Players and coaches trade colors quickly..... - 12/6/13

There's been lots of moving and shaking in the world of sports this week. So let's get right into it.

1. Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury goes for the pinstripes.....This move doesn't shock me much. The Red Sox under GM Ben Cherington have moved away from the strategy of matching the Yankees dollar for dollar. Being a bit more judicious with their money, shedding onerous contracts (Beckett, Crawford, Gonzalez), and finding complimentary pieces to surround and guide a strong core brought the Sox a World Series Title this year. Coming off a championship, there is no real reason for the Sox to panic. Their formula has proven to be a winning one and they have talented young players like Jackie Bradley Jr. in the outfield and Xander Bogaerts in the infield waiting for their opportunity to shine. They also still have a wealth of pitching from which they could make a deal should they see fit to do so.

This is not meant to downplay Ellsbury's contributions at all. He is an individual who I have been a big fan since he played college ball at Oregon State. He has played through injuries, established himself a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder, and continues to steal bases and a high rate. I believe that the 7-year, $153 million deal he signed with Yankees is not as outrageous as it initially appears. As long as he doesn't allow all the outside issues that come with being a Yankee get in his way, I believe that Ellsbury will live up to this contract. This also doesn't have the amount of emotion that Johnny Damon's Boston departure had. From an outsider's point of view it appeared that Damon had an endless reservoir of goodwill with the fan base and was certainly never labeled soft. It appeared that Ellsbury was not fully loved or appreciated by the fan base. While Damon's departure was met with t-shirts that read "Looks Like Jesus, Throws Like Mary, Acts Like Judas," I don't see anywhere near that type of outrage over Ellsbury's departure. I'm sure the Sox brass and their fans would've liked to have seen Ellsbury end up anywhere else but this is a business after all.

2. Steve Sarkisian bolts Washington to take the head coaching job at USC.....Sarkisian took over at "U-Dub" in 2009, after the Huskies bottomed out in the post-Don James era, going 0-12 in 2008. Sarkisian brought the program back to a level of respectability, going 34-29 (24-21 in Pac-12 play) over five seasons in Seattle. It's a homecoming of sorts for Sarkisian as he spent seven seasons as an assistant under Pete Carroll at USC. During his two seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, the Trojans were 22-3. This looks like a great hire on many fronts...but then again, the Lane Kiffin hire a few years back looked eerily similar in terms of a former assistant from the Pete Carroll glory days returning to the "Land of Troy" to bring USC back to national prominence. Then again, Kiffin had no track record of head coaching success, bottoming out after a year and a half with the Oakland Raiders and a season at Tennessee. The optimists will point to that fact: Sarkisian has a decent record as a head coach, has won a bowl game (2010 Holiday Bowl), and hasn't accumulated any NCAA violations at his program. But there are detractors out there...and they are vocal.

Sarkisian had many critics in Washington, saying he couldn't the program over the hump and up to the next level. Washington has gone all-in, renovating Husky Stadium to the tune of $281 million and building a brand-new, state-of-the-art 83,000 square foot facility. But Sarkisian finally broke the seven-win barrier after three years in neutral and was never able to get the best of northern rivals Oregon and Stanford. His teams have also lost in the Alamo Bowl (shootout against RGIII & Baylor) and the Maaco (artist formerly known as Las Vegas) Bowl the past two Decembers. Sarkisian also won't bring along the culture change and shock value that Ed Orgeron installed into the program after taking over for Kiffin. USC didn't lose to UCLA because of Orgeron. They lost because they have barely 60 scholarship players and Jim Mora Jr. has done an incredible job bringing it all together at UCLA. I'm not saying the Trojans should've hired Orgeron either. I don't think that would've necessarily been a slam dunk. But I do believe that his 6-2 run as interim head coach underscored the need for a breath of fresh air. Revisiting glory days is always nice but the jury is still out on whether Sarkisian has what it takes to push USC back into the national title picture as their NCAA sanctions finally end.

3. Washington hits the jackpot and hires Chris Petersen as its new football coach.....This is a move that I never thought I would see. Petersen was very happy at Boise State. His family was very happy with their way of life there. Petersen was also wildly successful. His 92-12 record at Boise makes him the winningest active head coach in Division 1-A (Sorry, I refuse to call it FBS.) football. He went to a bowl game at the end of every season of his Boise State tenure, including two trips to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Petersen is also the only coach to ever win the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year Award twice (2006 and 2009). Boise just put millions of dollars into its football facilities. Boise also has equal access to the new College Football Playoff as the Mountain West made enough of an impact to gain a bit of a national profile. Petersen was comfortable and wildly successful. He has turned down lucrative offers from Stanford, Penn State, and USC among others. But apparently, after sleeping on it and consulting with his wife and children, he felt this was the right time to move. According to several sources, Petersen and his family really like the vibe and way of life in the Pacific Northwest. Petersen is also reported to have said that Washington is a better fit for the way he runs his football program. Case in point, in addition to all of his wins, Petersen's Boise State squad has the second-highest APR (academic progress rate) in Division 1-A. Only Northwestern does a better job of graduating its players.

Petersen and Washington seem like a perfect fit. Petersen is a winner and Washington needs to take that next step. They're also a match for Petersen on a personal level as his family is comfortable with the move and Washington has a feverish fan base and a rising program in a major but not enormous metropolitan market. This was the type of splashy hire that we all thought USC could have made. Some believe it's the hire that USC should've made. My hat goes off to Washington. I never thought Petersen would ever leave Boise. I understand that it's all a business but it still saddens me a bit that he departed. It's a great move and I have enjoyed watching "U-Dub" for quite some time. But a part of me is sad as I love watching great college football coaches stay put and remain a constant in the turbulent lives of many young collegians. I also thought Petersen, Gary Patterson (TCU), Mark Richt (Georgia), and Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern) would never leave. With Petersen now crossed off the list, I suppose I'll have to add Gary Pinkel, who just recently denied any interest in the Washington job and pledged his allegiance to Missouri.

4. Robinson Cano signs a 10-year, $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.....I'll start with a brief note about the money. Only Alex Rodriguez (with both Texas & New York) has signed a bigger contract. Albert Pujols signed for the same amount with the Angels. This whole thing is a bit hard to fathom. We knew the Yankees wouldn't go over $200 million and I don't believe they should have either. But who could've seen Seattle coming? Seattle has spent years nickel and diming, picking up utility players and spare parts to put around promising prospect and "King" Felix Hernandez. The Mariners have ultimately paid for that approach with dwindling attendance numbers and a lack of wins. Now the Mariners have to overcommit and overpay to make a splash.

There's no denying that Cano is likely the best second baseman in the game right now but was he worth a 10-year commitment? Cano will be 32 next season. That means the last 2-3 years of his deal, he'll be collecting big paychecks in his forties. I'm sure the Yankees had no interest in doing that again. Cano's numbers are spectacular, especially when you consider he had no protection in the Yankee lineup for much of last season. But one has to wonder if the M's are paying for what Cano has done as opposed to what he will actually do for them. Every time we see players sign these megadeals, performance seems to dip almost immediately. Besides, the Yankees just picked up Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury and still need pitching...desperately. The Mariners and their fans are probably pretty pumped but, just like the Yankees, the Mariners still have a whole lot of holes to fill.

5. The United States gets a miserable World Cup draw.....Over the last four years, excitement over soccer in America has grown in ridiculously large and unquantifiable ways. Nearly all MLS teams have their own, soccer-specific stadiums. Half of the MLS clubs had better attendance figures than over a third of the clubs in Major League Baseball. The NBC Sports Network paid an absolute fortune for the rights to broadcast the Barclays Premier League and has centered its entire network around that and the National Hockey League. Fox paid a hefty price to take the World Cup rights away from ESPN/ABC. The only thing missing a deep run in the World Cup. 2002 seems like forever ago and even though 2010's performance was admirable, fans want more. Things have been looking up under Jurgen Klinsmann. And now we find out that the Americans are in a World Cup group with Germany, Ghana, and Portugal. Germany is currently ranked second in the world by FIFA and Portugal is fifth. Ghana may be 24th (the Americans are 14th) but given the US fits, beating them in the last two World Cups. As if the competition wasn't tough enough, the US will log 9,000 travel miles around Brazil to get to the sites of their three group contests. I know there are some that may think this year's "Group of Death" is Spain, Netherlands, Chile, and Australia but the group the US is in is the only group in which all four squads advanced to the knockout round of the previous World Cup. I'm sure I'll have more on this as the World Cup gets closer but I'll stop here for now.

