Hottest Women in Deal or No Deal

This week since I am back on the blog after a long vacation in the dirty den, I am going to take a break from the hottest women in sports and change it up a notch over the next few weeks I will have a miniature tournament on the hottest woman on Deal or No Deal. Every week I will post two women and all you have to do is vote on the right side of my blog. Don't forget to vote!!!

CLAUDIA JORDAN - Claudia, holds the #1 case. She was a Miss Teen Rhode Island and later won Miss Rhode Island and competed in the Miss USA pageant, and finished in the top ten.

LINDSAY CLUBINE - Holds case #26. Lindsey is a model from a small town in Missouri. She is always one of the first people to go on the show, but was one of People Magazines 100 Most Beautiful People this past year.

Random Thoughts Today

Been pretty busy this past weekend, not only have I been so caught up with the Olympics but my brother has come back to the sunshine state so me and him hitting the links when he got back was a must. I have been really working on something that hopefully will finally work out for me long term, so without further ado let's get to my exciting new news with some other random thoughts today.

After some serious thought on my career in the landscaping field, and wanting to further myself in this career I decided to better myself with some education. So I am back at it with college and I have been accepted by Penn State University to take their online courses and ultimately end up with a certificate in Golf and Turf Management. As most of my readers know, I am a huge Michigan Wolverine fan and even though I am thrilled with being accepted and I can now call myself a Nittany Lion...there is no way in hell that I will be turning over my blue and gold any time soon. Getting a certificate in this field was the right thing for me to do. I love what I am doing and the city that I am working for will pay for most or all of the courses that I pass. So this was really a no brainer in my book. Also, getting a certificate in Golf and Turf Management also allows me to earn credits for a Bachelor's Degree in this field as well, when the time comes for it. My goal is to finish this certificate by the time my city finishes their new golf course, it's third, and hopefully move on to better courses or ball fields. Wish me luck!

This 2008 Olympics have been incredible to watch! I find myself sleeping a lot less since it started, but I will put up with it for another week and a half because I don't want to miss a thing. I go to bed late and wake up early just so I don't miss anything. Michael Phelps is a phenomenal athlete and has really brought in the United States to watch his every move. One question that really baffles me is when I found out that the Olympic committee didn't invite Mark Spitz, who holds the record for 7 golds in one Olympics to at least be there if, I mean when Phelps ties and breaks his record. How awesome would have it been if Spitz was the one to give Phelps his 7th gold?

I find this next topic very disturbing. The Spain basketball team in a team picture (above) posed while making slit-eyed gestures. As much as we as Americans make fun of the Asians for whatever reason, would our team ever....ever do something like this? This was a very classless act, and I hope that David Stern does something to the NBA players that is on the Spain team a nice suspension. This was very uncalled for no matter what reason the team says that they did it. If the United States team did this I would not be surprised if the Olympic committee kicked them out of the Olympics, so in my opinion the Spain team should.

You heard it here first. If the Tampa Bay Rays make the playoffs they will go to the World Series. After injuries to their starters, Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford were huge, huge blows. This was the main reason why they should have gotten a bat before the trade deadline. Now, at least they have a chance to get hometown Little League hero Gary Sheffield who has been put on waivers from the Tigers. Am I the only one that is really disturbed that Major League Baseball still has the waiver wire thing?

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT go and waste your time seeing Pineapple Express. I am still pissed my brother recommended to go see it. If I was able to finish my bag of popcorn in the first half hour of the movie I would have walked out. I started to fall asleep and I found that the only funny parts were the only ones to make the previews on television. Maybe if I smoked weed before the movie it would have been better but I really tend to doubt it.

Finally, the Little League World Series starts this weekend and I am thrilled as always. What is great is that a Connecticut team (Shelton) and a Florida team (Tampa) made it to Williamsport. Both have great stories with the Shelton team just missing the LL Series a year ago and the Tampa team made it by having only a five team Little League with only 60 kids participating. At some point in my lifetime I have to go to Williamsport, hopefully as a coach!

Hottest Women in Sports

I would have to agree with my buddy over at Badchoicemilk.com, after watching the womens gymnastic team over the weekend I found myself attached to the screen watching Alicia Sacramone. The Ivy Leaguer of Brown University will officially be legal to drink this December, so I think that I will have to try to find a way to Winchester, Mass. and by this lovely, 5'1'' woman a drink. So yummy in her leotard!

The Best and The Worst

This week I am back with my best and worst draft picks for fantasy football this season. My team in the ever popular SFL is just about ready for our draft a week from today. This week my focus is on the tight end position. For my rivals in the SFL this will be my last fantasy football post before the draft, because I am in a hole already for draft day and I really don't need anyone stealing my picks in the major positions. Enjoy!

TIGHT ENDS

The tight end position has been going statistically up and up over the last couple of seasons with a nice tier of six players (Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Kellen Winslow, Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark, and Chris Cooley) that everyone would like to get on their team. Unfortunately, in a ten or twelve team league not everyone can get those top players. Here's my best and worst tight ends you can get if your not lucky enough to get the top dogs.

