"11 Dancers Dancing..."

First, just watch...if you can:



First time watching this I had to stop right after Taj Gibson's "3 blocked shots" verse to regain my composure.  Is this the worst team song/video ever?  At first I thought it might be until I checked YouTube and Wikipedia for other disasters.  There were a lot.

Obviously the gold standard is the Super Bowl Shuffle.  It was unique, the '85 Bears had true characters, and, most importantly, they backed it up!!

For instance, there's this disaster recorded by the Raiders in 1986 who went on to an 8-8 record that year:



Wow, was that bad.

But much much much worse is this utter embarrassment put out by New England (not the players but close enough) in response to the '85 Bears masterpiece and leading up to Super Bowl XX:



Yuck.


So as you can see the Bulls' "12 Days of Christmas" isn't nearly as bad as it could've been.  But I still have a few observations:

*Luol Deng: "10 buzzer beaters".  I searched "Luol Deng Buzzer Beater" on YouTube and there were 32 results (Jordan had over 1,800) only ONE of which was a semi buzzer-beater.  A tip-in to tie and force OT.
--should've been: "10 line drive jumpers"
*Keith Bogans: "11 dancers dancing".  Sound more un-interested?  No.

*James Johnson...Oh, dear James Johnson:  "8 Taking Charges".  First, what is a "taking charge"?  Really?  c'mon man...and why did he feel it was necessary to hit that high C? 
 --should've been: "8 high fives"
*Kurt Thomas: "7 back massages".  Ok, we get it.  He's old. I have to know who wrote these lyrics!
--should've been:  "7 forearm shivers"
*Ronnie Brewer's shot is even uglier close-up


Where was Scalabrine, or more importantly, Omer Asik????

Good effort though.  Joakim Noah's awkward chomp smile saved the day

Sports..what's not to love, or at least like, or at least tolerate?

There are a few times of the year when I really feel sorry for those who don't get the enjoyment out of sports that I and many others do -- March Madness, NBA playoffs (when the Bulls are in it of course)...or any playoffs for that matter, and college football bowl season are a few that come to mind....and yes, that list pretty much encompasses the entire sports calender. If you're not gonna get excited about sports I can understand that I suppose, but what I really don't understand is when people develop a negative reaction towards anything "sports".  Again, I'm not saying that everyone must love sports or even like it, but what is it about watching the best athletes in the world out battle each other with so much on the line under extraordinary pressure that not only makes someone not interested but disgusted?  This, I don't get.  Is it a hatred of competition in general?  Like giving everyone a "congratulations for competing even if you weren't as good as your oppoenent "trophy?  Athletics is a wonderful thing, not only for enjoyment for couch potatoes but also for kids growing up.  Learning lessons such as overcoming adversity, enjoying competition, valuing hard work and teamwork, showing good sportsmanship, developing leadership skills, etc I suppose could all be learned in other ways, maybe, but they certainly can all be developed and learned with sports.  Even forgetting all that stuff, and simply enjoying the entertainment, what's the problem? 

It's also unique in this respect:  we can watch athletes participate in the same sport that we played in growing up.  Those who played baseball know exactly how difficult it is to lay off a curve ball one pitch after being fooled on a 90mph fastball.  Or knowing how fatigued we get during a game of 3 on 3 halfcourt, let alone a triple OT game 7.  Or watching a football player make several mistakes only to bounce back with a game-winning play.  Is there a comparison to this in any other form?

Like I said, I can understand that not everyone schedules their weekend around the Bears game, but I have a hard time understanding those who can't at least see the intrigue of sports in general.  What's to hate?  I don't yearn for the next Art Institute exhibit, but I don't recoil in horror when someone mentions it...

What a Surprise...

