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Entries from January 2008

Wallace’s Thoughts: The Tax Rebate

January 25, 2008 · 1 Comment


Every so often I’m going to roll out a feature called Wallace’s Thoughts. When you see this you’ll know that I have run out of ideas for articles and that I decided to B.S. my way through a post. Sure, I could do some research and come up with some news item that could potentially be interesting and worth reading. But, I prefer wasting everyone’s time and, in doing so, I also get to talk about a few things that I’ve been thinking about in recent days. Sometimes I’ll have a list of quick thoughts and musings, but this evening I have only one item on my mind.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the tentative stimulus package that Congress wishes to enact this year. The plan is to send a $600 check to everyone who paid income, and $1,200 to those couples that filed jointly. I will be the first to admit, an extra $600 sounds like a mighty find proposition indeed. I’m already working on a list of things I can buy with that money: a TV, a trip to Costa Rica, 600 fish tacos, 1 Panda Burger. The list is just endless. (What’s that you say? Put the money in savings? Invest? Hah, that’s a funny joke.)

The reason for the the rebate is Congress’ fear of the impending recession and the economic tailspin that could occur. Americans are already spending less and the stock market, and in turn world markets, have taken a hit. The Fed has answered by cutting interest rates in unprecedented ways, including a 3/4% cut in one day. And economists of all ilks are telling all that will listen, recession looms.

How did we get here? Many will blame the sub-prime mortgage bubble that recently burst, causing billion dollar losses for many big investment firms and the real estate market to suffer. Many homeowners lost their homes and spending money at the mall is the last thing on their minds. Of course, the economy flows like a wave and a recession was a natural result of the recent years of hyper prosperity. This is the point where I have to add that I have a fifth-graders understanding of the economy. So please, leave all questions and complaints for our resident money-man, Mr. DeFreitas.

I just think it’s short-sighted of Congress to have a rebate at a time when we are still pouring billions into our war in Iraq and the Federal deficit is the largest in history. Currently if it weren’t for the investments of China, the U.S. would probably be in a worse situation than it currently is. Jobs are moving overseas, unemployment is rising, people are losing their homes but hey, here’s $600, have a good day!

What’s disappointed me most with the Democratic Congress is their inability t0 rise above partisan politics and their failure to fulfill one promise they made in the last elections. Instead of working with Republicans to make reforms, they have decided to sit by and watch as the country struggles. I’ll submit that it is the plan of the Democrats to do nothing so they can accentuate the failures of Republicans come election time. “We were going to leave Iraq but the Republicans stopped us. Vote Democrat and we’ll get things done. We Promise.“

But $600 is a pretty nice chunk of change and a little extra money never hurt anyone, right? So a part of me is crossing my fingers in the hopes this refund goes through. A great person once said “Live for today.” We can worry about the inevitable Economic Armageddon some other day. I have my eye on an HDTV.

Notes:
- You can read about the current deficit woes here.
- An explanation of the tax rebate is here.

Categories: Economy

Yankees Are Run to Win, Not Earn

January 24, 2008 · 1 Comment


On Wednesday, Major League Baseball released its final payroll and revenue statistics on all 30 teams. For the ninth year running, the New York Yankees are atop the list after spending $218.3 million, outspending the Red Sox by more than $60 million and the Mets and Dodgers by nearly $100 million. Often, baseball fans characterize the Yankees as a team that attempts to buy success, yet after looking at both sides of the ledger, a more fair characterization might be a financial commitment to winning.

We have established what the Yankees paid out last year in player salaries. Now, lets also add in the amount of money made by the team last season. In 2007, the Yankees made $415 million in revenue. If we took a ratio of money spent on salaries to revenue, the number would be 0.525, meaning that for every dollar the Yankees earn, $0.525 are spent on player salaries.

The team-by-team numbers have not been released, however MLB did release its total player expenditures and revenues across all 30 teams. Major Leagues made a total of $2.71 billion while the 30 franchises took in $6.075 billion. Using the same math as above, the ratio for the entire league is 0.446. Again, this figure means that for every dollar earned by a major league team, $0.446 was paid out in player salaries.

Because the data released on team revenues and expenses is limited to date, lets assume that the Yankees spend at least as much on all the other expenses related to running a ballpark. The Yankees, do spend top dollar on their coaching and training staffs, but I could not estimate how their remaining costs compare to other teams.

Based on the above calculations and assumptions, the Yankees spend more of each dollar earned on player salaries compared to the rest of the league, meaning less of each dollar is being kept as profit for ownership.

