I stand corrected

I will ammend my comments in the last post. The MLB is not the least watched of the four major leagues. It is second to last. My bad.

Please refer to the following article from Wikipedia:

"All of the top four major leagues have had television contracts with at least one of the original "big three" U.S. broadcast television networks (CBS, NBC, and ABC) since those networks' early years, indicative of the sports' widespread appeal since their inception, continuing today additionally with FOX. Regular season games, as well as important contests such as championship and all-star games are often televised in prime time. In the last generation, fast-growing cable and satellite networks have taken a larger chunk of the major sports' pie. Three of the four major sports now have entire sports networks dedicated just to each of them. NBA TV launched in 1999, with NFL Network and NHL Network following.

Major League Baseball had announced plans for their own network, but then dropped them to attempt to start a national sports network with FOX. Those plans were dropped as well, after MLB and FOX failed to acquire a late season package of NFL games that went to NFL Network.

Comparing the sizes of television contracts, the NFL is by far the largest (reportedly $2.2 billion US for the 2012 season), with the NBA and MLB second and third ($500 million and $479 million respectively). The NHL is in a distant fourth place ($120 million), a disparity those who wish to exclude the NHL from the top four major leagues often point to. Since 1952 it has been broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Hockey Night in Canada. The 2006 Stanley Cup Finals attracted 2.63 million viewer on the CBC.

The NHL began airing games on NBC starting in January 2006 and the NHL Network, currently only available in Canada, will soon be available to U.S. cable and satellite subscribers. In addition, the NHL broadcasts games nationally on Versus, generally on Monday and Tuesday nights. Many regular season games are also broadcast on regional sports networks (such as FSN), which can vary on contract worth by region or team."

Wikipedia.com

Ratings v.s. Right

After one more game in Cleveland, we will most likely be looking at a World Series Matchup of The Colorado Rockies against the Cleveland Indians. First of all I just want to say: Who in the world picked these two teams at the beginning of the season? I know I didn't. I wouldn't have thought either would have made it past the first round.

All that aside we are faced with a question that only happens every few years. We know that the networks that carry MLB want it to be Redsox v.s. Yankees every year. Why? Because they have the largest fan bases in the country and spend lots more money on things as well as tune into TV broadcasts. When those two play, or some of the other big names, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants etc. play they are big money makers. Also, if truth be told the ratings for the World Series will dip dramatically as a result of these two teams playing. The reason being the majority of people outside of Cleveland and Denver could care less who wins now. So I ask you this question. What would be better? A match up of the powerhouse ball clubs that would be exciting to watch, or a match up of these teams that actually deserve to be here this season? It sounds like an easy question, but if you think about it, it isn't.

Wow

The Colorado Rockies have redefined the term "miracle run" in baseball. Wow.


...more to follow...

Not What We Expected

I have not written in a few days because I wanted to wait until the next round of the playoffs was decided. Thanks to the New York Yankees that took a day longer than expected.

 

First of all I will go on record right from the get go to say that my predictions were way off. I incorrectly called the Padres to beat the Rockies for the wild card spot, then I called the Phillies to beat the Rockies and neither of those things happened. That is the last time I bet against the Rox. They not only won, they won impressively, and honestly I don't think it's a fluke, they look good. They are solid at every position, and they don't make errors. At this point they are my pick to win it all.

 

Of course since I am a Cubs fan they lost again in the first round of the playoffs, even though they were heavily favored. I have yet to see anything good happen from the Cubs in my lifetime. I will just leave it at that, since I tend to get very angry the more I talk about it.

 

Also, I said the Yankees would come back and beat the Tribe. This is the most interesting one to me. First of all, because yes, I will say it again, it looks to me like they had another meltdown. But, in their defense, Cleveland played great. They look unstoppable at this point, but we will see when they run into a very good Red Sox team.

 

So, who goes to the Series? I will say Colorado and Boston at this point. Both teams will probably lose, but wow, what a postseason it has been so far, I think it can only get better.

Opening Night

Last night was the opening night of the 2007 MLB playoffs. It did not dissapoint either. We had an answer to the question on everyone's minds after Monday night, a pitching clinic, and an exciting game from the desert. If last night was any indication of how the rest of the playoffs are going to be, we are in for a wild ride.