Dallas beat Miami 98-96.  The Heat can't beat good teams who don't hand over the game, as Dallas only had 12 turnovers.  The NBA is so top heavy right now that frauds can fool people into thinking they're a decent team by beating up on a stretch that includes the Sixers, Raptors, Wizards, Pistons, Cavs, Nets, Bobcats, etc.  The Heat may have the 2nd best record in the East, but they're not the 2nd best team.  Teams that have a chance:

Celtics
Lakers
Mavs
Spurs
Bulls
Heat
Thunder
Jazz

that's basically it.  I had to leave the Magic (for now), Hawks, and Nuggets off this list.  That makes 8 out of 30 teams with a chance to do anything.  Middle of the pack includes Magic, Hawks, Nuggets, Knicks, and Hornets.  The rest of the teams are awful.  That will make for a lot of bloated winning streaks.  

Michigan Hoops and Fat Guy Moments

UM Basketball has been on a hiatus...a 15 year hiatus.  Although they made the tournament 2 yrs ago (eliminated in the second round) they have essentially been irrelevant since Tractor Traylor.  Yeah, remember that fat guy who looked like he was 45 when he was 18? 

Off on a tangent, searching for this image got me thinking of great fat guy sports moments.  There are a lot, maybe none better than this one:



I think my favorite part of this is the half second after Traylor gets tackled and he's just lying there face down like a fatally wounded beached walrus.

Anyway, not that a win over Oakland Unversity (Oakland, Michigan) should cause someone to take notice but it does.  Oakland lost to Sparty by 1 and beat #7 Tennessee in the last week.  It's just amazing how Michigan hoops has fallen off the face of the earth.  They have zero seniors.  How does that happen?  And it's not like Michigan has zero seniors b/c of all their early-entry NBA draft picks.  Of course it doesn't help that Michigan's downfall has coincided with Little Brother continuing to be annoyingly consistent and the Luckeyes being rejuvinated.  However, there is something to be said for watching a young team grow up and play better than expected.  I think they need more fat guys.

Miami Buckeys

Miami Heat and Ohio St are very similar.  Overwhelm the bad and mediocre teams but have a hard time with good teams who don't hand them the game. 

E-V-A-N-S-T-O-N, E-V-...

Sad day in the ETHS family.  Coach Riehle passed away. 

As good of a coach as he was, he was an even better person and will be missed.

Lead the ETHS football team to the state semi-finals in 1998 (would've won that game if it weren't for a snow/sleet storm).  One of the most memorable sports moments in recent ETHS history. 

Stomach Punch

Joakim Noah's out until march?!?!?!

Thumb surgery?!?!?

In the midst of a 7-game winning streak and comfortably atop the central division?!?!?

Ugggh!  This one hurts.  Bad.  Just as the Bulls were rolling; beating some good teams and blowing out the bad ones.  So now what?   It seems Boozer's "fall" will be the second worst injury this season...

Dammit!

Paterno's Old.....but wow is this funny

Paterno trying to have a phone interview...but he just can't hear a thing!



All I can think about is what on earth those conversations are like when Paterno is in the living room of a recruit:

Paterno: Well son, are you ready to Come to Penn St??

Recruit: Yes sir.

Paterno: Huh?

Recruit: Yes sir!

Paterno: Huh???

Recruit: YES SIR !!!! (whispering to mother: "damn this dude's old")

Paterno: Well son, are you ready to Come to Penn St??

Pats 36 Bears 7 Ugggh

I need time to digest this before writing.  When Chris Harris dropped that tipped Brady pass in the endzone you could've made the argument that the game was over at that moment.  Great teams make great plays when they matter most.  They don't let opportunities literally slip through their fingers.  The Patriots scored a touchdown on their next play and the rest is forgettable history.  The Bears had chances at two other would-be interceptions and missed them both.  When you're an underdog those miscues and missed opportunities are amplified.  Coupled with New England's incredible lack of mistakes, it made for one of the more depressing, disappointing games in a long time. 

Great teams and great players make great plays at key opportunities, a la Charles Woodson who had a knack for rising to the occasion. 

