Donkey Sports Update...

NFL
With Green Bay's debacle at home to the Giants my energy and excitement level has dropped significantly. I was hoping that the Pack could take down the Pats in the Super Bowl, but alas I must rest my hopes on the shoulders of Eli Manning and the Giants. I don't know why it is that I am so vehemently opposed to the Patriots, but I get frustrated watching them win... a lot. The real question for the Super Bowl in my mind is who would win a fight between Belichick or Coughlin. I would take Coughlin --- I think he is just a bit meaner. The game will probably come down to the Giants establishing some type of running game to keep the Pats off the field as much as possible. They will also need to make a big play on defense and probably special teams as well. Eli can't make mistakes (which he hasn't been lately) and the O-Line has to give him time. All this probably needs to happen for the Giants to win the game, but hey it could. I'll try to make an honest prediction here, instead of playing the optimist. Pats 31, Giants 21. And I will be sad.

Major League Baseball
Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Spring Training on February 19th. With fewer than three weeks until the fever kicks in, I'll admit that I haven't been following the offseason activity as well as I normally do. I have taken note of the Roger Clemens PR fiasco that no matter what is true, has really tarnished the Rocket (and make Mike Wallace look old). Of note this past week was the Santana deal to the Mets. This could really put a damper on the Phillies fans, who are doing their best to remind Mets fans of the Metrostars collapse at the end of the season without mentioning their own meltdown in the Playoffs.


College Hoops
UNC vs. Duke should be good this year, but of course name a time when it is not. The ACC beat up the Big Ten again, but of course name a year when they don't.
The Big Ten itself has IU, Wisconsin and Michigan State floating on top of a large swath of possible, but young teams. I think we will see six teams make it, but who the other three are is up in the air. Tonight is the matchup of the Hoosiers and Badgers here in Madison, to which I have wonderful tickets. I'm really torn on this one, because I have as of yet been unable to abandon my roots of IU basketball fandom in favor of the Bucky tradition to which I have transmogrified my other College leanings. I hope it will be a good game and I look forward to seeing Eric Gordon in live action. I'm going to root for nobody, and hope it is a great game. Bo Ryan is a great coach and should have the Badgers ready to rebound from a tough loss at Purdue, while Sampson's crew must go on the road after a not pretty loss to UCONN on Saturday. I'll take Wisconsin tonight, but IU to win the Big Ten. IU will also go deeper than any other Big Ten team in the NCAA tourney... maybe even knocking on the door of the Final Four.

College Football
So Ohio State made the Big Ten look silly again. No suprise there. Hawaii getting bulldozed by the Bulldogs also hurt my very slight enjoyment of the BCS Bowls. At least last year when we didn't get a playoff I got to watch the Boise State Awesomist Show on Earth. A playoff is coming, I'll give it three years. The structure is up in the air, but I just can't imagine that the public won't eventually win out on this issue. Of course, the NCAA has proven me wrong before with their complete disregard for the interest of the fan (and often the players it seems). Oh well, Wisconsin will come out next fall with a new starting QB and three proven studs in the backfield. I'm looking forward for the chance to go to the Michigan game (hold on that may be in Ann Arbor next year)... Oh well. Go Bucky! Maybe the Hoosiers can make a second consectutive Bowl appearance? Now that would be news.

NBA
OK, I don't really care about the NBA, but the Celts were looking so sick until recently. Now they look beatable... and I'm hoping King James takes them to the mat in the playoffs. I really believe the only way I'll watch the Finals is if Lebron gets to showcase his talents again. His unselfishness and hustle are amazing to watch in a player who could definately (and excusably) get by without it.

NHL
I haven't been paying much attention, though I know the Red Wings are doing well. I also got to watch the Penguins in the outdoor game at Buffalo. All I can say is, wow, "The Next One" may be a deserving title for the Kid. Very fun and energetic. I just wish I had cable to watch more NHL games, much more exciting than the average sports coverage (e.g. PGA) on network coverage.

The Steroid Era

I still have not completely resolved how to treat this whole steroid era thing, or the Mitchell report, but I have decided that this report in conjunction with the media's treatment of Eric Mangini of the Jets are both testament to our continued anti-whistleblower attitude in society. Or should I say the "stop snitching" attitude. I know that there are a vast array of issues and forces weighing on any individual regarding loyalty, duty and personal self preservation in these decisions... but it seems to me that the same media that gets frustrated by the lack of willingness to report crime are the same ones that go after anyone that breaks "unwritten codes." I'm not sure how to thoroughly weigh the competing forces, but I do know that it is annoying to have these conflicting values being promoted in the media.