Random wrestling thought of the post: The Rock has a lot of entertaining promos but his riff before Armageddon (and the 6-man Hell in a Cell Match) in 2000 was classic. Click and enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k_QYTaWe14

Final thought: On Wednesday night I got to once again enjoy my favorite perk as a New Jersey Devils season-ticket holder: the opportunity to watch warmups from the penalty box. It's always great to be close to the action. Hockey players tend to be unappreciated in the US for the amazing athletes they are. I got lots of great photos and had a great time as always. Here's a few to hold you over until next time.

- Meech

Relentless Pursuit of the Footbal... - 12/1/13

1. Before I get into the bits and pieces, I want to start by highlighting last night's Texas A&M/Missouri game. As I watched Missouri battle back and hang on for a 28-21 win (clinching the SEC East in the process), I was taken aback by their defense. I wasn't shocked by the amount of yards or points they surrendered...or the amount of three and outs...or their third-down conversion percentage. Whenever the Tigers made a tackle, there were regularly three or four Mizzou defenders surrounding the football. I know there are many things to admire about defensive football, but there's something absolutely scintillating about teams that relentlessly pursue the football. Big hits are great but when offensive players are constantly getting "gang tackled," it grinds them down that much more. A player can recover from one or two big hits. Taking hits from three or four defenders eveyr single time you touch the ball gets old fast. It's almost demoralizing to an offense. Defenses that swarm the football play with tremendous energy. They want to hit. They want to make big plays. They want to give the ball back to their offense as quickly as possible. Simply, they enjoy playing the game of football. In this era of unprecedented offense, it's refreshing to watch teams that want to play defense. I read an article a few years back in American Football Monthly discussing the three daily drills Missouri incorporates into their defensive practices. Pursuing the football is an organizational philosophy. It's something that has to be preached through every portion of the squad. It's a mindset that puts team above individual. And when it's done right, it's glorious to behold.

2. Another note about the A&M/Mizzou game: It's strange to think that in a span of just 20 years, this game went from a battle of Southwest Conference vs. The Big 8 to a Big XII Conference game to an SEC showdown. Gotta love that NCAA conference chaos.

3. I'm not sure there's anything left to say or write about the wild finish to the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn. The last-second missed-FG TD return is a play that will live on forever in Iron Bowl lore. You have to give Gus Malzahn and his Auburn Tigers credit. This is a squad that went 0-8 in SEC play last season. There's also a lot of grumbling about Alabama head coach Nick Saban making a few poor decisions. I would agree that there were a few questionable decisions (mostly involving the kicking game), but any talk about Saban falling down a few rungs on the ladder is absolutely ridiculous. Alabama is still a premier program, still the 2-time defending BCS National Champion, and Saban is still the best coach in college football...period.

4. Speaking of college football coaches, it appears that Ed Orgeron has no chance at losing the "interim" tag at USC. Many names have been floated throughout the last week or so. Among them have been current Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin and current Boise State coach Chris Petersen. Petersen's name comes up whenever there is a high-profile coaching vacancy. Boise State is 92-12 with five conference titles in Petersen's eight years as head coach. His .885 winning percentage is tops among all active head coaches with at least 100 games under their belt. I know Petersen is a SoCal native and has plenty of experience recruiting the Los Angeles area but I still have a hard time believing he'll ever leave Boise. They just invested millions into a new state-of-the-art football facility and the Mountain West now has equal access (just like the power conferences) to the upcoming College Football Playoff. What is his motivation to leave? As for Franklin, this one is interesting. What he has done at Vanderbilt is nothing short of a miracle. He followed up a 9-4 campaign last year with an 8-4 finish this year. Vandy will be bowling once again and has gone 9-7 in SEC play over the last two seasons. Did you ever think that could happen in Nashville?? I'm not sure if Vandy's stock can rise any higher playing against all those big state universities/football factories that populate the SEC so the idea of Franklin jumping ship is plausible. With scholarship sanctions being lifted and recruiting season fast approaching, USC will be looking to act quickly so let's keep a close eye on this one.

5. Another college football miracle presents itself in the form of the Duke Blue Devils. Duke will take on Florida State in the ACC Championship Game after winning the Coastal Division for the first time in school history. The Blue Devils have won 10 games in a season for the first time in school history. Duke achieved another first as they will be making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time ever. Duke is ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 1994. They scored two wins versus ranked opponents for the first time since 1989. They've won eight straight games for the first time since 1941. If Duke pulls off the near-impossible and defeats Florida State, it would be Duke's first ACC Title since 1989, two years before Florida State joined the league.

6. How about the pulsating finish by Syracuse on Saturday, defeating Boston College in the final seconds at the Carrier Dome to ensure a .500 season (6-6) and bowl eligibility. Terrel Hunt hit tight end Josh Parris for an 8-yard TD pass with just six seconds remaining. The 'Cuse should be going bowling for the third time in four seasons, something that hasn't happened since '98-'01 (something I also highlighted in a previous post). Kudos to first-year head coach Scott Shafer for keeping it together in the Orange's inaugural ACC season. I'm pretty sure if you asked anyone at the beginning of the year if they thought Syracuse could win six games, including four in ACC play, most people would've said "no chance." At 6-6 (4-4 in the ACC), the 'Cuse should be going to one of the ACC's lower-tier bowl tie-ins. But a bowl game is a bowl game and will help recruiting tremendously.

7. It's college basketball season!!! And my alma mater is off to a strong start, winning the Maui Invitational with a 74-67 defeat of #18 Baylor. Senior C.J. Fair looks to lead the Orange to big things in their inaugural ACC season. Business picks up again for the Orange on Tuesday as Indiana comes to the Carrier Dome in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

8. I just want to take a moment to continue my driving of the Jaromir Jagr bandwagon. The 41-year-old Jagr has been an ageless wonder, leading the team in scoring with 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) and averaging 18:35 in ice time while skating in all 27 contests thus far for Jersey's Team. I can also tell you that I have gone absolutely insane after each of his goals. I am soaking in every moment of having an NHL icon playing for my team. After a very rough start, the Devils are starting to right the ship. The goaltending tandem of Martin Brodeur and Cory Schneider has been strong as both have a GAA under 2.20. A big home-and-home with Montreal highlights an interesting week for the Devils as Detroit also visits Newark on Friday night.

9. I've spent parts of several posts discussing Daniel Alfredsson and his controversial departure from Ottawa after 17 seasons (14 as captain). "Alfie" made his long-awaited return to Ottawa today as the Detroit Red Wings took on the Senators in an Atlantic Division matchup. Thinking about our franchise cornerstones (Brodeur, Elias, Daneyko, Stevens, Niedermayer) and having been fortunate enough myself to chant "Alfie" in Ottawa during the playoffs, I can understand the emotion those fans were feeling at the Canadian Tire Center earlier today. Ottawa put together a very classy video tribute. Here's the link if you're interested, courtesy of YouTube user xXxCrosby87Xx and the NHL on TSN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpCYKdW0vIA

10. Random wrestling thought of the post: What ever happened to Taka Michinoku? He was an established wrestler in the WWE in the mid-to-late '90s, reigning as WWE Light Heavyweight Champion and the leader of Kaientai. Maybe his career went downhill after Kaientai's ill-fated feud with Val Venis.

That'll do it for now. Until next time.

