About Me

I am currently an intern with ESPN's Wide World of Sports and working on my Master's of Sport Administration at Belmont University. I am a sports addict, but just cant stand the way it gets fed to the public. Follow me on twitter @reCash22

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Trop is Half Full..

I have always said that I will argue with anyone willing listen that Cleveland has the best fans in the world. I will also argue that Atlanta could, quite possibly, have the worst. But, after last night, Tampa is giving Atlanta a serious run for their money.

Heading into September the AL East was a two horse race for the crown, and the runner up was easily going to take the wild card spot heading into October. However, after last night's Tampa Bay Rays win coupled with the Boston Red Sox loss, there is a tie for the wild card spot with only two games remaining in the season!

The Rays have had a roller coaster season to say the least, and it started in the off season with what seemed like almost complete overhaul of it's roster. Gone was outfielder Carl Crawford, the all time stolen base king in Rays history. Gone was first baseman Carlos Pena who provided power in the middle of the lineup. Their set up man, and closer from a year ago? Gone. The only two guys you probably could have named on opening day were Evan Longoria and David Price.

Heck, at the beginning of September you probably could have only named those two. 21 games ago they were 8 games out of the wild card and toiling towards the end of the season. Thanks to a nearly monumental collapse by the Beantown Sox the Rays now control their own destiny. And the sad part is, nobody in Tampa seems to care.

Monday night, starting the biggest series of the year, against the division rival, and champion Yankees, Tropicana Field held 18,772 people, or roughly 52% of what it can hold at capacity! (according to the espn box score).

Being transplanted down to Central Florida, and only an hour from Tampa, I have gotten to see many Ray game on local tv and it's almost comical, yet sad at the same time to see the stadium empty. Funny because you can see more blue seats than butts sitting in them, and I swear you can hear the echoes of the beer guy yelling "beer here" bouncing off the empty seats. But it is ultimately sad beyond belief that this team, which has battled it's way out of an almost impossible hole, has to go out and compete for a chance at the playoffs with nobody there to cheer. The fans of the Rays should be embarrassed! That is almost as bad as not selling out playoff games (cough, cough, Atlanta).

This is something the people of Cleveland would kill for. We got all jacked up because the Indians were "in the hunt" at the All-Star break! We got geeked when we brought back Jim Thome to bring back memories of the glory days of the mid-90's! The Rays are about to take down the mighty Red Sox, and their $160 million dollar payroll (to put it in perspective, the Rays 2011 payroll on opening day was $42 million)!

Maybe the worst part is that the Rays, should they make it into the playoffs, might have the best starting pitching out of any of the playoff teams! And as we saw last year with the San Francisco Giants, great pitching, and timely hitting can carry you to a championship...regardless if anyone is there to see it.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Just Win Baby

It was one of those games that you should win. At home, against a team that hadn't won a game yet, and traveling into a raucous environment. But for 55 minutes it looked like, well, something you would typically see out of a Cleveland football team.

It was one of those frustrating ones to watch. And it looked like opportunity slipping away from us. The defense had done it's part, playing twice as long as the oppositions defense, and giving the team a chance to win. But the offense, that's what was so frustrating, and it took a huge blow before the game even started. Peyton Hillis was sent home with strep throat a couple hours before the game started, and you could just hear the whispers swirling around this on, "it's the Madden curse." On top of that, the wide receivers were non existent for the first three quarters and Colt McCoy was struggling to get the offense going.

Down 16-10 late in the 4th quarter I felt myself getting that mad feeling knowing what could have been if the Browns would have played to their potential. Then even more angry realizing we were about to lose to a team that was 0-for-the-year, on our home turf. Embarrassing, no excuse, unacceptable, just some of the thoughts running through my mind. Then I took a deep breath, realized I am a Browns fan, and began to accept it.

When we got the ball back on our own 20-yard line with less than 3 minutes to go needing a touchdown to win, there was no reason to believe we could gain 80 yards in that amount of time with the way our offense had been playing.

But as I watched with those thoughts spiraling in my head, my speculation about Colt McCoy began to come to fruition. I liked the Browns decision to draft McCoy, despite the fact he was "undersized" an lacked the "prototypical" arm strength coming out of college, I liked him because he won. He left the University of Texas as the all time winningest quarterback in NCAA history.