Very disappointing.  The Bears are probably somewhere between the team we saw yesterday in the snow and the team we say lay the samck down against Philly.  Borderline playoff team.  Meh

It's my money, and I need it NOW!!

Yeah, how annoying is that commercial?

Anyway, on a semi-related note:  Carmelo is apparently saying that he will only sign an extension if traded to New York.  I guess he doesn't need his money NOW(!) but he'll get it soon enough.  I would have concerns about this if I were New York, or any team trading for a player who demanded a trade.  But this situation is a little different.  'Melo's not just demanding a trade but he's determining the destination.  I would hesitate to sign a player to massive money who will only apparently be satisfied playing for one team.  For a player who has had questions about his night-in night-out effort, this seems to send the message that he'll only try hard if he gets his way.  This certainly isn't new, but what's most concerning is that he wants New York, seemingly b/c it provides the spotlight.  So is basketball secondary?  He only has the fire to win if he's in the spotlight?  That bothers me.  I can't imagine Derrick Rose trying less b/c he's not in his preferred city.  He has that desire to win and fear of losing that great players have, no matter how bright the lights shine.  I don't think a true competitor can turn it off and on like like that.  NY, you can have 'Melo...

Ahhhh.....

Adios Rodriguez?

I said before that I'm not sure what the right move is in regards to Rich Rod.  UM has improved the win total each year yet their defense has regressed, to an unprecedented level.  It's conceivable, and likely, that if it weren't for a shot-in-the dark, once-a-decade talent like Denard, UM would've been in the same place they were last year -- home for the bowl season. 

I get the feeling the Rich Rod will be shown the door after the bowl game on January 1.  I ask myself what possible benefit could come from waiting until after the bowl game to make a decision, which is what the UM A.D. has decided to do.  Is Rich Rod's job really hinging on the outcome of one game?  you win you stay, you lose you go?  No way.  If the decision was made to retain Rich Rod then just say it, let everyone know, including the recruits.   Firing Rodriguez is cheaper for UM after Jan.1.  Is that the motivation?  Not sure, but this might get ugly...unless Harbaugh comes to town. 

It's all your fault, It's all your fault, It's all your fault !!

No, this is not a Bartman reference...rather, it's just one of many not so subtle chants that the UM hockey student section uses to display their feeling towards the opposing goalie. 

I went to a few hockey games back in my day at good old Yost Arena; best student section nobody knows about.  Tomorrow is "The Big Chill" - UM hockey vs. Little Brother outside at the Big House.  What a site to see! 

and here's a little "how-to" in case anyone finds themselves in the midst of a Michigan hockey game

Bogans...that's enough

nothing more needed

Bears vs Pats

Entering the game against Philly I had a really good feeling about that game.  For whatever reason, probably b/c of the linebackers, the Bears always have played well against mobile quarterbacks.  I'm not feeling quite as confident this week against the Pats, but I do feel like the Bears have far better than a puncher's chance.  Everyone was so amazed with New England after their trouncing of the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.  Yes, the Pats looked impressive and having the best quarterback to ever play doesn't help, but let's be honest, the Jets stink.  They're all hype.  Sanchez is markedly overrated.  They're coach has eight chins.

If Forte averages over 4.0 yds/carry and we win or tie the turnover battle then I think the Bears win:

Bears 23
Pats 21

I throw my dreads up in the air sometimes...sayin' ay-oh

Denard Robinson is the man!  Hell of a year and bravo

Definitely a unique player and unlike anyone I've seen recently

Pryor has some LeBron in him...no wonder they get along

"I'll put it like this: You put me in any of their offenses — any of them — and I'd dominate," Pryor said, when asked about the attention afforded the likes of Newton, Robinson and Persa. "I'd dominate the nation. What those guys do, that's what they're supposed to do in their offense.

