In 18 We Trust

Peyton Manning has transformed the Colts from an NFL doormat to a team that is perpetually at the top of the food chain. Manning's Colts are moving into some hallowed territory in terms of games won. Yesterday's 31-21 win over the Lions solidified the Colts as one of three teams in NFL history to win 10 games 7 straight seasons.

The other teams in that rare air are the 75'-1981 Cowboys and the 49er's of 83'-1998.

The Manning era has yielded winning streaks of 7 or more games in five straight seasons. That is an NFL record. To put a bow on it....Manning's 08' Colts can win 12 games and extend a record of seasons with 12 wins to 6.

These are unbelievable numbers people. Before we get to Manning's greatness you have to understand that the Colts were awful through the 80's until Eric Dickerson came in 1987. That season was the franchises first playoff appearance in Indy but remember many of those wins came with a quarterback in Gary Hogeboom that crossed the players strike picket line.

The 90's produced very little. Jeff George was a bust picked #1 overall. Steve Entman was another #1 that didn't work out due to multiple knee injuries. Trev Alberts and Quentin Coryatt were top 10 picks that were awful and awfully average.

My memories of the Colts existence in the AFC East as also rans include: Bruce Smith pounding our quarterbacks into the turf with the mighty Buffalo Bills, Dan Marino lighting up cornerback Eugene Daniel which would later spawn the nickname "toast" by my Indy friend base, and New England beating us with quarterbacks like Tom Ramsey, Steve Grogan, and yes even Scott Zolak and Doug Flutie. Oddly enough, the only games we won during those times seemed to come against the Jets and those wins were usually fueled with a Clarence Verdin punt return.

Some Indy fans might be saying....'How the heck can you forget about 1995?'

Well, I didn't. I'll never forget about Jimbaugh. Or Captain Comeback if you like that better. Jim Harbaugh had the year of his life in 1995 under coach Ted Marchibroda the architect of Jim Kelly's K-Gun offense in Buffalo.

The truth of the matter is then GM Bill Tobin got the Colts going in the right direction with the Harbaugh acquisition, drafting Marvin Harrison, and Marshall Faulk. Faulk was hurt during the 95' run but the lesser known Zack Crockett came out of nowhere to tear up San Diego. The defense was unbelievable as Ashley Ambrose and Ray Buchannon were intercepting everything. But Harbaugh's magic came to an end in Pittsburgh after a hail mary bounced off the hands of Aaron Bailey. All Colts fans are still pissed about Kordell Stewart's TD catch that clearly came after he was out of bounds but that's another blog in itself.

Really though, that 95' run was an anomaly in an era where I watched fans show up to games regularly wearing paper bags on their heads with the label DOLTS FAN.

Two things happened to change things for the Colts and set the franchise on its path of destruction over the past 7 years.

1. Bill Polian was hired to come from Carolina to rebuild the Colts. Polian had built the Bills with John Butler, Marv Levy, and AJ Smith. He had built Carolina into NFC champs within the franchises first three years of existence.

2. Polian guessed right by selecting Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf in the 98' draft. Leaf came into that draft as the favored prospect. Bigger arm, more mobile, more upside as a pro was alot of what "the so called experts" were saying.

Well Ryan Leaf recently resigned from a nowhere coaching job because he was trying to get pain pills from one of his players. Manning is working hard on his third NFL MVP award. There is a famous story I've heard Polian tell where it was the night before the draft and Manning walks into the office where Polian is with Coach Mora. Both men were a little on the fence in terms of who to take and Manning says

"If you don't draft me number one, I'll make it my number one priority to come in here and kick the sh*^ out of your teams every chance I get!"

Mora later told me that was all he needed...he knew Manning was the guy at that point.

Mannings career is as prolific statistically as it gets in NFL history. For years people loved to say he would be just like Dan Marino all the stats in the world but no Lombardi trophies. That garbage talk was ended with the Colts 2006 Super Bowl win.

This 2008 year has been unlike any other Manning year. The stats are nice but not gawdy. What makes Manning a leading MVP candidate is the plays he is making to win games in the closing moments.

Manning set up the game winning field goal with a clutch drive against Minnesota. He took advantage of a defense that created turnovers to help beat Houston in come from behind fashion. He led game winning drives in back to back weeks against New England and Pittsburgh. He converted a 4th and 1 against San Diego that set up a game winning field goal.

Sunday against Detroit he did it again. Orchestrating a drive in the 4th to put away a fiesty 0-13 Lions team. The drive was Mannings 36th game winning drive put together in the 4th quarter or overtime.

Manning has made winning routine for this team. His play has kept our city's expectations championship or bust which really is a ridiculous standard when you consider how much parody is in the NFL.

The Bottom line is this: the Colts record WITHOUT Manning 88-135. WITH Peyton Manning calling the shots 115-59.

I never take this winning streak for granted. I remember the 1-15 season in 1991. Lofa Tatupou said it best last week.

"Peyton could be the MVP every year. There is no player in the league who has as much responsibility and does more for his team."

Squeeking Through the Season is a New Recipe for These Guys

There are certain things I just don't understand in this world LIKE: why do adult people still not know how to execute the right of way in a 4- way stop. Why are multimillion dollar airlines charging for an extra bag or your golf clubs. And why in the world would Pittsburgh try to throw two passes backed up against its own 5 yard line in a game they lead 17-7?

The latter I will simply say thank you and go about my day enjoying the hell out of the fact the Colts have just had three weeks of division leaders: Tennessee, New England, and Pittsburgh....and we've come through it 2-1 and very easily could have been 3-0. Skeptics would point out that without a Jabar Gaffney drop and the aforementioned Pittsburgh boneheaded coaching.... we could be looking at 0-3.

But that is the beauty of the NFL...and in this year parody is everywhere. I don't know if the Brady and Merriman injuries are in anyway involved but the NFC maybe stronger than the AFC for the first time since I can remember. It's a deep pool of contenders and a win over anyone other than Detroit, and St. Louis is freaking amazing.

All that said...this is a new world for Colts fans. We are used to the Penthouse suite. That cozy little place we've sat smug and unchallenged. That place where we are firing up the cornhole board by the 4th quarter and our toughest decision is whether or not to play our starters with 3 games left in a season.

Peyton Manning(61% 2448yds 15td's 9 int in '08)----“We are fighting and scratching. We’ve kind of been the underdog. People aren’t really expecting us maybe to win the game. This is the type of football and the conditions we’re playing in. We’re beat up. We have a lot of new guys playing. We truly are kind of fighting and scratching and clawing and trying to find a way to have a chance in the fourth quarter to win the game."

When "The Franchise" and one of the greatest to EVER lace it up says that....you get a sense of just how that Penthouse suite has been replaced by grit, hard-hat/lunch pail desperation.

But you know what I luuuuuuuuuv about these Colts. They aren't going to be able to take off the last three weeks. They will have to continue to have Peyton Manning keep this team the best in the NFL in the Redzone at scoring 7. They will have to have Marvin Harrison make one diving catch this year, please. They will have to have the defense stopping the run like it has the last 3 weeks. They will have to have Ron Meeks continue to throw tendency breakers like blitzes in the gameplan.