Oh well...

Blame the media, right?

Young to Twins, Cordero to close for Cincy

Delmon Young was moved by the Devil (sic) Rays for Garza from the Twins. This likely will not be the biggest move of the offseason for the Twins as they seek to move Nathan and Santanna prior to the start of 2008 as well. If I were a Twins fan, I would have to be pretty frustrated. The Twinkies have turned into the 2000's version of the '90's expos... only actually making the playoffs. Producing talent in the organization that a fan gets to fall in love with, only to watch it sold off for more young talent is frustrating. I'm not sure what the best method is to address these profit seeking firesales... but they are not good for the game.

In other news, my beloved Commies (i.e. Reds) in the NL Central have went and got themselves a real deal closer through free agent Francisco Cordero. If my math is correct they are paying $11.5 million per year for Cordero, which equates to between $287-$500K per save (if he gets 23-40). I know that is just going rate, but it seems a bit high for me... Especially given the fact that the Reds can't anticipate being in that many important close games next year, can they?

In shameful news, La Russa was found guilty of a DWI/OWI/DUI offense stemming from an incident last spring. This isn't a proud badge to wear for such an articulate and kind man.


Fantasy Football Update:
I pulled off a 123-122.5 victory this past weekend. This was mostly do to Kolby Smith blowing up for 150 yards this past weekend, and thus has earned a starting spot on the Badger Hunds for this weekend's matchup versus the California Kats. Both teams come in with an 8-4 record and are tied for the divisional lead with two games remaining. The trouble for me will likely come from the Brady factor, but hopefully my newly acquired P. Manning will produce to a competitive level with Tommy boy. My defense matches up well, but the Kats also feature Ray Lewis who has been blowing up the tackles the past few weeks. With only two games left, this is the divisional championship -- Unless I win - splitting the season series, and then lose the last week when the Kats win. In that case the tiebreaker would go to the team with the most points scored, which at the moment the Badger Hunds are -60 behind the Kats. Have a good fantasy weekend.

The newest baseball curse...

The week long layoff leading up to the World Series. Given that this year's should be considered less of a suprise (at least to Las Vegas), this makes two successive teams falling who had marched through the LCS in the minimum 4 only to have to wait a week to play again. The Rockies attempted to run some simulated games during this time to stay fresh, but they must have been simulating losing them if it worked... Cause they are getting spanked in a manner that is illegal in public in at least 5 states.

The real question is what do we call this curse?

The Tawdry Tiger?
The Detroit Diaspora?
The RockyTop Stop and Drop?
The Curse of the Sweep?

The Sox Sock/Rock the Rox...

The Rockies bounced back well after their game one meltdown, but it wasn't enough. The Rockies pitching and defense looked good, but there was no offensive spark. The maxim that sometimes "the best defense, is a good offense" has not taken effect with Colorado in the Series (or the last 10 or so games). I also find it nuts that a team could finish the year 21-5 and get swept in the World Series... I'm still reeling from that run the Rockies put together to get here.

I have decided that an expose on why I hate the designated hitter is in order...
just not today.

Sox and the Rox

I chose to use an alternative abbreviation for the Rockies, in honor of and in comparison to a high school team from near my hometown: Da Jug Rox.... I think the Rox (of Colorado) may be considered about as much of an underdog as the Rox (of Southern IN fame) were in every sporting contest in which they participated. Honestly, how are the Red Sox the prohibitive favorite? I get that they should probably be considered likely to win given their greater depth in pitching and overall higher level of experience and arguably talent -- but somehow the Sox are getting odds that seem a bit tilted. I guess it could be the "Notre Dame effect," which holds that in the three or four days from the time a line is released the line will move unfavorably with respect to Notre Dame due to the large amount of blind follower fans who place inordinately large wagers on their team. I have no idea if this is a true statement, but I do know that betting against ND has been profitable for me.

I don't think the momentum has worn off with the break (I don't really know if I believe in momentum across games?), but even if it has - Colorado won 21 of 22, which isn't something done on mojo alone... This team can flat out play with anyone and I think underestimating their ability to do all the small things that win games is a little presumptuous. It will be fun to watch and I'm willing to bet every game has more than 7 runs scored. GO NL! beat those little brat brothers. I'll take the Rox over the Sox in 6. I'll also take a snowstorm in game 5.