-Meech

Epic Failure, Inertia, Absolute Ridiculousness, and More - 10/9/13

1. As I sit here right now, the New York Football Giants are 0-5, have committed 20 turnovers, given up 182 points, and are somehow just two games out of first place in the not-so-hot NFC East. I did not have high expectations for this team coming into the season, but not in my wildest dreams could I have seen this coming. I don't know what's worse: the fact that they are 0-5 or the way they have conducted themselves on the field. Last Sunday's game against Philadelphia was the first time all season I saw some fight and a glimmer of hope. The G-Men committed six turnovers in the opener at Dallas. Then I was at MetLife to watch Peyton Manning dissect the club in its home opener. Seven sacks and double-digit plays for zero or negative yardage against Carolina. Follow all that with a lifeless effort in Kansas City. Then, there was Philly. Up 22-21 late, it looked like the Giants had a chance to put one in the win column...except for the "Eli Implosion."

Three interceptions in a span of nine throws (coupled with three intentional grounding penalties) sends the Giants reeling to a fifth straight defeat. Eli is having a rough season to say the least. He's thrown for 1,482 yards, which is nice. However, he's completed just 53.7% of his passes and thrown just 8 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. When people look at those numbers and his recent fourth-quarter performances, many start to jump on the whole "Eli isn't that good" bandwagon. It's well-known that I've never been the biggest Eli supporter but I'm not putting this all on him. The offensive line is not what it used to be as Eli has already been sacked 15 times. Chris Snee is done for the year. David Diehl is a shell of himself. Justin Pugh is solid but still just a rookie. There is no running game. I never thought I would write these words but here they are: The Giants are DEAD LAST in the NFL, averaging just 56.8 rushing yards per game (In another crazy reality, Pittsburgh is barely above them, averaging 58.0 rushing yards per game.). When teams know you're throwing the football, they can adjust their schemes and make Eli's life miserable. Plus, with no semblance of a running game, he is forced to do way too much. It's highly likely that Eli is forcing throws into coverage and trying to make up large chunks of yardage quickly through the passing game, making mistakes he hasn't made since his rookie year.

Don't leave the defense out of this discussion. The Giants defense is filled with great names: Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Antrel Rolle to name a few. I see two issues. One is that none of those names is playing up to his full ability and/or potential. Two is that none of those names play linebacker. The linebacking core has been a land of misfit toys for the last several seasons. The incredible pass rush up front and ball-hawking secondary play of Rolle and Stevie Brown have covered up for a lot of that. Brown is out for the year. Pierre-Paul is barely healthy. Tuck is a non-factor. The linebackers are simply being exposed. The Giants do not have the dominating, reliable linebacking corps they used to have. I don't go too crazy over the amount of yards a defense gives up. While I love to see defenses give up 150-300 yards a game, that (in many cases) is simply no longer a realistic goal in this era of offensive football where no-huddle rules the day and quarterbacks and receivers are protected at all costs. Case in point, the Denver Broncos allow 416.6 yards per game but are 5-0. The numbers that matter are turnover differential and points allowed. I believe those two numbers are the greatest barometer of defensive success with third down percentage very close as well. The Giants are DEAD LAST in the NFL, allowing 36.4 points per game. If you really want to be taken aback, there's this nugget. The Giants have a -13 turnover differential, giving the ball away 20 times. The team with the next most giveaways (Jacksonville) has only given it away 12 times, a full eight giveaways less. Opponents have also converted 49.4% of their third down opportunities against the Giants. I know there's still 11 games left and the rest of the NFC East hasn't exactly impressed either but numbers like this don't lie and they don't turn around overnight. The misery very well could continue with the short week...and a Thursday night visit to Chicago.

2. Jersey's Team was very busy this offseason. I have chronicled those moves on several occasions so I won't list them all again. There was a lot of backlash over some of the moves that were made. Through four games this season, most of those moves look pretty good. Damien Brunner, Michael Ryder, and the ageless Jaromir Jagr have all scored goals. Cory Schneider hasn't blown anyone away just yet but he has been steady in his two starts in goal. Ryane Clowe hasn't broken though quite yet but he has played well. The bigger concern is on the defensive end. Multiple breakdowns in the neutral zone have contributed to the club blowing leads in three of its first four games. The Devils had 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 leads in the home opener against the Islanders and fell 4-3 in a shootout. Then the Devils had a 3-0 lead against the Oilers, fell behind 4-3, rallied to force overtime, then lost in a shootout 5-4. Finally, a 2-0 lead against the Canucks evaporated and ended in a 3-2 overtime defeat. An 0-1-3 record does not look too good right now but it's early and there's lot of hockey left to be played. The Devils are still trying to mesh all these new parts together and building team chemistry takes time, plain and simple. I believe it will come together and I will be celebrating with the rest of the Devils Army soon enough.

A quick note about Jagr. In my July 29th column, I wrote the following:

"There has been a lot of local outrage of the signing of Jaromir Jagr by the New Jersey Devils. I'm not on the Jagr bandwagon but I'm not going to lambast this move either. I believe that Jagr can contribute positively to Jersey's Team and as long as fans understand that Jagr, while still an effective player at 41 years old isn't the Jagr of old, then expectations can be tempered and perhaps people will actually enjoy his stint in a Devils uniform. I believe any sports fan would love to see an icon of sport play for his/her team and that's how I'm going to look at this. Jagr is an NHL icon (like it or not) and it will be interesting to see him in a Devils jersey. Plus, unlike many stars at the twilight of their careers, Jagr still has some talent left to be a positive addition."

Let me just say that I was tempering my own excitement at that point. I am firmly planted on the Jagr bandwagon and am thoroughly enjoying watching an NHL icon play for Jersey's Team! I'm also pleased to say that I did indeed buy a red #68 Jagr t-shirt at "The Rock" on Friday night after the home opener. He still isn't what he was during his free-flowing mullet heyday but he's still got great hands and puckhandling skills. I believe he will continue to be a positive contributor to the club so why not just go all in and enjoy his time with the team.

3. I have one quick thought on the Philadelphia Flyers firing head coach Peter Laviolette just three games into the season. Perhaps his message wasn't getting through to the players but I don't agree with this move at all. Laviolette is a very good hockey coach and have no doubt he'll be on the shortlist of every team that fires its coach either during or after this season. The Flyers have a lot of problems. They still haven't recovered on the blue line since the injury-forced retirement of the stalwart Chris Pronger. Trading away Mike Richards & Jeff Carter hasn't worked out quite as well as they hoped because youngsters Matt Read, Sean Couturier, and Brayden Schenn haven't developed as quickly as the club would've liked. There's still time for these players to put it all together but that doesn't help a team like the Flyers when the "win now" mandate is constantly hanging over the club. You have to believe that GM Paul Holmgren is next in line to go...especially with favorite son Ron Hextall coming over from Los Angeles to serve as assistant GM.

4. At 2-3, my alma mater, the Syracuse Orange, is actually sitting right where we all figured they would be. Losses to favored Penn State, Northwestern, and Clemson combined with wins over Wagner and Tulane have sent the Orange into the meat of their ACC schedule with a legitimate chance to go bowling. The rest of the schedule for the 'Cuse play out like this: at North Carolina State; at Georgia Tech; vs. Wake Forest; at Maryland; at Florida State; vs. Pittsburgh; vs. Boston College. Save for that tilt in Tallahassee against #6 Florida State, there's no reason the Orange can't win the majority of those games. If you take Florida State out of the equation, the other six teams remaining on the schedule are a combined 19-11 at the moment, including wins over Elon, Old Dominion, and Presbyterian. That's not exactly the most imposing obstacle. If the Orange can take four of those games, it'll be 6-6 and likely go bowling for the third time in the last four seasons, something the Orange hasn't done since the late '90s when they went to the Orange Bowl after the '98 season, the Music City Bowl after the '99 season, and capped it off with a trip to the Insight Bowl after the '01 season. So things are actually still looking good for Syracuse. As for the lack of orange in the uniforms...we won't even go there.