By now if you don't see that the beautiful thing about these C0lts other than the now 5-4 winning record is the fact that this team's identity is still being forged. It's not a team getting fat on cheese and wine....it's a team that might be finally realizing in the NFL sometimes you need to drive the bulldozer and not the Ferrari.

Nothing Better than a Bitch Slap Boston Weekend

Watching The Office the other night I started to think how much the shows career is mirroring my Colts right now. It's like....all the main stars and characters are still there, there's a history of success and payoff that keeps us tuning in, but things have just grinded down to a stagnant dose of blah.

I mean when I tune in and see Dwight pretending to go to Cornell to make Andy upset and Jim's brothers (who look nothing like him) playing dumb let's pretend games with Pam I start to fade off into thinking how that's like the deep ball play to Marvin....it's worked, the fans have loved that combo and I should point out it is the most successful TD combo ever, but for whatever reason its just not quite the same anymore. How many times can you lean on the cutesy Pam and flirty Jim storyline to pull you through....

Now a couple things here I have to address to Bill Simmons...one of the pioneer sports writers going (see Bill's work on Page 2 ESPN http://search.espn.go.com/bill-simmons/ )...but also a New England homer. Well, I'm going to be Indy's counter because for years he's had the loudest voice ....and when we can wipe Boston twice in one weekend...it's like a holiday in Naptown and should not go without some pound our chest...remember us... Reggie Miller type trash talk.

Make no mistake ...there is no love lost on the other side of that equation either. Chowwwwwddda heads have no taste for Indy anything. They love the fact they have the old upper hand card....ahhh how many Titles do we have card" Game Over!


As Colts fans we take any morsel we can get and cherish it likes it our little pet. I love my little naughty pet....your naughty and then you take your naughty....alright Farley enough.

Indy Fans are praying to one religion today...thank God Anthony Gonzalez....and also remember to send a Christmas card to Jabar Gaffney for dropping what looked like it could have been the game winning touchdown.


Also it should be noted beating New England BARELY without Tom Brady playing doesn't have the same luster...nor should either team ever lose in this rivalry without its main gun.

But that said, Peyton Manning was The Doctor. I nicknamed #18 this when I was calling Colts highlights for WTHI TV 10 in Terre Haute. One of my favorites.....

(over a VO of a manning TD)

"Hi i'm Peyton Manning I'll be operating on your defense today"....



Joseph Addai continues to run like he weighs 145....Dom Rhodes runs like he's Addai's weight.


Reggie Wayne is a man even though he's not 40......guys hurt all week....gets pounded on a 2 point conversion by 2 Pats...holds on. Guy is just high level.

But the Colts defense still scares the hell out of me. They can't get off the football field against a team who's game plan was quick screen and Faulk shotgun draw.

Note to The Belichick. You might want to run the play where Moss runs deep for the TD past Keiwann Ratliff, a guy who hasn't even been on the team or in the league consistently. You might not want to challenge calls when your offense has us reeling either.

Now as a RPM gearhead type town...we know well that it's not always the fastest or best car that wins the race.

The Pacers certainly won't have a better year than the Celtics but when a young team without any known identity treats game 2 of 82 like it's the NBA Finals....that's a good thing for a building team.

When your star player who just signed a 60 mill re-up dives for a loose ball up double figures late...only to have two of his teeth chopped off by the floor as Paul "I just ate another pizza" Pierce lays on top of you....that's a good sign. Anything is a better sign than the Post Brawl Pacers...aka A Bunch of Friggin Idiots.

Wouldn't be sweet if these two teams started having a little better rivalry. There was the Chuck Person vs. Larry Bird score-a-thon days.....but the only memory that sticks is Bird face planting in Game 5 then going to the locker room...only to come back out and handle Person and the Pacers with the same arrogant confidence that helped him hold up the old #1 before the last ball even went in during the 87-88 NBA 3 point contest.

Larry Bird as the coach of the Pacers seemingly never lost a game to the Celtics...but those Boston teams weren't in the same league as Reg's teams. The Jim O'Brien conference contending Celtics never really linked up right with Rick Carlisle's 60 win Ron Artest/ O'Neal team.

Nobody on this planet thinks the Pacers will do anything...including Pacer die-hards as of now. However, it would be perfect to pump up the Ainge vs. Bird storyline. You know those two guys are like oil and water on pretty much every subject. You know they never liked each other much playing for the Championship Celts. They were work buddies only. That's really all speculation but it feels right, doesn't it?

Who knows what the future holds for the Colts or Pacers...or even The Office. But let's hope that fresh faces and storylines like Holly, Michael's new I'm just as dorky as you love interest, or the emergence of Gonzo as the slot threat that Indy envisioned when drafting him to replace Stokley, or Danny Granger really being worth 60 mill' generate something that clears the stale out.

Please Remove the Dark Cloud from the Colts ...and the Pacers While You Are at It.

I've recently moved back to Indy to be around my family and closest friends, who in reality are family, and I got to say...priiiiiiitty....prittttttty preeeeettty goooood.

One of my favorite activities is hanging with my 2 year old niece Bevan. I'm sitting there showing her pictures of cool animals on the computer like tigers, giraffe's, zebra's and her favorite snakes and it finally hit me.

I wish we lived in a world like the Backyardigans. Uniqua, Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, and Austin have a way to take anything they come across and turn it into a happy feel good song. That is exactly what we need as Colts and Pacer fans right now.

Pablo

"And hey we got rid of every player...that was meeeeee----an and not niiiiiice....we've replaced them with all good and new citizens .....that love to do everything that is right."

I do believe making a move to replace idiots with solid people will be a major turning point for Larry's team. By the way Larry Bird in any top five best player argument ever....but I think in like 25 more years he will be one of the scariest looking dudes....I mean like old dude who looks like a vulchur.....I do think though he is changing things for the better.

Quick thoughts from one early look against a Detroit team that is good but sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stale.
Good but are they going to beat Lebron....or Boston? Noooope. They can beat the Pacers though and thus they were 10 point favorites at home...

Pacers beat that number....and here's why.

1. The point guard combo of Jarrett Jack and TJ Ford was an upgrade of 800 to the 27th power. Both can play....both are quick...Jack is strong and can get to the rim with contact and finish....Ford is little but has sweet finishing skills around the basket among bigger players.

2. Danny Granger played like a star or at least an All Star. We know Danny can shoot...we didn't know he could drive and keep driving to 12 free throw attempts. If he does that consistently ...well that's what NBA stars do everynight ...in and out when the jumper isn't always falling the line will keep you alive.

3. Brandon Rush can play. Ahhhhh, dude is built like Paul Pierce junior. He gets to the basket and can finish ...once the jumper starts being consistent...plus he defends....the upside is so choice if you have the means I highly recommend it.

4. Roy Hibbert is going to be an interesting project to watch...he had a spin move on the baseline that was Fake Olajuwon.