Sunday, he proved that. He struggled, the receivers struggled, the whole offense struggled throughout the day. But, when it mattered most, when his team needed it the most, he rose up to the challenge, he took the pressure, and his team, and put it on his shoulders. His numbers at the end of the day weren't flattering: 19/39, 210 yards, 2 td, 1 int, 71.5 passer rating. But the one thing that trumps all of those statistics is Ws.

And rookie wide out Greg Little put it best after the game, "I think the greatest statistics in the league are wins and losses. I don't think Colt cares about his completion percentage. You win the game, so that's all our team cares about anyway. He just stayed composed and made a lot of good plays. He was just very vibrant and upbeat and you could see that pouring out of him in his eyes. He made it happen for us."

That look in his eyes? That is the look of a winner. Someone not afraid to be "the guy" with the ball in his hands with the game on the line. And for the first time in as long as I can remember, the Browns seem to have found that guy.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Just Sayin!

After a very solid start to the NFL week, we return to take on the second week of the NFL season.
Stephen and I eeked out a close one on our lock of the week with the Cardinals holding on in a red
zone stand to end the game. Both of our upset picks came in. Stephen was all over the Bills and they
dismantled the Chiefs. And even though I didn’t think Detroit deserved to be an underdog they still
handled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.

Here’s the picks for week 2 in the NFL

“Master” Lock of the Week:

BC: Pittsburg Steelers -15 vs. Seattle Seahawks – This has all the makings of being a nightmare for the Seahawks. Pittsburgh’s home opener, and they were just completely embarrassed by division rival
Baltimore in week one. I expect the Steelers to come out and dominate this game in every phase.
Warren Sapp chimed in and said the Steelers are washed up, here’s their chance to show the NFL that
last week was just a fluke and not how their season will go.

SB: Detroit -7.5 vs. Kansas City – Detroit=up and comers. Chiefs = down and outers. That Chiefs
meltdown was a little expected and I don’t see it turning around on the road in Detroit. Plus, Eric Berry being hurt means Calvin Johnson will get a few more looks down the field against SS Jon McGraw who has only 7 INT’s in 10 years. I know 7.5 is tough to swallow at first glance but I can see Detroit doing this one by 10+ easy.

Upset Special:

BC: Chicago +7 @ New Orleans – I think that quietly the Bears are one of the best teams in the NFC.
They just happen to play in the same division as the defending Super Bowl Champs. This game will be emotional. With the passing of Brian Urlacher’s mother earlier this week, and his emotional return to the team to play this Sunday, I could see this being one of those games where the Bears pull together with the emotional lift of their mourning leader and pull the upset.

SB: San Diego +6.5 @ New England – yes, yes, yes I too watched Dr. Brady perform surgery on the
Dolphins on Monday night. Top to bottom everything was clicking. If there is one team in the AFC that should be able to keep pace, however, I think it’s the Chargers. They did finish #1 in offense and defense last season, remember? And with no major adjustments in their roster or staff, it’s not difficult to think they will be able to regain that form and compete with the elite.

JUST SAYIN Game of the Week:

BC: Houston -3 @ Miami – Both teams’ offenses were scorching in week 1. The problem is, Miami’s
defense looked like a submarine with screen doors, allowing Tom Brady to throw for over 500 yards on them. In comes probably the next most explosive offense. Week 1 saw the Texans put up 34 points in their sleep against a “Peytonless” Colts team. This is Houston’s big chance. Every year they have fallen just short of the Colts, and this year they have already beat them, and have a chance to move to 2-0 on the year and assert themselves on top of the AFC South Division….Just sayin!

SB: Washington -3 vs. Arizona – Redskins giving 3 is looking pretty sexy. If a rookie quarterback (Cam Newton) can throw for over 400 yards in his first career start, Rex Grossman should do ok right? Just sayin…