Furthermore, the Yankees pay roughly $100 million of their revenue into MLB’s revenue sharing plan, meaning that the Steinbrenners’ see even less of what is left over after all bills are paid.

That said, next time the Bombers are criticized of trying to buy the pennant, remember that its probable that the owner of another’s favorite team just cares more about his portfolio record than his team’s record.

Thanks to SI.com for the above picture.

Categories: MLB

The Unknown Factor in the Superbowl Equation

January 24, 2008 · No Comments


Everyone already knows everything there is to know about the Patriots - they’re pretty darn good. A perfect season is no bologna sandwich, and many might add that an 18-1 season is near godliness. The boys from Boston will be able to take pride in that fact after an embarrassing loss to the G-Men on Feb 3rd.


Now, I really don’t know that for a fact. The Giants might lose. That’s the most fun thing about being a New York fan, really. You never know. You never know going in, and half the time you can’t believe it coming off the couch. (Flashback to Sunday night…Tynes made the 47 yard kick after the emotional havoc of missing two shorter attempts in a row and getting the crook eye from Ol’ Tom? Well, that’ll do me just fine, son!) You never know for sure and you stick with them just the same. No sir, no one has ever seen fit to call me, my father, his father, or his grandfather before that a Fair-Weather Sally.

Why do we torture ourselves so? The Giants have a lot to offer to the strong-hearted: talent, inner fire, toughness and downright audacity. They’ve always played to go big or go home - and they are committed to following through. Sure, as a valiantly loyal fan it would be nice to be let in on the decision process from time to time…Are you guys gonna pull out the trump cards tonight? Are you goin’ big? Do you feel it? Guys?

That’s not to say I’m always left in the dark. Sometimes, you do get an itch. Just a little itch on the top of your shoulder and you brush it off and the wind carries it right into the eyes of Tom Brady. That’s happened plenty of times.

Point in fact: this New York team is a true contender - probably one of the most difficult teams for New England to face this season. Eli, voted in smaller circles as the player most likely to be late to his first Superbowl appearance, has nevertheless shown an improved and almost tangible amount of control and level-headedness under pressure in their last 10 victorious road games. (Don’t pretend you couldn’t hear the Lambeau crowd clamoring for his death.) The ranks show fresh and passionate talent. The defense has earned respect and the running game admiration. They are not afraid to hit hard and they like to do things their way. The Giants are one good New York-style performance shy of ripping those “Perfect Season” T-shirts off the Patriot’s backs and using the shreds to check the oil in their brand-new cars.

I’ve got an itch right now. Sure the Pat’s will hoot and holler and deny the reality of the situation all the way down to the final second of game-play. I’ve seen it before - textbook, really. But whenever the Patriots catch a whiff of that potential defeat, it’s bound to shake some foundations. The ‘dynasty’ will not be prepared such a turn of events. No one realizes how close they are to NOT wearing those shirts. The coaching staff and the players are not any more to blame than the lesser evolved critics who utterly discount the New York potential. The tragedy is that New England may find out the hard way that they ought to have known better - the Dec. 29th 38-35 win was their closest game of the year.

And they’ll all go marching down, to the ground, to get out of the rain.

Or maybe the Giants will earn negative yards one quarter thanks to excessive penalties. That always seems to be a viable option. (I will love and support you, New York, in all that you do!)

Twenty-six recognizes that this article may ruin an otherwise nice evening for certain individuals named Tom, Randy or Benjamin. Almost doesn’t count, boys.

Got a favorite for Feb. 3rd? Throw it up.

Thanks to NFL.com for the above pictures.

Categories: Football · NFL · Sports · Super Bowl · Super Bowl XLII
Tagged: , ,

Aren’t We All Day-to-Day?

January 22, 2008 · 1 Comment


Up until kickoff of yesterday’s AFC Championship Game, neither Philip Rivers nor Antonio Gates was expected to play the full game, while LaDanian Tomlinson was listed as probable. In hindsight of the game itself, its evident that Tomlinson was the more injured party as Rivers and Gates played on. The CBS coverage of the game could not answer questions during the game regarding the reversal on the injury reports.

In other news, Tom Brady spent Monday wearing a walking cast as he hobbled around Manhattan to see his girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen. Again, CBS made no mention of any injury to Tom Brady during the game itself. Had not video appeared of Brady walking around with a cast, thanks to paparazzi media outlet TMZ.com, it is possible that the injury may have gone unreported.

The answer to the question is gambling. The question itself regarding injury reporting in the NFL is ambiguous and multi-layered.