"They carry the ball 30 times a game. I carry the ball maybe five times. There are times I didn't even run the ball in a game. You put me in any of their offenses, where I can run the ball and have a choice to throw, I would dominate college football."

This is what Terrelle Pryor had to say about the other top quarterbacks in college football.  Nice, huh?  He sounds like a bitter, shallow player.  What's funny is he later went on to say that all he cares about is winning and that if he put up huge numbers but lost he would be miserable.  What a joke!  If that were true, why would he feel the need to rip on other players and the great years they had?  Wouldn't he just be happy for them if he were truly comfortable with where he is as a player?  The truth is that Pryor needs to be showered with praise -- like LeBron.  You can tell this by his comments over the years and by his body language when his team does well while he isn't contributing.  The minute that fellow Buckeye Kirk Herbstreit commented that he wanted to see more out of Pryor, he lashed out like a spoiled brat.  He's been surrounded by unbelievable talent from the minute he stepped on campus and has never faced true adversity.  The fact that Pryor feels that it's beneath him to complement other players or show an admiration for them tells you everything you need to know.  

Brady, revisited

You can add Michael Wilbon to the growing list of sports writers who put Brady ahead of Manning.  Most arguments settle on two main points:  more super bowls and less surrounding talent. 

Cubs in December?

Just wondering.  What possible use can come from signing a 33 year old first baseman to a 1-year, $10 million contract who hit a staggering .196(!) with 84 RBIs last season?  Ok, he had plantar fasciitis last year?  So either:
a.)He'll bounce back in 2011 then demand a ridiculous amount given the fact that he got $10 million after an awful year. Or, b.)He'll be just as bad as last year.   

But at least the Cubs have a good track record for seeing off-season signing exceed their previous averages...

Bowls Bowls Bowls

Sleepless nights figuring out who's gonna win the Beef 'O Brady bowl or the Go Daddy.com bowl?  Me too...


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...but hurry up, first game is on Dec. 18th

No Huddle

Why don't teams ditch the huddle more often?  I'd love to see stats on if teams out-perform their normal yardage or points average while back-yarding it.  Football is all about keeping the defense off balance and it seems like the best way to keep this off balance:

...might be to hurry it up

Brady v. Manning

Classic sports debate:  Who's better Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

Not close.  Tom Brady.

Forget all the statistical minutiae - unless you want to focus on number of super bowl victories and who has consistently played better in clutch situations - hardly minutiae.  After seeing Tom Brady get in his offensive line's face to get them pumped up against Pittsburgh, that should have sealed the deal for those still on the fence.  I'm definitely not saying that a leader always must ncecessarily be loud and animated but there's no QB I'd rather go to battle with than Brady.  Further, it's interesting to hear people make excuses for Manning that he has no supporting cast left due to injuries this season (no weapons, but still has 4-time pro bowl, 2-time all pro WR Reggie Wayne).  Tom Brady has never had a RB like Edgerrin James or even Joseph Addai.  Corey Dillon?  Kevin Faulk?  Sammy Morris?  Lawrence Maroney?  And WRs??  Forget it.  Jabar Gaffney, Deion Branch, etc for the first Patriots run in 2002-2004.  When Brady finally had an all-pro WR in Randy Moss he put up some of the best numbers ever.  Yes, the Pats had great defenses but in 3 super bowls they gave up 17, 21, and 29 points so it's not like Brady just had to play for one FG and a TD....and in that first super bowl?  try a game winning drive with under 2:00 left. 

In short, Brady has done far more with far less. 

Fine, you want full disclosure?  If Manning's pathetic 1997 Vols would've put up any sort of a fight against Nebraska, Michigan would've had the outright national championship that they clearly deserved.  But whatever.

Powder show

The fact the LeBron did his wanna-be-MJ-narcissistic-powder routine in Cleveland(!) shows he truly has no clue, and is a straight up loser.  That was his last chance to semi-redeem himself.  He blew it.  (At least in Cleveland there were fans in the seats)