BEST

1. TODD HEAP - I still have no idea why this guy still gets slept on! This season with the Ravens not knowing who their quarterback is, it really doesn't matter, because old reliable Todd Heap is back healthier than ever and will put up numbers that had him as a top 3 tight end three years ago.

2. TONY SCHEFFLER - Has an opportunity to have a tremendous season with the three game suspension of top wide out Brandon Marshall. I really like this guy and I don't think I have ever seen him drop a pass.

3. JEREMY SHOCKEY - Use to be a top 5 tight end, since then has had injuries and only 600 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. Even though I think that his addition to the Saints helps Marques Colston more, Shockey could be back to his old self with former coach Sean Payton.

4. HEATH MILLER - Mr. Consistent has had more than 5 touchdowns in each of his first 3 seasons. Even with Hines Ward on his offense he is still the go-to guy for Pittsburgh in the redzone.

5. OWEN DANIELS - Eclipsed the 700 receiving yard mark in just his second season and could do better this season. Only factor is that he never seems to get into the endzone.

WORST

1. LEONARD POPE - For whatever reason, tight ends in the Arizona offense just don't do well. Pope only has 40 catches in 26 games and for the most part they have all been short yardage catches. DO NOT DRAFT CARDINAL TIGHT ENDS!!!

2. ALEX SMITH - Another good player just caught in the wrong system. If you are willing to put up with short yardage touchdowns then by all means take him.

3. DESMOND CLARK - Two words...Greg Olsen. Unless he gets traded stay away from him.

4. CHRIS BAKER - There is a reason why the Jets drafted a tight end in the first round this season. With two years remaining on a 6.6 million dollar contract, the Jets will be stuck with Baker.

5. ALGE CRUMPLER - Honestly I don't know why I am down on him I just think that he might be washed up, even though he is only 30. I could be wrong but I see less than 400 yards and 4 touchdowns in an injury filled season.

Stag for Maynard!!!

That's right! Maynard is getting married this month! His stag is this Saturday night at the VFW in Yalesville, CT. Tickets are only 25 dollars with all the proceeds going to my plane ticket for his wedding (just kidding). Lots of home cooked food, great raffle prizes, lots of alcohol, and beerdie! So go and enjoy yourself and celebrate Maynard's departure as a bachelor, something that he said he would never, ever do! Any questions just add to the comment page.

The Best and The Worst

Back again after some time off reflecting on all that has happened with the Brett Favre situation with my best and worst fantasy sleepers. This week we go to the worst position for a fantasy team. How many weeks I have lost because my idiot kicker only had 3 or 4 extra points is remarkable, even for a terrible fantasy football guy like myself. Let's get right to it!

KICKERS

My personal opinion about kickers is that they really are all sleepers. At one point for three straight years I drafted the number 1 rated kicker in my fantasy football magazine. And all three didn't finish in the top 5 for total fantasy points. So what I will do is just give you the top 5 and worst five kickers to have this season.

BEST

1. NICK FOLK - The Pro-Bowl rookie last season was a scoring machine for a very potent offense. He hit on 83% of his FG attempts and made 53 extra points. I am looking for a similar output this season from the 23-year-old.

2. ROB BIRONAS - 35 for 39, 9-10 from 40 to 49 yards and 4-5 from over 50! The only problem I see with Bironas is the ability of the Tennessee offense to get in range for him, but does that really matter?

3. MASON CROSBY - Another rookie kicker last season, Crosby showed a lot of poise in Green Bay and with the offense losing big play slinger Brett Favre, look for a lot more attempts over 40 yards out.

4. STEPHEN GOSTOWSKI - A guaranteed 6 points a week with 74 EPs and a 87% rate on FG attempts.

5. JOSH BROWN - The former Seattle Seahawks will be in a dome in St. Louis this season and I am really looking at Brown putting up Pro-Bowl numbers this season.

WORST

1. JOE NEDNEY - The 49ers offense will not be that much better than last season. As a result Nedney might get 19 FGs instead of the 17FGs he got a year ago.

2. DAVID AKERS - His FG percentage has gone down the last three seasons and you can really notice his inability to hit 50 yarders. Turning 34 this season.

3. MATT STOVER - Very consistent the past 5 seasons but the inability of the offense and the lack of 50 yard attempts hurts his fantasy value.

4. JOHN KASAY - Only made the list because I believe that the Panthers will punch the ball in the endzone more often than in the past two seasons.

5. SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI - He is only at #5 for the reason that he can bang a 50 yarder every now and again (6 a year ago). But, his 71% and for the past two seasons worries me.

Weekend Review

Forget my random thoughts for a title today. With the way the weekend went in sports, the only thing that I can do is give a perspective on how the weekend went. Football, basketball, and baseball, and a choke job in golf headlines what went on this weekend.

You can say that I am bias if you want, but wasn't the applause that Art Monk received Saturday night at the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony absolutely incredible. For more than 4 minutes after his son introduced him to the microphone the crowd, which was like Darrell Green's son said 95% Redskin fans, gave the Hall of Fame committee their feeling on why it took so long for Monk to get in. Chants of "It's about time!" and "Eighty-One!" went on with what felt like forever, but in my opinion it was very much deserved. This man was never flashy. He went out and did is job the best he could every Sunday. And he was an amazing human being, with his contributions with the Good Samaritan Foundation. It was really a great day to be a Redskin fan on Saturday watching me and my Dad's favorite players get inducted to the Hall of Fame the same day.