5. I know there are some out there who aren't happy with the extra wild card in Major League Baseball but you have to admit that it was very exciting this season. The chance to see the Pittsburgh Pirates host a postseason game for the first time since 1992 was nothing short of amazing. The Tampa Bay Rays had to win not one, but two play-in games, defeating both Texas and Cleveland before getting to the Division Series to play Boston. I'm also hoping this is the year the Oakland A's finally get back to the League Championship Series. I've always enjoyed watching them succeed despite constantly turning their roster over. It's amazing how they just keep defying the odds and winning lots of baseball games in the process.

6. A few more college football pieces because you know that my posts are always littered with college football and New Jersey Devils information. Wouldn't it be great if Baylor goes into its showdown with Oklahoma at 7-0? Can anybody slow that Baylor offense down as they're currently averaging 70 points a game? When will people start to give Kliff Kingsbury some credit for the great job he's done at Texas Tech? Perhaps when he's 7-0 going to his team's game against Oklahoma? Can Washington really give Oregon a run for their money this weekend? Or will we have to wait for the next Oregon/Stanford showdown? How come no one is talking about the fact that the SEC doesn't look invincible this year? Will Ohio State run the table again? Can Rutgers go to a BCS bowl in its final chance in the American/Artist Formerly Known as the Big East? Will Mack Brown make it through the rest of the season if the Longhorns fail to beat Oklahoma again?

Until next time.

- Meech

The Circus Is Back In Town..... - 8/28/13

As a New York Giants fan, I have never been particularly concerned about the presence or general existence of the New York Jets. Just as most Yankee fans feel about the Mets, the Jets are just there and for eight games a year MetLife Stadium turns green. Otherwise, they really don't affect me in any way. Lately, though, it's been pretty hard to ignore just how ridiculous the franchise's act is at this point.

Throughout head coach Rex Ryan's run the Jets have been the picture next to the term "media circus" in the sporting lexicon. The circus was wildly successful early with back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game in the 2009 & 2010 seasons. Then the wheels came off the bus. GM Mike Tannenbaum and Ryan allowed several key locker rooms guys walk away and the chemistry that carried the Jets in 2009 & 2010 suddenly evaporated. Football is a bit different than other sports. The team dynamic is so important to the daily function of a football team that I believe it cannot be overstated. Letting guys like Tony Richardson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jerricho Cotchery, and Shaun Ellis go makes sense from an age and declining talent perspective. But the Jets failed to replace their veteran savvy and locker room presence. What has followed since has been a disaster to say the least.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez has been a turnover machine. There's no consistent running game. Receiver Santonio Holmes hasn't been healthy. All-Pro corner Darrelle Revis held out, came back, got hurt, and was shipped to Tampa. Ryan favorite Jim Leonhard got hurt and was then released. The vaunted Ryan defense was hemorrhaging points. Special Teams guru Mike Westhoff retired and promptly ripped the organization. The Rex Ryan tattoo scandal popped up. There was the Tim Tebow fiasco...the Brian Schottenheimer fiasco...the Tony Sparano fiasco...you get the picture.

Tannenbaum was fired over the offseason. Former Seattle Seahawks' salary cap guru John Idzik was hired as the new general manager. Tim Tebow was set to be released. It looked like things were actually moving in a fairly positive direction for the Jets. And then, of course, owner Woody Johnson and company found a way to screw it all up. They denied that they wanted to trade Revis and then sent him to Tampa Bay where he signed a non-guaranteed contract. Instead of cutting Tebow immediately, they foolishly thought somebody would trade for him before finally cutting ties with the embattled former Florida Gator. Then there was the signing of quarterback David Garrard and the drafting of quarterback Geno Smith. Then, on top of that, the Jets announce that Idzik will have a say in naming the starting quarterback. This was a very public undermining of Ryan's authority. He was already a lame-duck coach with his contract situation but to publicly undercut him like that sends a terrible message to the locker room. If the front office doesn't trust Ryan, then why are they letting him hang around? What are the feelings of the front office towards others in the locker room or coaches' office? Will players even want to play for Ryan at this point? The Jets have also done a masterful, as in masterfully awful, job of handling the Sanchez/Smith quarterback competition. Oh, did I forget to mention that Garrard, who hadn't played in a game in nearly two years because of chronic knee issues, retired because of those same issues? Smith practices and plays on a badly sprained ankle when he should've rested for a few days of camp. Sanchez then plays in garbage time of a meaningless preseason game and hurts his shoulder. When you add in the way Ryan addresses the media afterwards, it's hard to tell which quarterback the Jets want to see take the job (or fail miserably) more.

I'm not a big Rex Ryan fan but I do feel for the guy a bit. It's hard enough to be a head coach at any level, much less in the NFL. And while he has screwed himself on quite a few occasions, I still think he's getting a bit of a raw deal from Idzik and the Jets' front office. Idzik has not spoken with the media during training camp, leaving Ryan to fend for himself and answer questions of which he is not the sole decision-maker. The more I look at this, I think back to Bill Parcells commenting on how if you want the coach to cook the meal you should at least let him shop for the groceries. It looks like we have the inverse going on here. Idzik shops for the groceries and wants a say in how the meal is cooked. Johnson is giving him that and then some. I will be stunned if Ryan makes it through the season as the head coach. He looks embattled and completely defenseless at times during his media sessions. That's something I never thought I'd see after all the bluster he's spewed from the podium over the course of his career. It looks like this circus is still going strong but I don't believe Ryan is the ringmaster anymore.

Speaking of things going south for New York/New Jersey sports franchises, the New York Mets suffered another setback when star pitcher Matt Harvey partially tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Harvey recently tweeted that he would be back April 1 next year, bypassing Tommy John surgery. Naturally, GM Sandy Alderson has said that no actual decision has been made and they're waiting on another MRI before making any decisions. Things just seem to keep going downhill. Every time a glimmer of hope appears, that light gets snuffed out at Citi Field. The Mets also finally completely threw in the towel on this season, trading John Buck & Marlon Byrd to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a prospect.

My WWE Summerslam prediction was pretty solid. While Ric Flair didn't make an appearance, Triple H did provide the assist to Randy Orton, making Orton a 10-time WWE Champion. Now, Triple H is touting Orton as the face of the company. How many chances does Orton get to be the face of the company? With John Cena out for the next 4-6 months rehabbing his torn triceps, Daniel Bryan has an opportunity to take center stage. It looks like he's getting the big face treatment with the way Triple H has been abusing him the last couple of weeks. But I still can't get past the fact that Orton is once again being pushed as the face of the company. He's got two strikes on the wellness policy and has been the subject of countless backstage rumors and frustrations over his decade with the company. It seems like when Trips isn't babysitting Orton, he's not doing much. Trips watched over him in Evolution then sent him to Smackdown where The Undertaker could take care of him. After that feud and a few shoulder injuries, Orton found himself right back on RAW with Trips. Orton then fell of the wellness wagon but he's got Trips watching out for him once more. Hopefully, Bryan can make his mark and Orton doesn't bury him. At least RVD will be getting a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity at Night of Champions.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been highly entertaining on Hard Knocks. They have been very open with the film crews and have quite the cast of characters, both players and coaches.

NBC's coverage of the Barclays Premier League is off to a great start. I'm loving the On Demand feature in which they allow you to replay the week's matches. I have been able to watch Tottenham's first two contests On Demand and not miss a beat!

One last note, if you can, give my friend Leo's blog on The Hockey Writers a read. It's some great stuff as he does a tremendous job covering the Albany Devils, the AHL affiliate of Jersey's Team. You can check it out here: http://thehockeywriters.com/albany-devils-day-jerseys-team-2012-13-highlights/

Until next time.