The entry question is why did CBS not report that it would be Rivers playing and not Tomlinson nor report that Brady got hurt during the game?

If its assumed that all parties are honest, then CBS never reported these stories because the players’ conditions changed so rapidly that not even the teams themselves knew what was going on until after the fact. That is, Philip Rivers felt ready to go at game time, while Ladanian Tomlinson felt that Michael Turner was the better option at running back. Also, Tom Brady’s leg or foot did not bother him until he woke up this morning and the Patriots themselves did not yet have a press release ready.

Considering that the Patriots are known cheaters and that the Chargers have played players that have tested positive for illegal performance enhances, its safe to assume that neither team is entirely honest. One may even assume that the full truth regarding the injuries to these players were never told in full in order to maintain some advantage throughout the game and to protect the players.

During the game, Chargers coach Norv Turner gave no hint to how Rivers was feeling. After the game ended though, it was made public that Philip Rivers had a surgical procedure before the game, allowing him to play on a torn ACL. There is no way Turner would be unawares to a surgical procedure to his franchise quarterback. By not disclosing this detail however, Turner could protect his quarterback from further injury on the field by a defensive player keying in on Rivers’ injured knee. Turner also lightened some of the media scrutiny Rivers would have to face in the post game interviews. Lastly, the coach forced the Patriots to prepare for either Rivers or his backup, Billy Volek, appearing in the game.

Similarly, Norv Turner never mentioned that Tomlinson’s injury had worsened in the game, dancing around the subject while trotting out Michael Turner and Darren Sproles, LT’s backups, every play. The notion that Tomlinson was not courageous enough to play out the game after 2 carries in the first quarter. Rather, the team concluded that Michael Turner, a very capable backup, at 100% was better than Tomlinson at some lesser amount. By remaining unclear though, Norv Turner left the possibility of Tomlinson entering the game at any moment a distinct possibility, at least through some of the third quarter. This again forces the Patriots to be guarded for Tomlinson’s possible effect on the game.

In Brady’s case, his leg injury likely happened during yesterday’s game and he was likely treated by Patriots staff shortly after the game ended. Since there was no moment during the game where Brady seemed to be injured, Bill Belichek and the Patriots felt that Tom Brady’s cast could go unreported officially and be kept from their upcoming opponent Super Bowl opponent, the New York Giants.

Coaches try to hide injuries from the media in order to maintain an advantage in a game. This premise sounds reasonable, as any business would do its best to keep a compromising story from breaking and aiding its competition. In football, why is there a problem with this practice.

GAMBLING.

Football is the most popular sport in America because it is the easiest sport to gamble on. Telling this fact to any devout football fan is akin to telling a child that daddy eats Santa Claus’ cookies every Christmas Eve, but the facts are there to support this point. Based on this link from the American Gaming Association, it is likely that the $93 million wagered legally on the last Super Bowl was more than the money wagered on all games played in a Major League Baseball season. With legal betting accounting for a small fraction of all bets made on football, its clear that many people are interested in gaining knowledge to make an educated bet, such as INJURY REPORTS.

While the NFL would never admit to this line of thinking, its probable that the league knows that accurate injury reports are key to maintaining interest high in the league, as the NFL’s popularity can be linked to largely to gambling. With fantasy football, a more benign form of football wagering, gaining in popularity, there is more pressure than ever on the NFL to get an accurate injury report to its fanbase.

There’s a real dilemma over how specific injury reports should be. On the one side, there are the interests of the teams and the health of individual players. On the other are the fans who want to be in the loop so that they can wager correctly and/or start the right players on their fantasy team.

What the Tom Brady injury story does make clear though is that injury reporting will go as far as the media pushes it. By having paparazzi uncover Brady’s walking cast, the Patriots must now publicly address an injury they would have kept secret in the past. Furthermore, mainstream sports media will react to missing a scoop to celebrity gossip website by pursuing injury stories and the players in general more diligently. This move may force the team’s hand to disclose injuries more publicly in order to avoid situations like this.

In the end though, a player’s health will vary from moment to moment and inevitably, the fan, the opposing teams and the media will all be kept in the dark on some level. Injury report terms such as “probable”, “questionable” and the very profound, “day-to-day”, will have to suffice until instant computer medical scans are a technological reality.

Thanks to TMZ.com for the video and to Chargers.com, The Boston Herald.com and infphoto.com for the pictures used above.

