This is depressing. I’ve realized that pretty much all hope is lost of me accomplishing my goal of reaching the .500 mark for the season. Now I need a miracle that would rival the one that occurred on ice roughly 28 years ago. Last week I had my hands tied with it being finals week and everything. I know I said that I don’t do work and school is not an issue and all that junk, but even I had my hands tied last week. I’m proud to say that I survived finals week, but I paid the price. If you want to know how, look at my record at the bottom of this post. Last week I only had time to pick the 4 pm. games and later, and it was not pretty. Actually, based on that it’s probably better that I didn’t have a chance to predict the one o’ clock games. I think I may have unintentionally cut my losses.
(Also, I’d like to apologize for this week being a little late, but I got home Friday evening and didn’t have power back until midnight last night. My laptop battery lasts roughly 5-10 seconds, making it a little tough on me to make this post before now. But seriously, I’m just glad I survived. I felt like Bear Grylls in the episode where he takes on the Siberian forest terrain. It was awful.)
Today is a great day. I don’t mean today as in this very day, but like the present. Why? One reason: Cincinnati v. Virginia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl. Half of you are scratching your heads right now and half of you probably want to fight me, but before you make up your mind and stop reading, let me explain. While outwardly this game is the worst game in the history of BCS bowls, it is also the best. This will be the worst game that has ever aired on national television; a complete waste of the network airwaves. The only people who will be watching this game are Bearcat or Hokie alums, or perhaps a relative of one of the players (a close relative, because I know if I was on one of these teams my dad most likely wouldn’t bother wasting 3 hours of his time). What I can hope for in this game is an incredibly boring performance that displays just how bad each of these teams are. I’m talking about a 13-3, 14-3, or 17-7 final or something like that; you don’t want it within one possession because that could cause some excitement. I guess that being said, 9-0 would be the optimal final. Oh, and some turnovers, not too many, but a moderate amount. And no one has even semi-impressive stats. The BCS tried to save themselves by putting these two teams in the same bowl and not wasting 2 games and 6 hours worth of national television, but essentially they have created the perfect storm. Hopefully, I pray, this storm capsizes the BCS and leads to its eventual demise. Who airs this game? ABC? They must be kicking themselves in the ass for signing that contract.
I don’t want to waste too much of my time or your time talking about the NHL, but can someone help me understand Sean Avery’s suspension? Like, seriously, huh? Am I the only one completely perplexed by this? He didn’t do anything! When Sage Steele warned viewers that what they were about to hear may be offensive and disturbing, I was prepared for something extravagant. I was ready for something really juicy that would blow me away and have me on the ground laughing, or with my jaw dropped in shock. Granted, I chuckled a bit when Avery said “sloppy seconds,” but afterwards I was still waiting there in front of the TV, thinking there was more to come. I was more offended by Sage Steele telling me I might be offended than I actually was by Avery’s comments. In a league that not only allows fights but encourages them, saying “sloppy seconds” gets you a 6-game suspension? I’m really not sure what kind of image the NHL is going for, but this contradictory behavior is turning me further off from hockey. If anything Avery should be rewarded for bringing attention to the NHL. Maybe give him a penalty shot to start off a game or something. If that were the case and that’s the way the league operated, I know I’d start watching.
One last thing I would like to point out, and it is a sweet point for me indeed. I cannot help but notice that the stars are aligning for the return of the Patriots dynasty. Both Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weiss are on creepily similar paths toward being fired by the end of next season. Brady will be back for next season, but one has to assume that it may take a season of adjustment to get back to his MVP form, which is fine because it will take another season for the Pats to solidify up those holes on defense and bring in some younger talent. That way, the Pats will be in prime form by the time Weiss and Crennel are fired, and they will be free to return to their natural places at Belicheck’s side, as offensive and defensive coordinators respectfully. Ah, yes, it is all clear to me now. The New England Patriots, 2010-11 Super Bowl Champions!
Picks:
Green Bay (-3) over Jacksonville
Indianapolis (-17) over Detroit
Washington (-7) over Cincinnati
Atlanta (-5) over Tampa Bay
San Francisco (+5.5) over Miami
Seattle (-2) over St. Louis
Buffalo (+7.5) over NY Jets
Tennessee (-3) over Houston
Baltimore (-3) over Pittsburgh
Carolina (-8) over Denver
Minnesota (+3.5) over Arizona
San Diego (-5.5) over Kansas City
New England (-7) over Oakland
NY Giants (+3) over Dallas
Cleveland (+14) over Philadelphia
Last Week: 2-6
Season: 58-90-2