9er- Please stop running the offense through Troy Murphy in the high post. The guy gets his double double but god is it me or does dude look like he's in pain out there doing it...not pain in the sense he's hurt but pain in us watching his moves and ball handling abilities.

But all in all good debut without Dunleavy who is tied for your top scorer role. I think Indy fans are going to be peaking in on this team...if they can string some wins together....this city knows how to be a big league NBA town.

Uniqua

"We don't say mean things about Peyton...He's our leader and a good guy....Coach Dungy might be out of town til Thursday...we need to stick with him and here's why. "

False, Jim Irsay has some things to look at this off season. Whether or not you believe the rumor Dungy doesn't show many times till late in the week and his assistants run alot of stuff...or not....the fact of the matter is thinking about a change at least on the offensive side of the ball might be a shot of just what we needed for this team.

I'll tell you this right now. Tom Moore has been great. Any probably no one knows more about offense...Jesus the guy was with the Steeler's 70's dynasty...then the Lions in the Barry Sanders Herman Moore days, but and I can't help thinking of Jack Nickelson as the Joker....

"This town needs an enema"

Kind of feel that way about the Colts offense.

Regardless of all that garbage the horseshoe sits one game out of the wild card with New England in town. I know this, if there was one team I wanted to kick the crap out of to get us jump started it's Captain Hoody's Cheaters. As Colts fans we hate New England worse than that meal your mom made you eat as a kid 8 million times... we hate them more than waiting in line at the license branch for an hour, we hate them more than a screaming baby on an airplane with a flight of 3 or more hours.

All the Colts need is Peyton Manning to be Peyton Manning. That means stop calling the wrong audibles. That means stop under throwing Reggie Wayne on the Corner. That means if Marvin Harrison is getting bumped out of bounds every play get Gonzo in there. That means tell Joseph Addai to quit running like a 160 pound back and most of all it means.... quit throwing more interceptions than touchdowns.

Austin

"The Pacers are a bunch of good guys...and good guys will win 50 games... And the Colts are going on a longing winning streak and will appear in a playoff game... "

Man I wish everything could be as positive as the Backyardigans!

TV Worth Watching

Some new formatting up and away for the blog. Notice I just take out one superfluous "up" and I dodge copying Superman, thus creating my own super cool language-Peterman. Like that time when I worked for Peterman on Seinfeld.

(cut to scene of Seinfeld with Peterman trying on some of his clothes in front of the mirror and asking Peter Griffin for advice. Low angle boom shot starting on front foot of Peterman...swinging up from the floor and getting the 2 shot from Peterman's perspective into the mirror so we see both characters)

Peterman
Peeeter, WhaTTTT do you think OF this saaasssy delight like a bird Taaaking the worm cleeeean from the soooil...

Peter Griffin
(in a perplexed manner that is in act with a rare but quick Peter splash of brilliance.)

While I do agree, the rust brown colors, splattered against a canvas of earthtone greens and scary B movie blood red do say you Mr. Peterman....I must also insist that you think about that worm....and what if its all about the worm really chasing the bird?@#$ ...that damn chicken is invoking me for the last time...

Peterman
(excited)

Pure Brilliance Peter...Spot on.

(Peter staring out the window at his long standing foe...the chicken...Peter dashes thru the window and the chicken fight is on)

If you don't watch Family Guy this drivel probably has you thinking of me more stoned than Tommy Chong in Up in Smoke but if you do....I'm hoping its a least a serviceable karaoke rendition of something you might see Seth McFarlane write....and Peter Griffin say. You see McFarlane has some great devices in place that really turns his script into a daily write your own adventure.

Two of the devices were just used in the made up scene.

A. Over the course of the shows life Peter has had many flashback scenes. Anything from having a job as Lara Flynn Boyle's blanket to having a fart off contest with Michael Moore.

And 3. there is this reoccurring urge to have Peter fighting with a chicken. Of course there are alot of other variables that make the show good enough for FOX to give McFarlane the richest or at least one of the richest deals ever.

I think the biggest factor that draws me in are the allusions layered throughout the show to obscure pop culture. They are everywhere whether its pointing out a worthless Chevy Chase movie and how he completely sucks now, or, having Stewie go through an art museum set to a complete ripoff of Ferris Bueller's Day off when Cameron is staring at Sunday In the Park with George. It gets bigger and bigger, and bigger, and bigger till we just see one dot of the pointillism piece.

There was one episode that ended with the theme song playing to the original Incredible Hulk TV show and Stewie was on the side of the rode as a cartoon and everything else in the screen was the video they used for that show. Genius.

You know I'm sitting here asking myself why I like that stuff so much....and I really have no freakin clue. I just know I do. It's fun to see if my database of pop culture can make all the appropriate references. Hence, why I like the game Scene It so much and why I'm ready to play you anytime anywhere. Geez, Seth McFarlane would be a guy to have on your team.

On top of all this garbage the show really does have interesting characters. What other show do you watch where the dog and the baby are the smartest and probably your favorite characters?

I got a fever for more Stewie and the only cure is more cowbell. Having a little baby set to the backdrop of a brilliant aristocratic gay man is bold.

Brian the dog is an Ivy League graduate that likes to womanize and has pretty much drank every drink, done every drug, and seen a whole hell of a lot of idiocracy through the misadventures of his best friend Peter. I mean, just think about the last two character descriptions and then think about how easy and fun it would be to write for that!

Oh, Erin Andrews just popped on ESPN Giggitty gitty.

That of course homage to Glen Quagmire, who is Peter's neighbor and pretty much spends every moment of his life as the eternal playboy. One of Quagmire's finest moments was a scene when he was on The Bachelorette. He ruffies the girl in the hot tub and drags her face down scrapping the pavement to his room only to realize that he was on-camera. So he closes the door on her and then quickly re-opens the door to steal her shoe so he can sniff it in his room in order to quench his strange desires. You show me one guy that doesn't have a little Glen Quagmire in em' some where deep and dark and I'll show you a LIIIIIIIAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!

Kind of fitting using the Seinfeld setting to start the column. It was not planned but there are many cross connections and references in Family Guy to the hit 90's NBC show. Joe the crippled cop and neighbor is voiced by Patrick Warburton who of course was Putty on Seinfeld. You know...The Face Painter.

John O'Hurly AKA Peterman took a break from hosting Family Feud to lend his voice as a cult leader in a 99 episode of Family Guy called Padre de Familia. I really don't feel like listing all the mentions...you get my point.

Speaking of points...what is the point of this column. Not so sure anymore. However, I do know Family Guy is a show worth watching. Gotta Run, The Office is coming on....another show that is worth watching.

Football is back...Love it

You know football has become big when the night before the season opener you feel those anxious feelings inside your body that remind you of the time before Christmas when wondering if you were going to get Nintendo...and if you did...please tell me mom had the brilliance to get Legend of Zelda.