Categories: Media

Cloverfield: Always Bring a Flashlight

January 22, 2008 · No Comments

After just seeing the new movie Cloverfield this evening, I became so hopped up on adrenaline and 32 ounces of Coca-Cola that I had to tell you faithful readers all about my experience. This is a movie not for the faint of heart. The action is intense throughout, and very personal, for reasons I’ll get into in a minute. Cloverfield is the reason people go to movie theaters, great entertainment on a large scale. J.J. Abrams I salute you. Not only has he made a movie that is so exhilarating my heart has pounded for a solid three hours since my viewing, but he also created Lost (an amazingly deep TV show) and Armageddon. C’mon, don’t tell me you didn’t love Armageddon people. My goal is to portray what it was like sitting in that movie theater for two hours as the action unfolded on the screen in front of me. And by the head I hope anyone out there who was unsure about this movie is compelled, nay forced, to see this movie.




Cloverfield was one of the more secretive projects in recent years. No cast member was given a full copy of the script an, during auditions, actors were given TV show scripts so they had no advance knowledge of the film. No screeners were distributed, so there was no opportunity for piracy and the film leaking onto the internet. Bloggers and film buffs were left to speculate as to the plot and what the monster would look like. The movie’s title wasn’t released until late last year, which only furthered the hype. The only previous knowledge movie goers had was the film’s poster, which shows a headless Statue of Liberty. This was a great marketing plan by Abrams. Perhaps the average viewer could be turned off because they didn’t know much about the movie and advertising was minimal but this is the type of movie that grows through word of mouth. Going into this movie with a blank slate allows you to fully be engrossed in the action and you’re a left feeling like you are really there.

The movie does a good job of establishing character with an opening sequence at a going away party, where you meet the main characters and you get a little background into their relationships and personalities. You jump right into these characters’ lives and the dialogue is very natural. You believe that these are real people at a party and thusly you begin to care for them, as they may be similar to people you know. About 15 minutes in, the party is rocked by an earthquake and from then on it is a race to escape the terror that is gripping Manhattan. Get ready for your heart to race and the tension to grow for the next hour and a half.

I think the best part of this movie is that you feel like you are alongside the characters and you experience everything first hand. Abrams achieves this effect by having the entire movie shot on a hand held camera. It takes some getting used to, the camera can be shaky and there are a few jump cuts, but you quickly become accustomed to it and you begin to submerge yourself in the excitement. What this also does is keep the danger unknown. You get glimpses of the monster for most of the movie and don’t really see it all until the end. So you’re left just as scared and confused as the characters as they run through the streets of Manhattan and try and escape.

The actions of the characters as well as the dialogue all seem very real and very natural. With a cast of relatively unknowns you feel like these are real people in real danger. The effect is extremely intense. This is one of those movies where when it ends the crowd is left wanting more. The movie ends up being a document of 8 hours in the lives of the five main characters. This movie is not for the meek and it would be smart to go to the bathroom before hand because accidents have been known to happen.

Movies like this always lead me to wonder, what would I do if I were in a similar situation? The one thing I can say is always make sure to bring a flashlight. When a giant monster attacks a city the power is very likely to go out and you’ll be left in the dark, unaware of what dangers lurk around the corner. Batteries are helpful too.

I think I’m running out of words to describe this movie. I’ve used awesome, intense, real, tense (Is tense different from intense? I really should do more research for these articles.), exciting, fast-paced (Ok, I looked it up. A movie can be intense but it can’t be tense. A person can be tense.), and in your face. Like I said before, run, don’t walk, to your nearest theater and watch this movie. If for some reason you don’t enjoy it, perhaps a therapist is a smart choice.

Categories: Movies · Review
Tagged:

This Weekend’s Most Exciting Sporting Event Already Happened (Too Bad Everyone in this Hemisphere was Asleep).

January 20, 2008 · No Comments

Sometime very early Saturday Morning, Roger Federer defeated Janko Tipsarevic, in a five-set classic, but most of America probably didn’t even know that Roger Federer was playing tennis Friday night, let alone that he was nearly beaten in the third round of the Australian Open, a Grand Slam Tournament.

Not even the score line of 6-7 (5), 7-6(1), 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 could communicate how close Tipsarevic was to snaking out biggest individual sports upset since Douglas over Tyson. Neither would’ve the 4 hours, 36 minutes it took to complete the match. Believe it or not, if Janko had been able to beat the World’s Most Dominant Athlete on Friday, his win would have been a bigger upset than even a Chargers victory later today. Roger Federer is that good.