RG3 vs. McNabb vs. Shanahan and more on "Alfie"..... - 8/17/13

I feel like I've been living in a Washington Redskins/RG3 vacuum the past few weeks. I opened my Sports Illustrated last week to discover an excerpt from a recent book about RG3. Reading it was taking another trip back to that January Wild Card Playoff contest against Seattle which saw RG3 down in a beaten heap. The excerpt was a great examination into what NFL personnel like to term "the difference between being hurt and being injured." Then there was the news that RG3 hasn't been seeing eye-to-eye with head coach Mike Shanahan during Redskins' camp. And now an issue has apparently surfaced between RG3 and former Eagles/Redskins/Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb. What to think about all of this? Well...a lot.

RG3 has been willing to speak his mind and be an individual from the moment he first appeared in the big-time sporting universe during his time as the starting quarterback at Baylor. He always had a big smile on his face and was very affable towards fans, teammates, and media alike. He wore his ridiculous superhero socks at the Heisman Trophy presentation. He single-handedly made Baylor football relevant again in the Big XII and across the country. He has staunchly defended his style of play through head and knee injuries during both his college and NFL tenure. His Redskins teammates are in his corner publicly and clearly are taken with RG3's warrior ethos. No one within the organization has questioned the decision to leave RG3 in the game when he was clearly hurt. I respect RG3's commitment to his teammates and his belief that he is Washington's best option to win no matter what his condition may be. He is the quarterback.

While I do respect it, this is where he loses me a little bit. I understand you believe in yourself and I understand that you are in tune with all you're capable of. I also believe this is born out of loyalty to the team. I wouldn't accuse RGIII of being a selfish guy. I do believe that everything he does on the field is done with the number one priority being winning football games for the Washington Redskins. However, there has to be a point where he sees that what he is doing is detrimental to the team. Backup quarterback Kirk Cousins is no slouch but there's also no doubt that RG3 is the quarterback for the foreseeable future in D.C. This isn't like Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady back in 2001. RG3's career is just beginning. Washington was still in the game when the tide turned and RG3 was clearly not effective. At some point, the organization needs to step in.

This is where things turn a bit for me. While I wish RG3 would just shut up and play football (My feelings about mouthy athletes are already well-documented.), I have far more ire for the Redskins organization. I understand the win-at-all-costs mentality of the NFL but where is the line? When does the organization and its medical team have to put the best interests of the football team aside and look out for the best interests of the injured player? It was clear to anyone watching that RG3 was not himself. This also brings to mind head coach Mike Shanahan. Why in the world would Shanahan and his son (the offensive coordinator) continue to run the zone read stuff when the threat of RG3 running the football was non-existent by that point in the game. Not only was it damaging to their quarterback but it was also damaging to the team, stalling the offense at a point when they were still clearly in the football game. This stubborn refusal to adapt was a bit shocking to me. You would think a coach with the experience of Shanahan would know when to make an in-game adjustment. Plus, Cousins had led the 'Skins to victory in a must-win game a few weeks prior. There was also a lot of "he said," "he said" nonsense involving Shanahan and team orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. It's still a bit unclear as to who allowed RG3 to stay in the game. The only thing that is clear is that the quarterback would not come out of the game under any circumstances of his own doing.

At this point in both reading my own writing and reading various other materials I've grown absolutely sick and tired of RG3. I liked him a lot during his time at Baylor and I didn't mind him with the Redskins last year despite being a Giants fan. But all this constant babbling has shut me down. I'm tired of hearing about all of it. I just want RG3 to continue to rehab and he will play when he's ready. End of story. It seems like things were dying down a bit. Yes, there was still a lot made of his practice progress and the fact that he did participate in a full 11-on-11 drill at practice but at least it was still just an injury update, not a rehash of all that had gone wrong previously. It seemed like everything was good until Donovan McNabb spoke up.

My feelings on this part of the story are a bit complicated. I have always been a tremendous fan of McNabb. He is a Syracuse alum (as am I) and his contributions to the university both on and off the football field have been well-documented. McNabb then went on to become the most accomplished quarterback in Philadelphia Eagles history despite his rocky (at best) relationship with the fan base and the city. When McNabb was traded to Washington, things unraveled in a hurry. Shanahan questioned his conditioning; he was benched; then, despite signing an extension, he was released. After a so-so season with the Minnesota Vikings, that was the end of McNabb's NFL career. McNabb was not a guy who spoke out often on controversial issues during his NFL career but he has certainly not had a problem speaking out since becoming a TV analyst and former NFL quarterback. Now, on top of everything else, McNabb comes out and says that Washington has RG3 brainwashed. He then goes further and says how upset he is that RG3 doesn't seem receptive to his advice. McNabb has even gone as far as to paint himself as the old guard and an outdated commodity. I truly believe that McNabb simply wants to help RG3. It's no secret that are some outside of Washington who feel that RG3 has been far too open with the media. McNabb, perhaps better than anyone (think Rush Limbaugh incident), can understand some of the racial implications and stereotypes the media may be painting the confident RG3 with. What really comes to light with his comments is just how poor the relationship between Shanahan and McNabb is. It's clear the media will not give McNabb any leniency in this department but I get the feeling Shanahan is at fault just as much. Not all player/coach relationships and wine and roses. I have always defended McNabb but I fear that he is coming off like a whiner rather than a critical analyst. I have no problem with McNabb speaking his mind. That's his job and it's always refreshing to see former athletes turned commentators that can actually be critical of their former peers when necessary. But I don't understand what seems to be his need for acceptance from RG3. If the youngster doesn't want to heed McNabb's advice then so be it. Everyone has to learn in their own way. McNabb just seems to be trying to protect him. But sadly, most NFL stars tend to learn the hard way. As for McNabb and Shanahan, let's just say that won't be sitting across the table from each other at Thanksgiving dinner anytime soon. We'll see what the future holds for RG3. Can he stay healthy? Can he and Shanahan continue to work together? Can RG3 keep winning football games in D.C.?

Last post I wrote about my feelings about the exodus of former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson to the Detroit Red Wings. After venting, I noted that it all seemed too easy and there had to be more to the situation than meets the eye. Lo and behold, almost two weeks later, Alfredsson says goodbye to Ottawa and speaks openly about his departure. Alfredsson made his love for the city clear but he was also very clear that a contract impasse was something he couldn't get past. When Alfredsson worked out his last contract, it was done with the understanding that he would not play the 2012-2013 season. The extra year on his deal was solely a salary cap move to help the Sens. Then he played out the season (as he said he would) and decided he could play another season (2013-2014). But once again contract negotiations stalled. This is where Alfredsson's version of events gets vague. He didn't really get into the rest of the contract negotiations and even Ottawa GM Bryan Murray presented a vague statement that implied J.P. Barry (Alfredsson's agent) did not present his client with all the facts. Murray went further and mentioned that he and Sens owner Eugene Melnyk had discussed scenarios in which Ottawa both resigned Alfredsson and traded for Anaheim winger Bobby Ryan. As much as both Murray and Alfredsson said they were moving on, their words really said otherwise. It's clear that Alfredsson loves the city of Ottawa and its fans. It's also clear that Murray really did not want to lose his captain this way. I have no doubt that the first time Detroit visits Ottawa this season, all of those feelings will come back to the surface. I, for one, am still salty about Alfredsson's exit and hope that he does return to the organization in some capacity after his retirement. I also hope that the Bobby Ryan trade works out for the Sens. On top of that, I really hope that Alfredsson is productive and that his one-year term with Detroit doesn't mirror that of Mike Modano, another one-franchise icon who left under adverse circumstances.