Dusty Baker heads up the Reds

So it looks like the Reds went and got themselves a new manager. We will see if Dusty can turn around what is the most sad franchise in the NL Central, which probably means in all of baseball. I remember when I was younger, I had a friend [who will go unnamed] who used to try and convince me that the Reds were just as or more prestigious than the St. Louis Cardinals. That argument never held water with me, but now it is unquestionably false. Playoff appearances since 2000: STL-6, CIN - 0....

MLB on TV, Unless you don't have cable, like me.

In the case that you are part of the minority of Americans sans cable, I thought you might like to know that the Major League Baseball playoffs are upon on us. In fact, they are zipping right by with a total of 13 games needed (minimum +1) to get through the Divisional Series.* The end result of these four Divisional Series nearly mirrored my desired outcome. This is of course excluding the Red Sox beating the Angels, who are appropriately named “Evil Empire Lite” by my good friend Mel-Anon. This being said, it is hard to say that rooting for the Angels and Moreno’s Evil Empire Lite: West Coast Edition could be considered fun from a passionate purveyor of parity – as I tend to be.

In conjunction with Mr. Anon’s post on this subject, I would have to agree that it looks like the Colorado Rockies should be the favorite in the NLCS. After a sluggish outing by Webb last night, the Snakes have an uphill climb. I think they may make it fun to watch (if you have cable) but, I think the Rockies will be, pardon my biblical reference, David of the NL this year. Rox in five. The David role is what NL teams get to play in the World Series, at least from a betting line standpoint. I do believe the only two favorites from the NL going into the Series in the past decade were the Cards in ’04 (oh lordy, what a no show that was) and the Diamondbacks, with Schilling and Johnson in 2001 (by a scant –115 over the Yanks).

The real question at hand is to whom the role of Goliath falls. Though I hope, and wagered, on the Indians triumphing – their bullpen must outperform its regular season effort to be competitive. I do like Cleveland’s defense, contact hitting, and overall clutch performance. The front side of their rotation with Carmona and Sabathia is powerful in a seven game set. The Sox counter with a very powerful line-up and a solid rotation. I still think Beckett is overrated, but it is hard to downplay his previous playoff success. Overall, I think the intangibles lie with the Indians. They get to have it out with David after beating EEL in seven.

The World Series... Well it’s too early to start prognosticating, but if the Rockies make it and are a huge dog – you can bet that I’ll bet on them.

* I had to look into the appropriate plural form of series, and in fact it is series. If it is referring to a single series of events, it takes a singular verb. Correspondingly, if it is referring to more than one series of events, it takes a plural verb.

Vicariously I live while the Cubbies die...

I have to admit a bit of glee did become me this past week as the Cubs slouched away into the fall wearing the playoff collar. Hah! I recognize this lack of performance does reflect poorly on my team, since the Cubs are the champions - take note of the lower case c - of the Central. Alas, this argument just doesn't matter because the Cubs are simply impossible to support (even tacitly). Go Cards!

I have also enjoyed watching the Yanks, Angels, and Phils lose. It's going well right now for me in the playoffs, but let's see if the Cleveland vs. Colorado world series can't happen to help keep the ratings nerds on edge. go Indians! (Full Disclosure: I have a wager at 2:1 on the Indians to beat the Red Sox).

In other sports news, the Badgers got flat out beat by the Illini. They are off to Penn St. this weekend, where we will hopefully not need to break Paterno's leg to pull one out. (You have to be wondering how many 'break a leg's' are being said in Happy Valley this week). Bucky also lost Luke Swan for the year, which is one of the more disappointing things in sports this fall. This kid just has guts, a walk on who clawed his way into a starting scholarship slot position and then as a senior a captain is out with a torn hammy. Little tikes should take heed and stretch well prior to full physical exertion.

Another huge disappointment this past weekend was the Pack, their failure to protect the football and to make a stand when they needed it was disenchanting. I guess it is important that they let us Cheeseheads down early from that 4-0 start. The good news is they have enough fluff (and play in the NFC) that they should still be locked up for a playoff run. That is both exciting and probably excoriating for me, as I will endure a number of "memories" of that one time when Favre took'em to the house. I love football.

I will try to include some poker stuff in my next CardsDonkey post, but for now... DonkOut.