To give some context as to how untouchable Roger Federer is in Tennis’ Grand Slam tournaments, with the exception to French Open matches versus Raphael Nadal, Federer has not lost a Grand Slam match since the 2005 Australia Open. Furthermore, excluding the tricky clay of Roland Garros again, the last Federer failed to reach at least the semifinals of a Grand Slam event was the 2003 U.S. Open. No tennis player in the modern, open era can compete with Federer’s recent dominance. Janko Tipsarevic pushed Federer to the 10th point of the 5th set. This was as close as anyone has come to knocking down Roger in a long, long time.

This classic match does test the renown “Tree in the Forrest” conundrum, that being since no one in America saw it, did the match actually happen? Well, not that it didn’t happen happen, but does it matter.

I’m not going to debate that point, clearly my stance has been made by the simple fact that I have chosen to blog about Federer-Tipsarevic. The bigger issue here is that annually, the Australian Open is ignored even though it offers great, Grand Slam-level, tennis, simply because the matches are played at inconvenient hours for the east coast American press. Its a sad truth that a match like this once did not even appear in most American newspapers until Sunday, because by the time Federer watched Tipsarevic’s last return come up short, most American newspapers were already laying in driveways and at on news stands.

There is really no good solution for the annual ignorance of the Australian Open. Even with great tennis matches happening daily (late-nightly EST), like yesterday’s Lleyton Hewitt’s five-set marathon victory over Marco Baghdatis, the Australian Open can not grab the interest of the American sport fan with start times in the middle of the night and a lack of Americans going deep into the tournament. So even as relevant tennis personalities, like Patrick McEnroe and Luke Jensen, and bonafide tennis hotties, like Ana Inanovic (see picture to the right, she’s also good at tennis), line up to sing the praises of Melbourne’s Grand Slam, America sleeps through a great sporting event.

Not even the girlfriend of the aforementioned Baghdatis (see picture below, she’s the one without the beard) can direct America’s attention Down Under, not when Stateside fans can instead wonder whether or not sub-zero Green Bay will broadcast Seinfeld for the benefit/detriment of Eli Manning.

Thanks to all owners for the above video and pictures.

Categories: Tennis

Fore!!! Golf Week Out of Bounds

January 19, 2008 · No Comments


Golf Week was way out of bounds for its “Noose” cover. A golf magazine is not the place to make social commentary unless it wants to chronicle the long history of racism associated with its sport. The best example of this being the extent to which the Masters is revered and respected by the golf media even as the tournament harbors a racist climate. I have even heard from one of my black friends from Augusta, Georgia, site of the Masters each April, that blacks steer clear of Augusta National Golf Club during the week of the Masters in order to avoid racist related harassment that may come there way.

More on this to come…

Categories: Golf · Sports
Tagged: , , ,

Tone’s Album of the Week- The Buzzcocks- Singles Going Steady

January 18, 2008 · No Comments

Because of a Joy Division film I saw about two months ago (a great Ian Curtis biopic entitled Control), I have been in the midst of a Punk and New Wave phase in my music listening. I cycled through my New Order albums, spent three days attempting to illegally download The Clash’s Dub/Punk classic, Sandinista! and began listening to some Punk radio shows on the local college stations.

Most of this music helped my get out some my general angst and dissatisfaction with the world that comes with living with your parents. However, it was not until I heard Ever Fallen in Love?, by The Buzzcocks on FDU Radio* on my way to the bar last Friday that I also found a punk outlet for my “love” life (the quotes are definitely needed there) that does not also discuss the depressing state of the human condition and Maoism. Just simple boy loves girl and sings a rocking punk song about it type music. Since hearing this song on the radio, I have been listening to this Manchester (England) band’s 1979 compilation album Singles Going Steady pretty much since I woozily downloaded it after the bar early Saturday morning.


I’ll start off with Ever Fallen in Love? (With Someone You Shouldnt’ve), a track that most rock critics regard as The Buzzcocks’ magnum opus. The song simply details a relationship a destructive relationship between lead singer Pete Shelley and some girl that he shouldn’t have fallen in love with. Though the title would have you think otherwise, the song is uptempo the whole way through and has a driving guitar force to it. Also, Shelley really has you level with him about this failed relationship, describing so simply that one could easily say back to Pete, “Ya, man. I’ve fallen in love with a girl like that. Miserable bitch.” I for one, know that I shared this sentiment with Pete.