Ahhh Zelda, it was like the golden ticket for Wonka because the game cartridge was literally gold...and finding one that Christmas was complete chaos. Ask my mother...and yes...she won best mom in the world because Nintendo and Zelda were both there under the tree Christmas morning along with Mike Tyson's punchout which was a great compliment to Zelda. You go from adventure, character building, puzzle solving, to just flat out button mashing fun.

Those same anxious feelings were brewing Saturday night when thinking about my Colts opening up the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil stadium against the Bears. Obviously alot of concern over the franchise's knee issues.

All reports going in said he was fine and on schedule...but the thought of All-Pro Jeff Saturday not in there and Brian Urlacher still pissed that Manning and the Colts ran all over them in the Super Bowl two years ago...well how would you feel if Urlacher was coming to get you.

Also I had alot of concern about the Colts defense. Yeah, for the first time ever they were top 3 in the league last year but when it mattered most against San Diego in the playoffs they couldn't stop a team without Ladanian Tomlinson or their starting QB Phillip Rivers.

All they had to do against the Bears was stop a rookie runningback and make Kyle Orton throw. I mean, name one Bears receiver? Couldn't do it...Indy got absolutely manhandled in the front 7 and Pro Bowl alternate Antoine Bethea was miserable...couldn't tackle...couldn't cover tight ends all of it added up to Chicago converting 10-16 third downs and bleeding the clock.

I'll say this, Dwight Freeney looked fantastic but the down and distance the Bears got in and the 3 and 5 step drops they were using did not cater to Freeney and Mathis having big days even though both guys did manage a sack.

The Colts got spanked. Kudos to the Bears, looked like the team from the Super Bowl year. In fairness to them, they were not at full strength in that game. But they also did an awful job stopping the run.

So what's crazy is...the Bears tell John Madden if they could have just stopped the run in that game they could have won. So that's what the gameplan was Sunday...stop Joe Addai and make a rusty Peyton Manning beat them. That takes alot of guts to say we want Manning to beat us.

It worked. Manning and his Ferrari receivers missed by inches on about 5 game changing plays. The running game was stuffed...I mean...you put 8 on the line of scrimmage against Manning and its usually surgery on you.

It's amazing how many Colts fans I've talked to that are panicked...one guy predicted 8-8. That's what happens I guess when you don't lose for 21 games in Sept. and Oct. People forget how to lose.

Indy is not going anywhere...When you talk favorite in the AFC...the horseshoe is right there. Or are they? Manning and the defense will get better, I hope.

Alright quick thoughts around the rest of the league.

The Bills are better than you think. They have been stockpiling draft picks for a couple of years now. Signed some key vets (Marcus Stroud from Jags fame comes to mind) and have a rising talent at QB and RB in Edwards and Lynch.

Brett Favre is still good...but he he will throw a key interception to kill you at any moment. This week he gets applauded for lobbing a watermelon TD throw under duress. That same play can end your season. Don't believe me, check the end of last year's Pack v. Giants game. Okay it wasn't a lob but it was a piss poor read and pass.

Jay Cutler is an absolute stud. Denver's QB will emerge this year as top 5 in the league. No one throws a better looking rope. I mean its effortless. The guy can do it in the pocket or on the run. Mike Shanahan has finally opened up the playbook like it was with Elway. Keep an eye on their rookie WR Royal out of Va Tech and when Brandon Marshall comes back this week...it gets even more scary. Yeah, the Raiders suck, but pass defense is not that bad.

Pittsburgh is foooooo real. How would Willie Parker respond from a broken leg? ...ahh he's still fast Willy. If he is on your fantasy team you destroyed your league week 1. Big Ben can throw it with the best of them...Hines Ward is still awesome. And the 3-4 they run in Blitzburgh is scary. It makes no sense to me how you can rush 6 and cover like your in a dime....pressure makes it that way.

Dallas will win a playoff game finally. You know I read that Tony Romo spent alot of his off season playing grab ass with Jessica...ehhh I mean studying Tom Brady and how he moves efficiently in the pocket. Watching ESPN's film breakdown...the guy looked like a mirror image of Brady. He literally had 20 minutes to stand their flat footed ... survey and dice.

Eagles...you look pretty...but are we viewing you with beer goggles. St. Louis seems to be getting worse every season. Forget trying to make a first down..I'm not sure the Rams can get dressed before the game without sucking at that. McNabb has Warren Moon laser arm....and there were guys out running the other team...but let's see what happens Monday against Dallas.

Panthers dominate NFC South and might get homefield with everyone in NFC East beating each other up. If Chicago was old Chicago and they were against Indy....then Carolina is old Carolina. The line is already being dubbed "the great wall of Charlotte" (by me only). The backs are slash and pound capable....with Williams slashing and Stewart steam rolling. Julius Peppers is in a contract year and playing like it. The secondary makes alot of plays ei Chris Gamble ripping Gates. Ask NFL GM's who the most talented team on paper was in week one..... 99 percent will say San Diego. To beat them on their field without Steve Smith...take notice everyone. The NFC South is weak....Panthers looking good.

The Saints can move the ball. Drew Brees seems to throw for 350 yards every game but no one thought that he would be so darn good 5 years ago...except die-hard Purdue fan. But with Colston down it will be interesting to see what happens. Reggie Bush will never be the runner they thought but he does make plays in the passing game. Defensive is going to be the question for them. NO's secondary does not illicit any feeling whatsoever in anybody ...except strangely it does do something for die-hard Saints fan.

The Giants....hey I better say something ..I almost forgot they are the reigning champs. Plus the rush looked better than I thought without Osi. Their D co-ordinator is genius level...the Redskins are idiots for not locking him up. He said no to them is what one report said...then another says he was shunned ..who knows. But I do know Eli Manning and Plax are as good as there is and Brandon Jacobs is the scariest player in the NFL. Its not even fair watching DB's trying to tackle a guy who's 265 pounds. I literally felt bad for Laron Landry of the Skins. Guy was mulled several times by #27.

Jackonsville has issues. The Jags looked miserable in week 1 against a Titans team that has a QB who's mom is making statements about his well being. That's embarrassing. Can you imagine Peyton Manning's mom making excuses for her son? Alot of it is injury...both guards...a backup guard..and center all out. They will get it together though just like the Colts. But, they won't if David Garrard was a flash in the pan. Is he for real? If he is, the Jags will be okay.

The Titans we just briefly touched on above ...but yikes. What a mess...and yet they are still good. They might be better with Kerry Collins at QB. Tennessee is as physical and tough as it gets. Obviously they have a rookie RB who is Hussein Bolt Jr. but more than any other coach, Jeff Fisher makes you wonder "how is he doing this". The receivers are no-name... they don't score more than 20 points a game. Can you really name anyone of defense except Haynsworth. I don't understand...but they win.

Green Bay -- the entire country could hear the exhale in Wisconsin. Aaron Rodgers looks legit. Hey, guy was a stud at Cal...known for accuracy...looked every bit of that against a highly tauted Vikings defense. Green Bay is just really good. They are a dumb Favre pick away from the Super Bowl last year. Rogers had no problems spreading the D from the shotgun and picking it apart.