The New Jersey Devils may have finally found the answer to their financial problems (Thank goodness!!) after their $320 million sale to Philadelphia 76ers owner Joshua Harris and his partner David Blitzer. Just like that, Jersey's Team has seen the never-ending stream of bankruptcy rumors and financial troubles disappear. The new ownership group then made a phenomenal move in declaring that GM Lou Lamoriello will continue to be "the man," completely in charge of the hockey side of the team's operations. However, that didn't stop the new ownership team from making some changes on the business side of the operation as they begin to implement their vision. I am beyond relieved as a die-hard fan and season-ticket holder that the Devils will now have legitimacy and stability in the owners' box. Anyone can deny it as much as they want but there's no doubt that the Devils' financial situation has impacted the hockey side of things for the last several seasons. As passionate as former majority owner Jeff Vanderbeek was, his financial limitations hindered the club, particularly in the free agent category. The Ilya Kovalchuk fiasco from his initial contract to his shocking retirement to the KHL underscores all of that. Lamoriello seems very enthusiastic about the move and all of a sudden it seems like the sun is smiling on Jersey's Team. Columnist Tara Sullivan of The Record did a great job highlighting Lamoriello's excitement for the future, including many great quotes from the man himself. You can read it here: http://www.northjersey.com/columnists/Sullivan_Cloud_finally_has_lifted_off_Devils_excited_GM_Lou_Lamoriello.html?c=y&page=2

WWE Summerslam is Sunday and the stench surrounding the WWE Championship match between John Cena & Daniel Bryan grows more foul by the day. Now, Triple H will serve as the special guest referee for the contest. I smell a double-cross here. Perhaps an Evolution reunion/assist? Ric Flair made an appearance at the WWE2K14 video game roster reveal event. Orton is the reigning Money in the Bank winner and is not on the card right now. Could be quite the ending. Also, how is Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow on the pay-per-view card while United States Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Rob Van Dam is stuck on the free kickoff show? Poor booking by the powers-that-be on that one. At least we can still look forward to "Best vs. Beast" as CM Punk and Brock Lesnar lock horns.

The New York Mets have finally accepted rebuilding and are starting to push the organization's top prospects through the system. Highly-regarded catcher Travis d'Arnaud made his long-awaited big league debut this weekend against the San Diego Padres. d'Arnaud joins a youth infusion that includes Zach Wheeler, Wilmer Flores, Jennry Mejia, Juan Lagares, Gonzalez Germen, and (of course) Matt Harvey. I'm glad that the Mets realize it's time to change their approach and give the kids a chance. They really have nothing to lose at this point. And they shed some big contracts this off-season. With a core of David Wright, Daniel Murphy, d'Arnaud, Wheeler, Harvey, & Jon Niese moving forward, things could actually be looking up at Citi Field. Oh, and highly regarded pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard has already pushed his way up to Double-A Binghamton. His last start: 5 IP, 10 K, 3 H, 0 R on 66 pitches.

And with that I will leave you with a photo of me and a banner outside Ottawa's Scotiabank Place featuring former captain Daniel Alfredsson.

Out of the sporting doldrums (and my wonder about "Alfie" leaving Ottawa)..... - 8/6/13

Football season is finally here!!!!! I can barely contain my excitement. We are officially out of the "sporting doldrums" and back to the wonderful world of sports we are used to. Football season has arrived and that means hockey season isn't far behind and that baseball season is getting closer to the excitement of the postseason and the English Premier League season is about to kick off as well. Finally back to the times that I thoroughly enjoy!

Last week I wrote a little bit about Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. No sooner did I write about it that I come across an ESPN Outside the Lines piece and a Sports Illustrated piece revolving around Manziel's off-field plight as well. Both pieces were very well-written and will now see great followup as Manziel is in hot water yet again. There are several sources who maintain Manziel took compensation for autograph signings, which of course would be an NCAA "no-no." A&M has retained the same law firm that Auburn used in 2010 to keep quarterback Cam Newton eligible. Many will be keeping an eye on this as obviously the Aggies SEC and National Title hopes rest on the legs and right arm of Manziel. If Manziel does get suspended, don't be surprised if it's only for the Aggies' first two games. Week 3 sees defending national champion Alabama come to College Station for a nationally-televised SEC contest on CBS.

Here's the link to the excellent ESPN piece on Manziel, written by Wright Thompson: http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9521439/heisman-winner-johnny-manziel-celebrity-derail-texas-aggies-season-espn-magazine

I have no desire to focus on the Biogenesis suspensions that are all the rage in Major League Baseball headlines right now. It is a well-known fact that I've never been a big Alex Rodriguez fan, going all the way back to his early days as a Seattle Mariner. I was always a Griffey fan and my admiration for his swing (one of the best the game has ever seen) was noted in a 2008 blog post that I can't seem to get a link up to at the moment. (I'll post it as soon as I can.) That said, I don't want to waste time talking about A-Rod, Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, or anyone else. Let's focus on the Kansas City Royals winning 12 of their last 13. Let's focus on the Los Angeles Dodgers winning 15 straight on the road. Let's focus on the Atlanta Braves defying every preseason prediction and running away with the NL East. Let's focus on the Oakland Athletics once again showing everyone they're never to be underestimated. And best of all, let's focus on the fact that the Pittsburgh Pirates, at 67-44 (with a .604 winning percentage), have the best record in baseball and we're a week into August. Those are the stories that should be dominating MLB headlines right now, not all of this PED nonsense.

The injury bug continues to make its way through NFL camps. Aaron Rodgers has lost his blindside protector as Green Bay left tackle Bryan Bulaga tore his ACL and will be lost for the season. After last week's rash of injuries, I thought maybe there would be a slowdown but here we go again. The Packers have options, including moving Marshall Newhouse back to left tackle after starting 28 games there the past two seasons. In addition to dealing with this, I'm also slightly curious to see how Green Bay splits backup quarterback reps to give recently-signed Vince Young an opportunity to compete for the job.

I know it's been over a month but I'm still having a really hard time digesting Daniel Alfredsson leaving Ottawa to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. With the Wings moving to the East and being put in the newly-configured Atlantic Division, it won't take long for Alfredsson and the Sens to renew acquaintances. A lot has been made of Alfredsson's comments before Game 5 of this year's Eastern Conference Semifinals, when he stated that he didn't believe the Sens had anything left in the tank to come back and defeat Pittsburgh. Then for him to turn around and say that he felt the Wings gave him a better chance to win a Stanley Cup at age 40 was the stake in the heart of Ottawa and its fans. Alfredsson has played the heel turn perfectly and there's no doubt that Sens fans will vilify him to the fullest. The Sens even took a huge step forward, trading for Anaheim winger/goal scorer Bobby Ryan who will likely skate alongside Jason Spezza (who many believe will be the next Ottawa captain). It all seems too easy, wrapped up too quickly. After 17 season, 1,108 points, 14 playoff appearances, and an Eastern Conference title, Alfredsson is just walking away to Detroit. "Alfie" has made this whole thing very easy for Ottawa and its fans. He has completely embraced his heel role but something still doesn't sit right with me. Alfredsson had been Ottawa's captain since the 1999-2000 season. Canada's capital city had embraced the Swede beyond words. I have had the privilege of witnessing this first-hand, trekking to Ottawa this past May for Game 4 of Ottawa's Eastern Conference Semifinal series. Anytime Alfredsson's face came across the giant video board the crowd went into an absolute frenzy. I would say about 65-70% of the jerseys I saw in the crowd had "Alfredsson" stitched on the back of them. I, too, joined in and wore an Alfredsson player t-shirt with the captain's "C" on the front. Then, when the video board showed Alfredsson and mentioned his nomination for the NHL's Mark Messier leadership award, the crowd gave him a standing ovation during an otherwise mundane stoppage of play during the second period. Each period when the clock hit "11:11" the fans would start chanting "Alfie" over and over again for the next 11 seconds. Alfredsson also acknowledged the fans at every turn. This all begs the question of "why leave." I suppose we will never truly know but it just bothers me on so many levels. In today's sporting universe you don't see many players stay with one team their whole careers. I am lucky enough to have both Martin Brodeur & Patrik Elias currently with the Devils as well as the privilege of having seen Ken Daneyko spend his entire 21-year career with Jersey's Team as well. But these types of players are few and far between, regardless of sport. Dan Marino with the Dolphins, Derek Jeter with the Yankees, Cal Ripken Jr. with the Orioles, Tony Gwynn with the Padres, Chipper Jones with the Braves. I'm sure I missed a few but you get the point. The number is few and far between. And how about in Canada? Wendel Clark gets traded from Toronto to Quebec. Mats Sundin goes from Quebec to Toronto to Vancouver. Ryan Smyth leaves Edmonton and then comes back. Even Wayne Gretzky left. It seems that Canada just can't seem to find a hockey icon who is willing to ride it out. I really wanted to see that happen with Alfredsson and Ottawa. And even though I'm not a die-hard Sens fan, I will be very sad to see "Alfie" skate out in a Wings jersey next season.