Most of the other tracks have to do with some form of young male sexual frustration in way or another, but the music stays entertaining and driving though most of the two and half-minute tracks on the album. Also, Shelley never gets whiny or annoying throughout. Other gems on the album include Love You More and the opening track Orgasm Addict, which starts of the album with this great verse:

Well you tried it just for once,
Found it alright for kicks,
But now you foundout
that its a habit that sticks,
You’re an Or-Gasm-Addict.

The one track thats a little unlike the rest is the six and half-minute long Why Can’t I Touch It. This song is slower than just about every other track on the album and also sings with a more reserved temper, as the band puts aside its primal tone for orgasmic relief and a sweet girlfriend and offers a more contemplative track about why they can’t fulfill their “needs”.

After outletting loneliness with Joy Division and political unrest with The Clash, I now also have a great punk outlet for sexual frustration with The Buzzcocks and their album Singles Going Steady. An insatiable sexual appetite and featuring tight, aggressive guitar riffs all over the place really helps get out there, kick into party and get some things done.

*Farleigh Dickenson University (FDU) Radio is 89.1 on your FM dial in the NYC area, or you can find them online. Just Google it.

Categories: Music · Punk

2007 NFC Championship: The Breakdown

January 18, 2008 · No Comments

This is the game I’m really looking forward too, the NFC Championship between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. Since the game will be played in Green Bay the big factor is going to be the weather. If the conditions are similar to what they were last weekend when it snowed heavily, you have to favor the Packers in this game. I’ll take you behind the numbers as I break down position by position what to look for in this game.


QB: The betting man will tell you that Brett Favre is a deity and that it is his destiny to lead his team to the Super Bowl this season. Packers fans will tell you that Brett Favre can do no wrong. Football analysts will tell you that Brett Favre is just a kid at heart who is just out there having fun with a smile plastered on his face. His wife will tell you that Favre’s beard can be irritating when he tries to kiss her. Listen to me people, Favre is a first ballot Hall of Famer, but he has also fallen prey to the sort of inconsistencies that his counterpart Eli Manning has been attacked for. Favre has been Mr. Safe this season but he has been known to start heave-hoeing when he is under pressure. Eli Manning has weathered the criticism that he has been given since day one and has one his first and second career playoff games this season. Not only has he won but he’s done it on the road and against some of the top teams in the NFL. But, I’m going to give a slight edge to Favre because of his experience in big games like this and the fact that the Packer crowd could get into the head of Eli. Edge: Packers

RB: Ryan Grant had two fumbles early in last week’s game that the Seahawks were able to turn into 14 quick points. From then on out he ran 203 yds and 3 TDs in the swirling snows and muddied field conditions. Since being named the starter in week 8 he has rushed for 929 yds and 8 TDs. Pretty good numbers for a guy that was third on the depth chart to start the season. On the other side Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are the prime example of thunder and lightning. Jacobs wears teams down with his 6′-4″ 264 pound frame and Bradshaw the proceeds to run circles around them. As both proved against Buffalo in Week 16 they can play in the snow. Both ran for over 100 yards and multiple touchdowns. It is the two headed attack that allows the Giants to wear down opposing defenses. I’ve always been taught that two heads are better than one. Edge: Giants

FB: Madison Hedgecock requires two helmets for every game as he regularly breaks his facemask clearing lanes for Jacobs and Bradshaw. He is a classic smashmouth fullback who can also catch the ball out of the backfield. John Kuhn went to Shippensburg University, which is in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Other famous Shippensburg alumni include Author Dean Koontz and Raab Himself of MTV’s Viva La Bam. Edge: Giants

WR: Both teams have big play receivers (Donald Driver - Packers, Plaxico Burress - Giants), possession receivers (Greg Jennings - Packers, Amani Toomer - Giants) and speed guys in the slot (James Jones, Steve Smith). Surely you can’t ask me to pick. Edge: Even

TE: Donald Lee almost wins by default. With Jeremy Shockey injured the G-Men are left with a guy named Boss. Word has it he was only promoted because his uncle runs the company.
Edge: Packers

T: Chad Clifton (LT) and Mark Tauscher (RT) held the great Seattle defensive ends to no tackles, no sacks and no QB hurries last weekend. It is for this reason I give them the edge over David Diehl (LT) and Kareem McKenzie (RT) of the Giants, though both those guys have gotten better as the season has progressed. Edge: Packers

G: The Giants’ guards (Rich Seubert/Chris Snee) regularly clear a path for Brandon Jacobs to run up the middle and bruise defenses inside. For the Packers Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz are in their second seasons and still tend to make mistakes from time to time. Edge: Giants