And saving the worst for last....New England. The team that makes me cringe upon saying its very name. At first you want to say ...it's over. Brady out, no chance. But if you know anything about this team and who coaches it....believe me Colts fans do....you know that is not the truth.

This team will not die....it will continue to win....even with a guy who has not started since high school. Tom Brady was a nobody when he got his call. It's alot to expect from Matt Cassell but he can be Jeff Hostettler good. No doubt in my mind....I can complete passes to Randy Moss and Wes Welker and so could you.

Coming into the season people said the Pats defense was on a downswing, it would be a weakness....ahhh 5 sacks in week one and tough as always. That's why it is my fantasy defense... because as much as I hate them...and I do hate them...they are always good as long as Bill Belichek is coaching. Plus New England has the easiest schedule in the league

The Comedy...It's a Changing People

To say Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder are visionary would get a laugh out of any serious movie critic...but these films go into some unknown territory or certainly not previously done well territory in the Comedy genre. Yes, I'm talking about Hot Shots Part Duex failing to make an impact merging action and comedy.

Both films take the silly slap stick that has made Jud Apatow and Ben Stiller A- Listers and combine it with hard core action in a way that makes you just say wow...that's weird...pretty good though.

Before we dive into this let's be honest, the Comedy genre is the black sheep of Hollywood. I'm not counting Annie Hall, Doctor Strangelove, or Some like it Hot as the kind of comedy I'm talking about...I'm talking Blazing Saddles, Airplane, Caddyshack.

The kind of films I'm talking about will never be confused for best picture candidates but they will be quoted by the masses for eternity.

(Insert Andy Rooney moment) Have you ever wondered why there's no award for best comedic performance? (okay enough) It's a shame, there should be an award because think about all the Oscar winning actors and actresses who routinely dive into the genre. You can't tell me De Niro wasn't classic in Meet the Parents. I mean the guy makes you cringe.

This kind of comedy is not winning awards but it is winning at the Box Office. See Will Ferrell's entire career for proof.

The guy is funny...I don't deny some classic roles... my favorites: bald music teacher playing keyboard in SNL skit with Anna Gasteyer, Craig the uber Gay/Happy cheerleader, the college professor with HIS LOVER eating meat in a hot tub. Wait all these are SNL skits?

Okay, Jacoby Muggato in Zoolander awesome, Ron Burgandy classic, Hank the tank in Old School good, Ricky Bobby eeeh, Chaz Michaels Michaels getting worse... Some Jackie guy in a ABA basketball movie and.......... I'm out.

The point here is the guy can literally make a pitch to spin off Step Brothers, call it Prison Bed Bunkies and Hollywood will green light it because the guy is instant box office cash. So comedy is important but most of the time it's not done well at all.

I liked both Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder. I thought you had two guys really trying to push their creative limits. When you read about all the time and effort it's taken Stiller to make Tropic Thunder you understand why it was the most annoying pre-promoted movie since Bee Movie.

However, Stiller's viral video he did with Downey and Black for the MTV movie awards was classic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez9B4P0CFlY.

Pineapple Express is your usual suspects in the Apatow tree. Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) serves people summons and smokes pot heavily. One night while toking on some high grade he got from stoner burnout dealer Saul Silver (James Franco) he just happens to witness a cop (Rosie Perez) and her lover Drug Lord Ted Jones (Gary Cole) blow someone's brains out.

Rogen and Franco are on the run the rest of the movie from Cole (Lumberg from Office Space)and others. The pot is government made called Pineapple Express. Cole finds the roach and traces it back to Franco. There is literally a whole shoot em up scene at the end complete with a Cole and Rogen Bond type fight scene..it's really interesting comedy fusion. Buddy movie comedy meets crazy shoot em up action.

One of the highlights for me other than Rogen's uncomfortable relationship with his high school girlfriend and her family was the intro. It's a back story into how the government tested the Pineapple or Item 9.

Bill Hader of SNL and someone I worked with briefly at 2nd city in LA is a soldier who is being monitored for behavior patterns on the pot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1BhhoE6pHs.

I thought Tropic Thunder was even better. It was a much stronger movie overall. It fuze's
the action comedy deal but it also makes fun of Hollywood with the help of A-listers like Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise.

It's oddly interesting how the movie starts. It's like you are watching previews before a movie only the previews are of the characters Stiller , Black, and Downey play. There is even a rapper type commercial with Brandon T. Jackson who plays Alpa Chino.

It takes a second to figure out what's going on but then you are taken into the opening scene which is an Apocalypse Now type deal with Tugg Speedman (Stiller) , a washed up big action movie actor, trying to cry on cue in the arms of serious method actor Kirk Lazuras (Downey Jr.)

Speedman can't do it...and he feels a bit over matched by Lazuras who is an Aussie who had facial colorization surgery to play a black Sargent. Jack Black plays Jeff Portnoy known for making fart movies with big fat people that resemble Eddie Murphy's Clump characters. Black is really window dressing in this movie and gets lost doing nothing funny when you see what Tom Cruise brings to the table.

Cruise plays foul mouth movie exec Less Grossman..a balding, overweight, crazy man who likes to dance to rap music. McConaughey is Speedman's I'll do anything for you agent.

The premise...the movie is being made from a book written by Nick Nolte's character 4 Leaf Tayback...a hard ass war vet who turns out to be a fraud. Tayback believes all the prima dona bickering will stop if the director puts the actors in a simulated jungle war zone. Turns out the fake war zone they set up is real.

Straight up the most interesting thing and funniest thing about this pic is Downey. He had a huge responsibility on his shoulders trying to play a character in black face (ahh see Ted Danson's deal when he was dating Whoopie)....but man he nailed it.

I was sitting with black friends at this movie and quite frankly was a little nervous they would not like this character. There were protests all over the country but Downey had everyone in my theater jumping up and down in their seats with laughter with lines like:

" I know who I am. I'm a dude ..playin a dude....dressed up as another dude.

And there's a great exchange where Stiller's Tuggman says,

"I don't believe you people."

Downey's Black face character responds,

"what do you mean you people"

which fuels Brandon Jackson's Alpa Chino to say,

"what do YOU mean you people?"

You know, like them or don't like them...these movies at least tried something different than Will Ferrell pooping in a box and putting it on screen. Have you heard about his new one... he plays an LPGA golfer and Paul Rudd is his transgender caddie. Kidding...seriously.

---Oh that thing I did with Hader here it is...not funny really...but the voice work I must say is solid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-izeX9t4_ls

A Long Hiatus But Worth The Wait

Is there anyone more clutch or more dominant in the sports world over ...well....its been about a decade now... than Tiger Woods?

No, there isn't. He might be the best there's ever been and ever will be when you apply every sport and every athlete to this equation. About a month ago he added another chapter to his growing resume and it even made Tiger shake his head and say it was his greatest ever. Greatest is hardly the right word.