Monday, September 12, 2011

That's Life....as a Browns Fan


Every season on Cleveland’s gridiron usually starts in the dumps. Whether it be lousy front office, or player injuries in preseason camps, and not to mention the fact we have to look up at the Steelers and Ravens all year. Ugh...
But this season seemed to have a little bit of momentum behind it. For one, we were all football starved for the length of the summer, so there was just general excitement to get the players back out on the field. Add in the fact that the Browns, until the last 5 games of the season, have a considerably light schedule, and a new coach who scores points is now manning the sidelines. The 2011 season seemed like a chance for the Brownies to make some noise from day 1.
We got to open up at home against a Cincinnati team starting a rookie QB and a rookie WR, and then catch an Indianapolis team that will bewithout the best quarterback in the NFL in week 2. I was getting giddy at the thought of my Brownies being 2-0 to start the team. For the first time in a long time the Browns were favored in their week 1 matchup, and not just favored because they were the home team, they were 7 point favorites over the Bengals.
I was brimming with excitement at my opportunity to see the Browns start the year off with a win for just the second time in thirteen years. And as the game continued on and the Browns clung to a 3 point lead, the defense had been making plays, Joe Haden looked every bit the part of a first round draft pick out there swatting balls, and our two rookie defensive lineman were holding their own. And then, in the fourth quarter, it happened…
Nothing new in the life of a Browns fan. Just another one of those, “that can only happen in Cleveland” type plays that you rarely see in football. The Bengals had broken the huddle early and rushed up to the line of scrimmage and somehow manage to snap the ball before the Browns could even get out of their defensive huddle. It resulted in the Bengals rookie wide receiver walking untouched into the end zone for the go ahead score. And just like that the game had slipped away. Bye- bye lead, good bye optimism, hello same old song and dance.
I still watch every game and root for the team to win, that will never change. The sad part is this team is actually a decent group, and they have a chance to win games this year. But Sunday the entire team, coaches, and players, were not prepared. You cannot win games committing 11 penalties, and you certainly cannot win games when your players are confused about the play call. The Bengals may have been sneaky about it, but you get a week to prepare for different personnel looks.
Oh well, there’s always next year, right?

Friday, September 9, 2011

Just Sayin! NFL Week 1

After a so-so start to ‘Just Sayin’ where my esteemed sidekick Stephen Brook, or @StevietyBebop as
some of you know him, was only able to get me one of his picks in time, he now joins us for a full week of his picks. So without further adieu, let’s get to it.

We will make picks for week 2 of the NCAA games, and week 1 of the NFL.

NCAA:

Our “Master” (they aren't really have a sponsor but it would be cool if they were) Lock of the week:

BC: Stanford -21.5 @ Duke – Sticking firm with my lock of the week from last week. Stanford is a team that has the Heisman Trophy favorite, just put up 50+ in week one, and goes to the football powerhouse of Duke in week 2? Chalk up 50 more points, unless they get confused and think they are playing basketball.

SB: Agree with above. Stanford is giving three touchdowns to a team that just lost a close one in a
heated battle with the, wait for it, RICHMOND SPIDERS…..

UPSET Alert:

BC: ND -3.5 @ Michigan – Ok, yes, I hate Michigan. But I am still not sure how they are three and half point dogs, at home, to a team coming off a bad loss at home to a CUSA team. Notre Lame is switching quarterbacks, switching jerseys, but it seems like they need to flip a switch and come out of the dark ages, they look two steps slower than every team they play. Oh, and Denard Robinson has the ability to score, anywhere on the field, and its UM’s first night game in 85+ years. No way are they losing at home.

SB: Did not pick...

"JUST SAYIN" game of the week:

BC: TCU -2 @ Air Force: TCU was all the rage last year, especially after beating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. After getting spanked through the air against Baylor they have to go face the ground cavalry this week against the Air Force (I know, I know ground attack by the Air Force?). This seems like TCU should be able to handle the Falcons, but their last two trips to Air Force? 2009 – Three point win 2007-overtime loss. Could TCU start the year 0-2? Just Sayin…

SB: Alabama -9.5 @ Penn State: All this talk about the new quarterbacks for the Tide, but they are still the #2 team in the Nation! And that defense! Just don’t see this one going well for the Lions offense (Sorry Zack).

NFL:

Lock of the week:

BC: Carolina +7 @ Arizona – it was hard to find a lock of the week in week 1. But I will go with the
Cardinals at home. Yes they have a new quarterback, but they still have Larry Fitzgerald. Oh yea, and
Carolina is starting a rookie quarterback.

SB: Carolina +7 @ Arizona – Arizona is going to blow out Carolina, especially since Newton can’t
complete a pass to a wide receiver with no one in his face. The Cardinals are going to blitz Newton all day long. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Larry Fitzgerald will be effortlessly embarrassing DB’s with his one-handed-eyes-closed-behind-the-back-barrel-roll catches in traffic.