C: Sean O’Hara wins over Scott Wells with his 8 years of experience and the status of team captain. Edge: Giants

DE: Aaron Kampman is a great player at left end but he has been swallowed up in a couple of games this season. Meanwhile Michael Strahan, Usi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck have led this defense to a league leading 53 sacks. The weather could slow this front line down, which would spell problems for the Giants as their defense is built around a good pass rush. Should these guys struggle like the Seattle ends did, then it is going to be along day for the Giants defense. I think they will be able to adapt though. Edge: Giants (Weather permitting)

DT: The Giants front two of Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins win this matchup with their 76 combined tackles on the season over the 74 combined for Ryan Pickett and Corey Williams. It’s a close race but I had to pick a winner based on something. Edge: Giants

DB: Charles Woodson and Al Harris (one of the best corners in the league) win easily over the patchwork secondary that the Giants throw out every game. Aaron Ross and R.W. McQuarters should start and, while the rookie Ross has played admirably, Harris alone swings this matchup in favor of the Packers. Edge: Packers

S: Again, the Giants play a rookie (Michael Johnson) and a shaky James Butler in the secondary. The Packers counter with an equally shaky Nick Collins and the star of the Seattle game, Atari Bigby. Bigby has been lauded all week for his ability to lay down the big hit on receivers and his closing speed. He was the break out star of the Seattle game and Giants receivers should be on the look out for him the entire game. Edge: Packers

K: Mason Crosby or Lawrence Tynes. Let’s see now, how to choose? Well there has been a great line of Crosby’s throughout history. There was David Crosby of Crosby, Still and Nash, Bing Crosby, the great entertainer, Sidney Crosby, teen phenom for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL, Bobby Crosby, oft-injured shortstop for the Oakland A’s, and Harry Crosby, who according to wikipedia was a American heir and bon vivant. Famous Tynes’ on the other hand, well there’s a tougher one. I think I can remember a Sally Tynes that used to work at the 7-11 on the University of Pittsburgh Campus, but I’m not sure she is that well known. I guess I’m going with the Crosby lineage on this one. Edge: Packers

P: The Giants’ Jeff Feagles has been in the league for 18 years and I was always told I should respect the elderly. Edge: Giants

ST: Nobody really stands out for either team here so instead I’ll take a minute to get drink of water…………………………………ok, I’m back. Edge: Even

Coach: Tom Coughlin decided to open up to his players this season and has shown that he is more than just a human looking shell with bad skin and grey hair. There is actually a heart beating inside there somewhere. Mike McCarthy has done a great job with the Pack but I’m goin with experience on this one. Edge: Giants

Intangibles: C’mon now. The game is at Lambeau Field, it’s suppose to be 6 degrees or lower on game day and it may snow, again. The crowd will be drunk and shirtless, wearing cheese on their head and all of America is rooting for a Packers-Patriots Super Bowl and the matchup of Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Do you really think anything is going to go in favor of the Giants? Not only do they have to fight the crowd, the weather, the hopes of people watching on TV, and the Packers themselves, but they may have to fight the football gods as well. If you think the Giants will have any good luck in this game, think again. BIG Edge: Packers

Final Score: Packers 7 - Giants 8

Much like I think the real game will end up being, this score was close with a slight edge to the Giants. I think this will be the game to watch on Sunday and am looking forward with much anticipation. So sit back, get your favorite snacks ready, and prepare yourselves for two great matchups this weekend. As much as I think the NFL machine gets to be a bit much at times, the NFL playoffs is still second to none and the Championship games are always the best games of the year.

Categories: NFL

2007 AFC Championship: The Breakdown

January 18, 2008 · 1 Comment

It’s that time of year again when I like to breakdown the two Championship games in the NFL playoffs. I’ll go position by position and give the edge to the team that I feel has better personnel. Based on who wins the most matchups, that will determine who I am endorsing in the games on Sunday. I’ll be back to do the NFC but first let’s take a look at the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers in Foxboro.