When you stand over a putt more than ten feet in length...after a grueling 71 holes of golf which has pushed your body to the physical max withstanding pain that is palpable even to the naysayers in a national audience....(regrettably that's me...see side thought 1 for more) and you knock that putt down with everything on the line for the United States Open Championship you are right there with greatness.

When you do it again after an 18 hole playoff the next day....wondering if your body, which will require season ending knee surgery, can withstand the taxes to be paid one more day in order to outlast the new national "cheer for me I'm the likable underdog named Rocco" (side thought 2). That is legendary!

Side 1- I was right there with Retief Goosen in the naysayer crowd that thought Tiger was playing up the pain...the same way Jordan would play up the "Oh, I'm sick...I need an IV to score 30 plus and beat the Utah Jazz again and again back in the day. But no, I was wrong...Tiger was really hurt...and I look like a complete IDIOT. Not the first time...ah well the life of a cynic.

Side 2- Hey Rocco Mediate was great....and won over alot of fans...but people he's been on the pro tour for a bagillioin years....why is it that all of the sudden everyone loves him after complete career obscurity. I'll tell you why, and this is something all great athletes know...sports fans and the sports media is obsessed with winning and only on the biggest stages.

You could win 7,000 games in a row and hold every record...but until you win the big one or dominant on a stage that is one of the biggest in your sport....nobody cares and they will say as Chris Berman loves to say "Yeah But".

Phil Mickelson knew that pain for a long time. I remember my eyes got wattery when that guy finally won the Masters because I had covered him, knew he was a great guy/great dad and I knew he had almost lost his little girl that year. I already knew he was a great golfer...he won the BoB Hope in a Masters tune-up spraying the ball everywere and still making birdies. I loved the Masters win because I was relieved that he didn't have to live with the monkey on his back anymore.

Thank God for my Colts and Peyton Manning....who according to most of "The experts" wasn't one of the best quarterbacks ever because he hadn't won a Super Bowl.....it's his fault and he's a loser because he can't control everything in a game that requires over 30 different players to compete.

What was beautiful about Peyton's win was the irony. I mean he didn't even play that well all playoffs....it was the defense....it was the running game....it was a team that was complete and he did his part. Dallas Clark was the MVP of the Bowl run..... Dom Rhodes should have been the MVP of the Super Bowl...but the history books will have the QB's name who everyone knows and now believes is a true winner.

It's such a joke. I used to get so worked up over this when people compared Marino to Montana. Now its become Brady and Manning. Let's rate one players legacy based on rings. Yeah, that makes sense...I mean it takes 33 players offense/defense/special teams plus backups, role players, a coaching staff, and GM who knows what the hell he's doing to even dream about playing the game at the elite NFL level...but the quarterback determines everything.

People are idiots who believe that and want to engage in long debates constantly playing the ring card. It is completely irresponsible and ignorant but what the hell...let's use titles to compare Woods to the rest...its what everyone relates to I guess.

So Tiger Woods yo.....hahahhaha... As I was saying Tiger is legendary. I sat there watching...my eyeballs popping out of my head like that scene in Pee Wee's big adventure when the truck driver asks Pee Wee if he wants to see something scary....my heart pounding...hell I was nervous just relating to the nerves that a plus 10 foot putt for the U.S. Open commands. I was with my friend Stabbone who is a avid sports fan and extremely knowledgeable...he turns to me and says

"This is why Tiger Woods is who he is. It's moments like this. If he hits it....he's Tiger...if he doesn't he's a chump. He's gotta miss just once, right?"

I love that he said that because it rings true with the fact we expect Tiger to win even though doing it comes at such a huge difficulty level. He's made the impossible routine.

No....no missing. He's Tiger. And here's the thing with this argument I started back in my opening sentence...it's just Tiger out there. There is no teammate who must catch the ball...or is out there helping. Golf is an individual sport.

Yeah Montana and Brady are clutch...but they had Dwight Clark/Jerry Rice/John Taylor catching legacy forming passes. I will give Brady this until Moss came...and he hasn't won the big one with Moss....Brady made magic with mice. His receivers were not even close to Montana's in his 3 Super Bowl wins. Dieon Branch had huge games...signed a huge contract with another team...but Jerry Rice or even a B+ level receiver Branch is not. Even so, there's still other people involved with the play.

Basketball...Jordan didn't win titles until Pippen emerged. Bill Russell was great but played with many other All Stars and Hall of Famers. So look at boxing and people will start with Ali.

In terms of being an icon...a beacon of pride for an entire race and a source of endless entertainment for the world....nobody will ever touch him. But he did lose title fights.

Tiger has never lost a major when holding the lead going into the final round. Tiger has never met his Frazier and there is no Larry Holmes either...even though Dimarco and Mediate have tried most recently. Let's hope Tiger doesn't stay too long like Ali...but then again if Greg Norman can almost win the British at 50 plus....think Tiger could? You know the answer.

Go to racing...too much depends on the car or the team that builds and prepares it to be comparable. The skill to pilot it and push it to the limits is beyond what any of you can possibly imagine...but too much rests in the performance of other factors to compare anyone to Tiger.

Tennis- Roger Federer has been cross compared many times over the past five years. Well deserved and earned. But open your eyes, Federer is cracking....he's on the downswing now, granted at his down swing he is better than probably 98 percent of the people who are the best at tennis. Also there's too many names atop the pinnacle of tennis in terms of majors won. Don't know what I'm talking about here you go...on me.

(this posted before recent US Open win...despite win...Federer clearly still tough..but not peaking anymore...win total was adjusted)

Grand Slam Tennis Titles

Pete Sampras 14
Roger Federer 13
Roy Emerson 12
Rod Laver 11
Bjorn Borg 11

So we turn to Golf and yes Nicklaus is still above Tiger. But do any of you really believe when Woods is done he won't own every record...and by more than a few over The Golden Bear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golfers_with_most_wins_in_men%27s_major_championships

As you will see on this link ....Tiger has only 4 less Majors and he's done it in half the time.

There are questions about his health. His knees have been cut on almost as much as Burt Reynolds face now and its unknown what kind of effect that could have down the road. It's also new territory for Golf because there is no real database out there of athlete decay with knee injury's like we have in basketball and football. I do know this though..... I'm betting on Tiger.

Kudos Wings...and Let's Get it On Lakers vs. Celtics

I should preface this blog by admitting I'm watching Coming To America with Eddie Murphy for the 3000th time.

"Give it up for Randy Watson...Sexual Chocolate...Randy Watson everybody"
"Damn that boy Good"

I don't know why, but that joke and this movie never gets old to me.

You know what else never gets old....my favorite hockey team winning the Stanley Cup.
We should first discuss the origin of why this is my favorite team. You see all of my other favorite teams: Colts, Pacers, Butler University....are easy to understand. I grew up in Indy so I'm true to my roots....and I'm true to my school...98 graduate Butler.

But I am a Red Wings fan based soley on the fact that they were my favorite team to play with on Sega Genesis hockey. No doubt my efforts in those days made me a first ballot hall of fame player in the pantheon that was my friend Mike McCall's basement.