Upset Special:

BC: Detroit +1 @ Tampa Bay – Did any team impress more than the Lions based on their draft and the preseason? I say no. Matthew Stafford appears to have “figured it out,” now all he has to do is stay healthy. And I said last season that Detroit’s D Line was legit, and then they go out and add Nick Fairly to go with Suh and Vanden Bosch. Once Fairly gets healthy enough to play that is a stout interior line. Tampa Bay overachieved last year, and it can be difficult for a team that has a “better than expected season” to come back and duplicate it. Detroit is a road dog, but I like them in this one.

SB: Buffalo +6 @ Kansas City – Why not? I think not only will they cover; they might actually pull
this thing out. The Bills have some weapons, and I really like C.J. Spiller this year, and KC is very very overrated, with the exception of the LSU players on its roster of course…

JUST SAYIN game of the week:

BC: Philadelphia -5.5 @ St. Louis – I’ve heard all the talk about the ‘Dream Team’ and the group of “All-Stars” that the Eagles have together. Prove it. I don’t think this team will click right off the bat. And their offense line is one of the worst in the NFL, the only reason statistically it doesn’t show is because Mike Vick bails them out more often than he get’s sacked. No one has talked about a Rams team that almost made the playoffs last year. And they just might catch the Eagles at the right time. I’ll take the Rams, at home, just sayin…

SB: Tennessee +3 @ Jacksonville – I think this is actually a game the Titans can win. Low scoring, figure to favor the Titans with lead foot Bironas kicking field goals from 50+ yards out. Oh, and the Jaguars just cut their starting QB 5 days before the opener! McCown was behind Blaine Gabbert two weeks ago, and now he’s the starter, just sayin….

There you have it...NCAA week 2/NFL week 1 picks are in the books...Like something else? Let us know who you like and why! We may just use you for our next piece! Good Luck!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Just Sayin!

Now that football is back, this "Just Sayin" segment will be a weekly recurrence. I will preface this post with how "Just Sayin" came about. While working in the restaurant industry my friend Stevie Beebop and I would analyze college and pro football lines, and come up with our picks for the weekend. We always wanted to have a youtube show called "Just Sayin" where we ran through our weekly picks. So, this is as close as we have gotten.

Week one of the college football game usually pits powerhouse against cupcake. However, this year there are a few intriguing match-ups.

Here are my picks for this weekend:

Friday:
TCU -4 @ Baylor: The #14 ranked Horned Frogs lost a lot from a talent laden group that won last year's Rose Bowl, and Baylor boasts one of the best UNknown quarterbacks in the nation in Robert Griffin III. Baylor hangs tough, but falls to a young and improving TCU.

Saturday:
Akron +32 @ Ohio State: Obviously you know who I am going to pick to win. But the Bucks won't cover this spread. A new quarterback (or two) could play for the Buckeyes, who will rely heavily on their running game. And a green and young D will show their youth. Ohio State wins new head coach Luke Fickell's debut, but I will take Akron to cover the spread.

UPSET SPECIAL:
UCLA +3 @ Houston: I normally never like to go for a team that is coming from the west coast. However, UCLA isn't making the trek all the way to the east coast, just to the central time zone. This is a big year for coach Rick Neuheisel, and he has his Bruins ready for the opener on the road.

LOCK of the WEEK:
San Jose State +29 @ Stanford: San Jose State would probably be happy if the NCAA called them and said we are just going to mark you down for a loss by 40. Andrew Luck the pre-season Heisman trophy favorite might throw for 500 yards. Stanford wins this easily, probably by 50.

JUST SAYIN':
Boise State -3 vs Georgia: All this talk about Boise State being a National Championship contender might not get past week one if the Blue Broncos think they are walking into the Georgia Dome with an easy contest. It's not "between the hedges" but this game is practically a home game for the Dawgs. However, UGA is starting a true freshman running back with little depth behind him. Boise State has to watch out, but they should get this victory. Boise State's QB, Kellen Moore? Oh yea, he had a 182.6 passer rating last year, just sayin!

Stevie Bebop: Although he is a homer to LSU decides to take Oregon in the featured match-up of the weekend. #3 Oregon and #5 LSU battle in Dallas to open the season. Oregon returns a ton of talent on offense from a team that nearly won the National Championship last year. Unless this game turns into one of those knock down, drag outside, bar fight, he's going with Oregon, just sayin! (What, too soon?)