As excited as I am to see Daniel Bryan get a WWE Championship opportunity at Summerslam, I can't help but get the sneaking suspicion that it will be "Mr. Money in the Bank" Randy Orton that actually walks out of Los Angeles with the title. I really don't want to see this and the fact that Orton is not booked on the card at the moment makes this a very high possibility. In other WWE news, if you get a chance to check out Total Divas on E!, do it. It's actually pretty entertaining television.

That'll do it for now. And don't forget, college football starts on the Thursday August 29th! Among that night's games are North Carolina/South Carolina, Utah State/Utah, Rutgers/Fresno State, and USC/Hawaii.

Let the disbelief continue..... - 7/29/13

It hasn't even been two weeks and I'm back! I have to admit that I'm a bit shocked myself. As I said before, I was too focused on making everything perfect and just right. In turn, it took me way too long to post, I wasn't enjoying it as much, and I wasn't really getting enough of my sporting opinions across. So it seems I've found a good balance based on the last post and the fact that I'm back again. Anyway, let's get on with it...

Congrats to the United States Men's National Soccer Team on their CONCACAF Gold Cup title. It was the Americans' fifth Gold Cup title but their first since 2007. The USMNT now sees their record winning streak standing at eleven and they also have a great chance to leapfrog Mexico and be the number one ranked CONCACAF team in the next set of FIFA world rankings. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann had a hard time when first hired but he seems to have found his groove, particularly with his substitution strategies. Even though Klinsmann was suspended for the Gold Cup Final, the US didn't miss a beat. And how about Landon Donovan! Five goals, seven assists, and the tournament MVP. With that line, it's hard to believe that he took a four-month sabbatical and lost his spot on the national team. I'm excited and curious to see if the Americans can continue their winning ways once World Cup qualifying continues in September.

Am I the only one who is tired of the Johnny Manziel nonsense? He's a heck of a football player. There's no arguing that but something just doesn't sit right with me between the fiasco at the Manning Passing Academy and his latest frat party escapade. I understand the idea of "boys will be boys" or "college kids will do what they always do" and Manziel himself has said that despite his elite athlete status he will still live his life "to the fullest." I also know there are many people out there who support this and believe that college kids should be just that and that "Johnny Football" is no exception. And to those people, I simply say, that's a load of crap. Whether you like it or not, Manziel is not a typical college student. He represents Texas A&M across the country and is a symbol just as easily associated with the Aggies as legendary mascot Reveille. The things he does make him look like a fool (to put it very politely) and because of his position, he is not (and should not) be afforded the same leeway that other kids his age are given. It's always a fine line with athletes. People want them to speak more, then less. People want them to act out, then walk the straight & narrow. I think there's room for all types of athletes. I thoroughly enjoy Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and he talks plenty of trash. However, it's no secret that I enjoy athletes who walk the straight & narrow, lead by example, and conduct themselves in a professional manner putting team above all else. And let's not forget that Manziel has tweeted before that he wants out of College Station. If you're an Aggie fan, student, or alum it must be pretty hard to support someone who doesn't want to be there. I can't wait to see what Alabama has in store for the Aggies, perhaps a bit of payback?

Kudos to Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer for suspending running back Carlos Hyde from the program. Meyer's discipline (or lack thereof) during his Florida tenure has been the subject of much discussion. I am pleased to see that it appears Meyer is taking team discipline a bit more seriously in Columbus. I'm not going to sit here and criticize his time in Gainesville. Meyer is a phenomenal football coach and wins wherever he goes. It's also no secret there was quite a police blotter following some of his Gator players around and the perception is that discipline policy was loose at best. He seems to be acting far more swiftly and decisively in Columbus which will help him unite the team, win games, and mold youngsters into men of good character.

Has anyone been paying attention to what's going on with the Philadelphia Phillies lately? This team doesn't just go up and down. Their season can only be defined in peaks and valleys. The Phillies were irrelevant for most of the 90s and 2000s, until finally breaking through with a World Series title in 2008. They have been mainstays atop the NL East since but their grip seems to be coming undone. After missing the postseason last year and currently sitting seven games under .500, there has been much talk about being sellers at the trade deadline. Chase Utley's contract is up and Ryan Howard has been MIA. Then comes the latest news that closer Jonathan Papelbon wants out if the Phillies keep losing, saying this "isn't what he signed up for." Papelbon even went as far to suggest the Phillies mirror the Boston Red Sox, blowing things up to rebuild quickly as the Red Sox currently have the best record in baseball. Perhaps the only thing keeping the national focus off the Phillies is another NL East disappointment, the Washington Nationals. Predicted by many to be in the World Series this year, the Nats are struggling to get above .500 and currently trail the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves by eight and a half games. And how about some love for the Oakland Athletics? They just keep winning games while retooling on the fly. Perhaps this is the year that the A's can finally get out of the Divisional Series round.

The incredible excitement that surrounds the opening of NFL training camp has been muted somewhat by a rash of season-ending injuries. Baltimore tight end Dennis Pitta, Philadelphia wideout Jeremy Maclin, and Denver center Dan Koppen are just a few of the names that will find themselves on the sidelines for the 2013 season. Last year, people attributed the rash of knee and Achilles' injuries to the lockout-shortened camp, what is the excuse this year? Regardless, it looks like Chip Kelly's "next man in" philosophy will be the working around the rest of the NFL as well, not just Philadelphia.

The WWE Championship match has been set for Summerslam with WWE Champion John Cena picking Daniel Bryan as his challenger. I'm glad that Bryan is getting his due as he is an incredible wrestler but you can't help but think that Cena's choice is somewhat related to the promoting of "Total Divas," the new E! reality show featuring WWE Divas, most notably the Bella Twins who happen to be dating John Cena and Daniel Bryan respectively. What's happened with Bryan seems similar to what happened with CM Punk. The first few pushes Punk received always seemed a bit off, jaded by either involvement from outside forces or a lack of established legitimacy to his championship campaign. Punk was able to rise above and his 400+ day reign as WWE Champion simply confirmed as status as "The Best In The World." Bryan is just as talented and all of his pushes to this point seem a bit off as well. There was the illusion of him as a coward or paper champion and now the timing of this push. I do believe the WWE crowd values Bryan and sees him for the strong talent that he is but with the involvement of the entire McMahon family in his angle you have to wonder whether or not the company sees it as well. Then again, maybe their involvement is the official seal of McMahon approval.

There has been a lot of local outrage of the signing of Jaromir Jagr by the New Jersey Devils. I'm not on the Jagr bandwagon but I'm not going to lambast this move either. I believe that Jagr can contribute positively to Jersey's Team and as long as fans understand that Jagr, while still an effective player at 41 years old isn't the Jagr of old, then expectations can be tempered and perhaps people will actually enjoy his stint in a Devils uniform. I believe any sports fan would love to see an icon of sport play for his/her team and that's how I'm going to look at this. Jagr is an NHL icon (like it or not) and it will be interesting to see him in a Devils jersey. Plus, unlike many stars at the twilight of their careers, Jagr still has some talent left to be a positive addition.

I'm not going to really delve into all the talk that there will be a massive shift in the college football landscape. We are all still recovering from conference realignment and now there's talk about the Big Ten, Big XII, ACC, and SEC leaving the NCAA and forming their own super division. I agree that the NCAA needs to make some changes but there also has to be realism and compromise on both sides. The NCAA has to understand that football and those four conferences in particular make a large chunk of the organization's money while those power conferences have to respect the balancing act that the NCAA pulls off, trying to look out for the best interests of all schools whether their athletic budget or $5 million or $105 million.