There were times when I strayed from the Wings because the McCall boys were fervent Wings fans and it gave me great pleasure to upend their dreams with a little guy I call Alexander Mogilny and the Buffalo Sabres.

Mogilny in my opinion was the best overall player...99 rating...super fast skater and the master of pointing the stick one way and pulling it back to the other side for the shot and the score.

However, his team was not nearly as good overall and it was difficult to upend those Wings. Yzerman, Fedorov, Constantinov, a bunch of other OV's, Marty LaPoint, and yes Bobby Probert arguably top 5 greatest fighters of all time with hockey skills. You know how many hours of my life were wasted in McCall's basement? Zero.

They used to let me watch their dog and they'd come home from vacation and I'd still be sitting their honing my skills and eating their food...drinking their amazing selection of soda: Welch's grape, Sunkist orange, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, Fanta cream soda. Ok, the last one I just made up but you get the point.

"what you got in that hair?"
"It's juices and berries."
"Shi. that ain't nothing but ultra perm"

Sorry I'll promise to pay more attention to this column.

But in all seriousness, is there a more appropriate nickname in sports than people referring to Detroit as Hockeytown USA? The Red Wings clinched its 4th Stanley Cup in the past 11 years last night with a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Only a quarter of the roster has been there for all of them. After Scotty Bowman left they did an awesome job of bringing in Mike Babcock fresh off success in Anaheim and Babcock has kept the mojo going full steam in Hockeytown.

The days of the Russian 5 are gone...but new players and stories have emerged like Brian Rafalski and little known Dan Cleary. Cleary came from obscurity and emerged into a viable player this year for the Wings and it culminated with him becoming the first Newfoundlander to win a cup.

Yzerman and Federov both great scorers and two way players are gone... but enter Datsyuk, Franzen, and Zetterberg. How sweet is it for Captain Nic Lidstrom who has been through the entire process of forging hockey's most current dynasty.

"It's something I'm very proud of. I've been over here for a long time," Lidstrom said. "And I watched Steve Yzerman hoist it for three times in the past, and I'm very proud of being the first European. I'm very proud of being a captain of the Red Wings. So much history with the team and great tradition, and we see some of the older players coming through. So I'm very proud to be the captain."

A goal in the final 30 seconds forces game 6....and in the closing seconds of last night's clincher the puck was inches away from forcing a game 7. It was the highest rated NHL finals in a decade....good news as the sport tries to make its way back past poker on the totem pole of sports relevancy.

Alright switching pucks and sticks for leather and hardwood now. This is as excited about an NBA finals as I've been except for when my Pacers made it in to play the Lakers. When I think of what Lakers vs. Celtics means...it means are you a type A personality or are you type B?

Let me explain....I was a Lakers fan. I liked SHOWTIME. I liked the way Magic got the team up and down the court with flash. I liked watching James Worthy and Byron Scott dunking. I liked the drive and kick to Coop for 3.

My dad was more of a Celtics fan. He didn't care for Magic making the simple pass look fancy. He liked the hard hat approach of Bird, McHale, and Parrish. The Celtics didn't have the Lakers athletiscm so they passed it around side to side getting the d moving and then attacked when it wasn't in position. Boston played a much more cerebral game. That's not to say the Lakers didn't but they just had more natural talent and quickness. Boston was probably a little better overall shooting team.

These matchups were so awesome I'd take it immediately to the backyard and pretend to be all the players. I would even emmulate shooting styles and patented moves. Like my Mchale turnaround off glass 13 feet off the left block shot. Why 13feet you ask.... because that's where the cement ended and the pine tree began. Nothing was better though than the 20 footer straight out pretending to be Byron Scott, my favorite NBA player before Reggie Miller.

I guess the point of all this crap is these teams are the NBA. All my learning and falling in love with what this league is about is because of these matchups. These games were so big and so entertaining that I would take our family's Sony Watchman to the lake on boating day. You couldn't see the screen on a sunny day so I'd climb into the bow where the spare cushions went and watch the game from in there....that's where I was when Magic hit the baby hook on McHale.

Tonight....the NBA's two best teams will play and create new memories...and entice a new generation of fans. I'm still cheering for the Lakers...they get er done in 6.

Random Thoughts from the Weekend in Sports

Well it really doesn't get any better than watching Kimbo Slice nearly punch a guys ear off his head as mixed martial arts came to primetime on CBS. That was just flat out gnarly. Kimbo turned James Thompson's ear into raw roast beef. Normally you'd think a guy named Kimbo wouldn't be that threatening but have you seen Slice. He is one of the scariest dudes I've ever seen. Reminds me of the old joke wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley....or a sunny alley.

I mean...the guy is pure muscle. He's built like a building and he's got one of those beards that reminds me of that magnet game we had as kids. You know the little red magnet pen and you could use it to manipulate the shards of magnet and color in beards or mustaches. His neck muscles are bigger than the biggest muscle in 95 percent of the populations body's.

How 'bout that Kyle Busch notching his 4th Sprint Cup win of the season and his 3rd win in the last 5 races. It's funny when you host a show for SPEED the drivers generally are pretty friendly and cool in the garage. Busch was always a little cold to me but I don't mind that because the kid's edgy with the ego but he backs it up. I also loved how Kyle handled the end of last year. All the hype with Junior replacing him at Hendrick and he was way classier than people thought he'd be. Towards the end, Busch wasn't invited to team meetings and that's huge on that team because those guys were tops last year and share alot of info. They really turned him into a black sheep at Hendrick and he took it like a man. There was one race towards the end of the season Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Kyle Busch were all contending ....Rick Hendrick gets on the radio and tells Kyle

"Alright let's not do anything stupid here. We don't want to wreck each other. If you've got a shot at it go ahead."

Translation....don't wreck him and get out of the way so we can win the championship because you are gone next year. Kyle wasn't thrilled with that message but he took it way more in stride than fans might have thought. People want to make a big deal out of Kyle outdoing Junior so far this year and that's true to some degree...271 points separate Busch in 1st from Junior in 3rd in the standings. But I learned something valuable from Darrell Waltrip at my days at SPEED. He said once

"No real driver cares about the championships...its about the wins man. You want to win every race."

Based on that philosophy, Kyle Busch is winning in a big way over Junior so far this year.

Congrats to my buddy Ryan Briscoe for winning his first IndyCar race in Milwaukee. I got to know Ryan because he dates my former co-host at SPEED Nicole Manske. He is a solid guy and one heck of a race car driver.

It's funny I went home for the Indy 500 last week and had to put up with all my friends telling me how bad he was...he's had some trouble prior to Milwaukee with banging up his cars....but there he was at the 500 closing in on a 2nd straight top 5 in the marquee race until he became infamous as the man who wrecked Danica and we all have that lovely image of a 5 foot nothing...hundred and nothing...girl stomping down pit lane after the Aussie.