As for the Hall of Fame game on Sunday night, it marked the first preseason game of the 2008 NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins. As like most of you, I am so sick of preseason football. It is such a tease to have a game this early when I know that the Redskins won't be playing their first regular season game until September 4th. I only watched the first quarter and when the HBO series Generation Kill was over I watched to see how Colt Brennan would do. Let me get this out there just so you know how I feel about how Brennan played. Though I am very, very impressed on his composure in the pocket and the way he was slinging the ball around...it is the PRESEASON! The Colts third team was out there, everyone needs to take it easy, been hearing too much about him today on ESPN.

Again, like an idiot, instead of going golfing I wanted to watch Phil Mickelson and see if he could pull out a victory with a lot of headliners on the leaderboard before the final major of the year, the PGA. And again, I was disappointed! Damn Phil, what is wrong with you? The last time I wrote about golf I mentioned that Greg Norman will never be able to change the way he is looked at on the golf course, and you are going in that same direction buddy! I have loved watching Mickelson play for as long as I can remember, because of his demeanor and the way he plays so aggressive. But, I am tired Phil! Do me a favor and don't make the cut next week and save me from sitting on the couch getting pissed off about something I have no control over.

Manny, Manny, Manny! Manny Ramirez did not let the Dodger faithful down in his weekend home debut in Los Angeles. Ramirez hit 2 dongs as well as beating out 2 infield hits. Playoffs in the horizon? I think so, as long as their starting pitching does the job. Because their lineup looks deadly and has a new energy with his name written in there.

USA Basketball team has been breezing through there exhibition games so far. But, like the NFL preseason these are exhibition games! There first game is against the host China team on Saturday, which should be interesting especially with the way the crowd is in that arena. One thing I heard on ESPN today is that even though Jason Kidd is starting he isn't seeing as much time as Chris Paul and Daron Williams. And this is a problem because? Look, Kidd is still a great player, but he is 37 and can not shoot like the other two. The international game needs to have good shooters on the floor especially with the way the court is smaller and the lack of man to man defense that the USA team will see. Kidd's a big boy, I am sure that this isn't a problem! Besides if they win the gold medal that is all that matters...right?

Brett Favre has been reinstated back to the NFL. YEAAAAA! Now we can all get some sleep...NOT! I give the Packers three days to make a decision on trading Favre to the Vikings, but that's just me. If he stays in Green Bay my decision on who I am keeping for my fantasy team will be get more difficult. Thanks Brett!

Fifteen Years of The Sandlot

After three great weeks going back in Deez' time capsule I am back again with a another tribute to the starting lineup of the great baseball movie, The Sandlot. We have finished with tributes to 4 starters thus far and all four didn't have nicknames. Well, the over the next two weeks I'll be giving you my tribute to the best nicknamed kids. Without further ado, here's the first.

ALAN "YEAH YEAH" MCCLENNAN - When it really comes down to it, there was only a handful of players on the team that really looked like a ballplayer, and you have to think that the starting shortstop was one of them. Alan "Yeah Yeah" dressed the part, looked the part, and god dammit played the part. His ability to turn two was so flawless to him that you couldn't pick another kid to play his position, including Benny. This goofy looking mouse was actually one of the coolest kids on the team. He got along with everyone, including Smalls, even after calling him a "jerk" upon meeting him the first time. You always see him standing or walking with a different kid on the team throughout the movie. He gave the razing and took the razing as well, even with the popular Benny telling him that he ran like a duck. Yeah Yeah and Benny had to be boys, because they were the only players to rock the actual PF Flyers while they played. What really pissed me off about this kid was the fact that he couldn't hold on to the ball when he was over the fence with the beast in front of him, still pisses me off. Your a shortstop, HOLD ON TO THE BALL! His classic lines always followed somebody else's. Like when Squints called Smalls a L7 weenie.

"Yeah. Yeah. Oscar Meyer even. Footlong! A weenie!"

Or when Benny says that Smalls makes a ninth person.

"Yeah. Yeah. So does my sister, but i didn't bring her along."

Yeah Yeah was played by 27 year old Marty York who was a child actor until 1997, and is still pursuing his acting career today in minor independent films. York's best role following The Sandlot was appearing on a few episodes of Boy Meets World. He was last seen in Los Angeles going to a local college to become a firefighter, but before that many people had seen him trying his stab at being a magician (pictured below, how the other pic is still him I have no idea). As the story goes, Alan's parents shipped him off to military school. After the army, he became one of the pioneering developers of bungee jumping for his role in trying to retrieve the ball in which he was held up to a high height and lowered down on a rubbery cord. I like to think that Yeah Yeah was a hit with the ladies in high school and ended up dropping out after getting a girl pregnant. The girl kept the baby thinking that he was going to be around but he wasn't and became a drunk at a local bar and would brag about playing with the Dodgers Benny Rodriguez while watching him on the tube with the other locals.