That'll cover it for now. Until next time.

Welcome Back??? - 7/18/13

It's been quite a while since I've taken the time to add to "Coach Meech's Highlight Reel." Besides time constraints and other commitments, my blogging pursuit of relentless perfection has greatly prevented me from putting my thoughts on athletics down in this blog. For quick hits, you can still check Twitter (@TheMeech), but every now and again you just have to ramble. So without any further ado.....

I'll start with the MLB All-Star Game. I read yesterday that the ratings for the game were rather high but I still just don't get it. What draws the fans in to watch what amounts to nothing more than a glorified exhibition game? Then there's the idea that homefield advantage in the World Series is on the line in the All-Star Game. Commissioner Bud Selig believes that this will add intrigue to the game and maybe for some that aren't more than casual fans, it does. For this rest of us, this is absolutely ridiculous. Homefield advantage is important in the postseason. I can't imagine how angry I would be if I had worked my tail off for 162 games and finished with the best record. Then in Game 7 of the World Series, my team has to go on the road and into a hostile environment because the other league won the All-Star Game. It totally takes a big piece of the reward for pushing so hard in the regular season out of the equation. So basically, you're going to punish your teams for playing hard all season so you can get a few extra ratings points for a meaningless July exhibition? Great job devaluing the game, Commish.

The NHL offseason has been absolutely refreshing after last summer's (and fall/winter) non-stop lockout discussion. From Roberto Luongo staying put to Daniel Alfredsson leaving Ottawa after nearly two decades in Canada's capital, it's been nonstop excitement. Despite the surprise retirement of Ilya Kovalchuk, I'm still pretty excited about the offseason for Jersey's Team. Trading for the goalie of the future (Cory Schneider), signing two solid wingers (Ryane Clowe & Michael Ryder), and bringing back a few of the youngsters for one more chance at the big club (Jacob Josefson, Mattias Tedenby) have all been solid Lou Lamoriello moves. I still don't understand why people keep questioning Lou every offseason. He is the steward of the Devils' ship and he regularly makes moves and wins games, defying the odds on a regular basis. When will people just trust in Lou and let the offseason run its course in Newark? I'm not thrilled about losing David Clarkson & Kovalchuk but that's just the way it goes. Clarkson went home to Toronto and it hurts but nowhere near as much as losing Zach Parise to Minnesota last offseason. As for Kovalchuk, I can't say I'm completely surprised. He didn't even want to come back this year after spending the lockout playing for SKA St. Petersburg in his native Russia. Lamoriello had to practically convince him to come back. As the Kovy retirement continues to sink in, I keep thinking more and more that Lamoriello never really wanted to sign Kovalchuk to a monster 15-year contract. It seemed counter to anything the Devils have ever done and had the handprints of a desperate ownership all over it. I'm really just angry with myself. From the moment it became clear that we were going to sign him to such a large contract, I was angry. I didn't want us to break the bank for Kovalchuk, no matter many goals he could score for us. After the first year, I started to soften up only because the reality was setting in, that we were building the future of the organization around this one player. I still didn't think it was the right move but I didn't question Lou. But what did it get us? A massive departure from the Devils' way and in the end, we got three seasons, 89 goals, one trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, two years without postseason play, lost a first-round draft pick, and lost Parise & Clarkson. On the plus side, the Devils avoid having to pay out $56 million of real money over the next five seasons and only take an annual $250,000 salary cap hit through the 2024-2025 season. I bet the Los Angeles Kings and their fans are smiling, thrilled that Kovy didn't take their 15-year offer and run off to Russia after just three seasons.

This is always the most frustrating time period for me as a sports fan. The dog days of summer roll along with no football, no hockey, and only midsummer baseball games to pass the time. Every once in a while, an event occurs that rescues me from the doldrums like the Olympics or the World Cup or the Women's World Cup (Can't get enough of Alex Morgan & company). NFL training camps start next week though and most major college football conferences held their media days this week so hope is on the horizon. Soon enough, sports will be back in full swing and business will pick up once more.

I'll always be a big wrestling fan but the WWE has had lots of trouble holding my regular attention for quite some time. I always think back to growing up during the Attitude Era in which there was WWE(F), WCW, and ECW are fighting for your television time on a weekly basis. Everybody outdid each other and the wrestling was top-notch. Things went downhill for a bit after WWE overtook WCW and ECW went under. But after the beginnings of the "brand extension," WWE came back with a vengeance in 2006. Things have been pretty up and down since then as the company continues to work on its national sponsorship appeal with a TV-PG rating. I always wonder when the WWE will up the blood and violence after they cultivate the next generation of fans. I try to cling to that hope but I eventually arrive at the conclusion that the company is a publicly-traded commodity that needs national sponsorship and appeal to sustain itself. I fear that the Attitude Era is truly a by-gone time. I don't need all the blood and swearing back but it would really be nice to see good wrestling come back. I always think that gets lost when people look back on the Attitude Era. For as charismatic as those stars were and for all the stunts that were pulled, there was always high-quality wrestling on each of the weekly shows. WWE teases me every once in a while with this. There was the rise of CM Punk over 2011-2012. There were the two phenomenal Shawn Michaels/Undertaker matches at WrestleMania XXV & XXVI. Then there were two Triple H/Undertaker classics at the next two 'Manias. There was the push of The Miz and a nice time where John Cena was actually nowhere near the WWE Title picture. Things have been pretty down for most of 2013 with the exception of WrestleMania but here they go again, trying to bring me back. Rob Van Dam has returned to WWE, and as one of my all-time favorites this has intrigued me greatly. His match with Chris Jericho this past Monday night was simply a great wrestling match. Then, there was the announcement that Daniel Bryan will receive the opportunity to challenge John Cena for the WWE Championship at Summerslam. I have no doubt that Bryan Danielson (I mean, Daniel Bryan) will wrestle circles around Cena, but will the company actually let him beat the bellcow on a big pay-per-view stage and win the title? Furthermore, will the company let Bryan win and then piss all over it by having Money in the Bank winner Randy Orton run out and cash in the briefcase?

Finally got around to seeing Man of Steel. I think Zach Snyder & Christopher Nolan did Superman justice with this reboot but it still wasn't on the same level as the Dark Knight/Batman trilogy. I thought they did a great job examining the psychology of Superman as an outsider and what came of Krypton. But the fight scenes were a little too over the top with effects (way too sci-fi, I think) and the idea that Superman killed Zodd was interesting. Overall, a pretty solid reboot (infinitely better than the ill-fated Superman Returns in 2006) but certainly no Batman.

Naturally, this gets me excited already for the James Bond followup to Skyfall. Probably won't see that until late 2014 at the earliest but still have to get fired up. If you want to see the role that many believe landed Daniel Craig the coveted James Bond role, watch 2004's Layer Cake. Interesting production.

I also keep wondering what Boston Celtics fans are thinking. It's clear that the rebuild is in full swing but it still has to hurt watching your "Big Three" of Allen, Pierce, & Garnett are exit after one championship and two Finals appearances in five years. Despite some turbulent times, those three players (along with Rajon Rondo and coach Doc Rivers) made the Celtics relevant after being an NBA punching bag for most of the 1990s. With only Rondo left, it should be interesting to watch GM Danny Ainge rebuild this ball club. I'm still really impressed that the C's managed to lure Brad Stevens from Butler to be their next head coach. I'm curious to see if Stevens's approach will work at the next level as he was nothing short of a magician at Butler. I also wonder if he and Rondo will get along or if Ainge will have to trade him too. At least Boston has the Red Sox back to playing winning baseball after the aberration that was 2012 under Bobby Valentine. I wonder things are going for Bobby V as Sacred Heart University's athletic director.

That'll cover it for now. Definitely gotta come back sooner rather than later. Let's see if I can write another post within a week. Let's get after it!