After that happened, I had one of my good friends... whose opinions on IndyCar are valued... tell me Thomas Wreckter errrrr Scheckter would replace Ryan by the end of the week. Hmmm, I think not. Briscoe was drawing some heat by die-hards who questioned if he could handle top notch equipment.

There's the thought that he failed at Ganassi in his first Indy ride...but I contend Ganassi's equipment and set ups weren't what they are now....also keep in mind Briscoe had very little oval experience coming in. He's a terrific road racer, he very well could have won the American Le Mans series last year if team orders didn't keep he and Sasha Maasen from giving way to Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas. Most people don't realize he was racking up wins in that series against the higher class, higher horse power Audi R10TDI.

Back to the oval point quickly...Briscoe has had the honor of working with Rick Mears on honing those skills since he got a ride in the 500 last year with Jay Penske. Briscoe has a ton of respect for Mears and was able to notch his first win on the 30th anniversary of Rick Mears first open wheel win.

"Rick Mears is an amazing observer...probably the best I've ever talked with. He has watched me in practice, talked to me at length about lines in traffic and other things to keep an eye on. I've put alot of that stuff together and used alot of it today to win this race. Anything that Rick Mears says is important and this one was definitely for him."

Does anyone else find themselves watching way more of the women's college softball World Series than they should be. I bet it has nothing to do with some of the unbelievably hot pitchers. A dominant rise ball and looks great in baseball pants is a killer combination.

There's 8 billion games left in the baseball season so let's not get to jazzed about anything yet... but I will say the Cubbies on top June 1st for the first time since 1908 is interesting. Keep in mind 1908 is the last time Chicago won a World Series.... it's been 100 years....don't you think they are due?

Pinella has done an amazing job with that club. They wrapped up a perfect 7 game home stand beating Colorado 5-3. I like to mention this in the blog because if you watch ESPN you will only get Red Sox and Yankee information....and you'll probably get to stare at John Kruk's fat face or get to watch him striking out to former Gold Medalist USA Softball pitcher Michelle Smith 10 thousand times. Is it just me or does Krukie kind of remind you of the cookie monster?

The NBA and their Crap Officiating...The Worst of any Major Sport

Alright time to get more in my wheelhouse. I love the NBA. It's the big reason I went into sports broadcasting. As a little kid I used to go to Indiana Pacer games with my dad's friend who ran the 24 second shot clock at the old Market Square Arena. I fell in love with the showbiz aspects of the NBA....the trash talk....the shear size of the players...the groupies....the media....the crowd right on top of the non stop action.

I love the "but they don't play any defense guy". I've heard that crap my whole life coming from Indiana where a 50 to 44 Bob Knight IU game was king before Reggie Miller emerged in the mid 90's. Really, they don't play any defense? That's why guys like Reggie and Glen Rice shoot lights out in college and come into the league barely breaking the 40 percent barrier before finally learning how to become two of the greatest shooters ever to lace it up.

That's why the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons have dominated here recently. Michael Jordan's Bulls destroyed teams with their length on the perimeter forcing steals...close outs out of double teams and extreme ball pressure.

I could go on and on but if you're the "they don't play any defense guy" I smile nicely at you and immediately dismiss you as someone who knows as much as basketball as I do about nuclear fusion. There's a reason its the top league in the world...and there's a reason why college and high school players are in such a hurry to get there. Sure the money, but don't think for a second the Lebron's and Kobe's of the world don't want to bring it against the very best and college did not present that obstacle for them.

If you want to criticize the NBA... point to the officials. It is a complete disgrace but give David Stern credit he is a master at promoting his league and deflecting bad PR. He is my guy if we are in the Armageddon....the earth melting and disintegrating away and Stern would figure out how to make it seem not that bad and make us all billionaires at the same time. Love the guy.

Let's recap...recently the league has had Tim Donoughy caught for admittedly fixing NBA games... over 100 games. If you think that Donoughy is the only official to ever do this in the NBA than you are the same guy that believes we never landed on the moon.

Let me remind you about Jake O'Donnell. Check him out on Wilkepedia. Let me give you the quick brief. He was basically booted from the NBA after throwing Clyde Drexler out of game 1 of the 1995 NBA playoffs. He later admitted to having a personal vendetta against Drexler.

Quote "I wouldn't give Clyde Drexler much leeway because of the way he reacted with me all the time. I thought at times he would give cheap shots to people, and I just would not allow it."

That's brutal but it was swept under the rug much like Joey Crawford and his dispute with Tim Duncan. Crawford is a guy who was labeled as a ref who had a personal feud with Duncan. Was it as bad as Trump vs. Rosie...ahhhh...maybe not ....but along that ilk.

He was disciplined for it but low and behold there was Crawford officiating game 5 in San Antonio. End of the game... series deciding play....Derek Fisher clearly fouling Brent Barry....no call. Spurs fans like Crawford about as much as we like Kim Jong Il.

"I will get Awlec Baewldwin" Sorry Team America flashback.

Now...let's dissect. I call on Reggie Miller and Charles Barkley who are more knowledgeable about the NBA than me. Their takes.

" Brent Barry is not a guy who's used to being in that position. Instead of trying to go around Fisher's contact he should have risen up right into the contact and given the ref no room to not call the foul".

True that, but I've watched every Reggie Miller game ever and no player has more 4 point plays. The guy was legendary for kicking the legs and drawing the foul from distance. What the average fan doesn't realize is Reggie was called for nearly as many offensive fouls for doing just that as four point plays.

Don't believe me check Bennett Salvatore's call on Paul Pierce in the Celtics game clinching game 6 win. 4th quarter game in the balance, Pierce elevates draws contact....offensive foul. Worst call I've seen in the playoffs but congruent with my point about getting the right call on what should be a no brainer is in the NBA a crapshoot. Ask Mark Cuban.

Keep in mind I'm a Lakers fan so I could care less... but I love the NBA's statement following the Fisher's foul.

"Derek Fisher's play on Brent Barry should have been called a foul and Barry should have had 3 free throws"

Cool statement .... I'm sure San Antonio felt really relieved in its attempt to regroup from a series crushing home loss...a loss that meant they'd have to win three straight to beat the Lakers.

The NBA had the audacity to say the call was the wrong call after the fact. It opens the debate is the foul at the end of the game, the same as in the first quarter. NO! It's not and everybody wh0 works or plays in the league knows that. But the fans don't get the NBA's garbage unknown rules like built in calls for star players and it's a shame.

The bottom line here is the NBA has a major problem in their officiating of games, but because the Lakers and Celtics are meeting the NBA finals...what everyone wants.....it will be forgotten soon.

Don't forget and don't by in if you read this blog... you know the officiating in this league has turned it more into pro wrestling than Nascar.

Don't believe me... fine... one of my friends in Palm Springs California was Ed Middleton. (working on picture of us to follow) Ed told me one time that yes there are star calls.... yes there are officials that hold grudges....yes there are dirty officials. He was not. He didn't put up with cry baby's like Rasheed Wallace. Ed was one of the good guys for sure but in our talks the info he gave me didn't make the NBA's officiating fiasco any better.