QB: Is it even a question of who wins this battle? Tom Brady, according to all of the talking heads on Television, is the reincarnation. On the flip side the Chargers could go with both Billy Volek and Philip Rivers at quarterback and they still wouldn’t come close to Brady’s ability. Rivers is going to be a game time decision, but the outlook is grim. Edge: Patriots

RB: LaDainian Tomlinson is the best back in the league today. Laurence Maroney is a great runner, but, even though he is banged up, Tomlinson is still a stud. If Tomlinson has to come out of this game then Michael Turner is ready to step in and the Chargers don’t miss a beat. Edge: Chargers

FB: The Pats don’t usually use a fullback as they spend most of their time in the Shotgun Spread. Meanwhile Lorenzo Neal has made a career of clearing a path for whoever is running behind him. Edge: Chargers

WR: The steal of the year was the Patriots obtaining Randy Moss from Oakland for a 4th round draft pick. That move alone should have been enough to revoke the ‘professional’ status that the Raiders currently enjoy. Throw in the quick Wes Welker, who apparently can only be stopped if you cut off his legs (and even then he can still catch the ball), plus Donte Stallworth and his sprinters speed and the Pats are stacked at the wideout position. The best receiver for the Chargers, Chris Chambers, is would be fourth on the depth chart in New England.
Edge: Patriots

TE: Antonio Gates is beat up after playing the Colts last weekend. But, seeing as he is head and shoulders the best athlete at tight end in the entire NFL, I’m still going to take him over Ben Watson. Watson is a good but not otherwordly. Edge: Chargers

T: New England had the best offensive line in the NFL this season. Against the Jaguars last week, Brady was able to sit in the pocket for up to 6 seconds on more than one occasion. To put that into prospective, these days a QB has a slow release if he holds the ball for more than 3 seconds. The line was rewarded with three representatives in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. It’s not that the Chargers line is bad, it’s just that the Patriots line is that good. So I decided I’ll just name them (along with their position in parentheses) so you’ll know who to thank when you see Tom Brady taking a quick nap in the pocket on Sunday. Matt Light (LT). Nick Kaczur (RT). Edge: Patriots

G: Logan Mankins (LG). Stephen Neal (RG). Edge: Patriots

C: Dan Koppen. I just want to add that the New England offensive line is that rare breed that not only blocks the first guy they see but usually the second and third as well. They run up field in the hopes of leveling a guy to break open a big play. Edge: Patriots

DE: Ty Warren and Richard Seymour are regularly double teamed yet still seem to record multiple tackles per game and are great at stopping the run and getting a sack when needed. For the Chargers, Igor Olshansky and Luis Castillo do about the same job. Edge: Even

DT: Vince Wilfork is a beast. He 325 pounds of force that, in the 3-4 defense the Patriots employ, is asked to take up two blockers at a time and plug the middle on inside runs. He not only does these things but also makes them look easy. Jamal Williams is somehow bigger, at 348 pounds, and can be a force inside as well. (Corny Joke Alert) The only person these guys scare more than offensive lineman is the chef at feeding time. Edge: Even

LB: Linebacker is the weakest position for the Patriots as their players are all old enough to remember President Taft. But on the Chargers side a steroid deprived Shawne Merriman leaves San Diego with only Shaun Phillips as a real game changer. But seeing as the Patriots linebackers are sucking back oxygen early on in the first half of games I’m going to call this one a draw as well. Both teams can be exploited and both can come up with the big play. Edge: Even

DB: Ellis Hobbs and Asante Samuel are the great duo on the backfield for the Patriots. Samuel tends to gamble a lot but is also one of the better cover men in the game, while Hobbs does a better than adequate job. Antonio Cromartie led the league with 10 picks and Drayton Florence does about equal to Hobbs. Therefore… Edge: Even

S: Ok, I won’t cop-out this time, Rodney Harrison alone swings the safety position in favor of the Patriots. This guy seems to be in the heads of everyone he is playing on offense, not to mention he is in on almost every tackle and around the ball on every play. The Chargers meanwhile roll out two guys named Moe. Edge: Patriots

K: Stephen Gostkowski has proven to make the big kick and has the added advantage of being at home. Nick Kaeding has shown that the crowd can get in his head. Edge: Patriots

ST: I’m going to give the edge to the Chargers here because Darren Sproles showed what a force he could be last week against the Colts with 99 total return yards and a 56 yard receiving touchdown to boot. Edge: Chargers

Coach: As much as I hate to say it Bill Belichick has proven time and time again that he is a genius who gets his players ready for every situation and always makes the right call. Norv Turner has a career record below .500. It’s a no-brainer here. Edge: Patriots

Intangibles: Let’s face it, the Patriots have gotten lots of breaks this season and they have taken advantage of them each and every time. In the cold and hostile environment at Gillette Stadium they will have the crowd willing them on to victory. Why should their luck run out now?
Edge: Patriots

Final Score: Patriots 9 - Chargers 4

Well there you have it, much like they’ve done all season, the Patriots win in a landslide. Now here’s hoping that my predictions turn out wrong.

Categories: NFL