 

First of all, the question on everyone's minds after Monday night was, will Colorado be able to keep up this winning streak they have been on? Will there be a let down in game one of the NLDS? How long can this possibly last? Well, apparently it can last at least another game. The Rox went to Philly and stole game one right out from under the Phillies. It was a good game for them as well, in the stats area I mean. They allowed only four hits, had no errors, and Jeff Fracis was pretty amazing in the pitching category last night too. It wasn't a no hitter, but it was plenty enough to get the job done. He kept Philly's three best hitters in their places by making them go 0 for 11 with eight strikeouts. Maybe I will have to change my prediction on this one?

 

In my opinion the most impressive thing of the entire night was the show Josh Beckett put on in game one of the Red Sox/Angels series. He put on a clinic. After allowing a leadoff single, Beckett put away 19 straight hitters. Not a pleasant evening for the Halos. They allowed only four hits total, and this marked the first shut out by a Red Sox team in the post season since the the 1975 World Series. I don't think many predicted this to be a tough series for the Red Sox and by the looks of what we saw last night, it wont be.

 

In the last game of the evening Chicago traveled to Arizona to play the Snakes in game one. This game was kind of a grind it out, do your best to get through it and hope you can squeeze a couple runs in before it goes to extra innings. Well, this one didn't have to go to extra innings thanks to some poor relief pitching by Chicago and some opportunistic Diamondbacks. In what can kindly be described as a questionable call, Lou Piniella, the Chicago Cubs manager, pulled Carlos Zambrano to "save his arm for game four." Marmol went in and immediately game up two hits to the Diamondbacks that proved to be the difference in the game. Meanwhile, Webb, for the D'Backs continued for one more inning, and the strong bullpen of the D'Backs held on for the victory in game one. Following the game Piniella was asked if thinking ahead to game four cost the Cubbies in game one. Pineilla retorted with "I'm not accused of anything, sir," Piniella said. "I've got a good bullpen here, OK? And I trust my bullpen. I'm bringing back a pitcher on three days' rest on Sunday, and I took a shot with my bullpen. It didn't work today. They've done it all year. I've got confidence in them -- period, end of story."

 

I don't know if Lou realizes this, but the series is the first one to win three games. If he makes many more decisions like this one, the Cubs curse could continue…again.

The Stacked SEC

I will not try to make anybody think that I am not biased. Well, maybe biased isn't the right word. Whatever you want to call it I think the SEC is the best college athletics conference in the country. This is across the board, in every sport. I love watching the schools in this conference slug it out week after week in during basketball and football season, and its also nice to know they are quite competitive in other sports as well.

 

Let's take the current college football season as an example. The SEC is well-represented in the most recent top 25 poll, being tied with the Big 12, both having five teams in the top 25. The most interesting part about this to me are the teams that the SEC has in there. A couple are the powerhouse teams that you would expect to see. Of course LSU, Florida, and Georgia are in there. However some of the other teams that you would expect to see like Tennessee, or Alabama are noticeably absent from the list. Instead they are replaced by Kentucky and South Carolina.

 

Think about this. Kentucky is ranked #8 in the nation. This is football, not basketball. I am the biggest Kentucky basketball fan that you will find, so I know what it is like to see Kentucky in the top 25; but not in football. In my lifetime, I cannot remember a time off the top of my head that Kentucky was in the top 25 in football. The craziest part about it, is that they 100% deserve their ranking too. They are good. Of course, we see stuff like this every so often. They have a lot of seniors, guys that have had the opportunity to play together a long time, and they have veteran leadership and experience on their side. So, when they play younger teams, like Arkansas, and even a young Louisville team. But, you cannot deny the ability of this team, quarter back, Andre Woodson has already thrown for over 1300 yards this season, has tossed 16 touchdowns and just one interception. Impressive, no matter how you slice it. They have not been playing all cupcakes either. Don't believe in blue yet? Well, we will find out this weekend, when they go up against the other newcomer SEC team in the top 25. The South Carolina Gamecocks.

 

The "other" USC is another team that is not as used to the spotlight in the SEC as the bigger schools like LSU and Florida. However, having snagged Steve Spurrier out of the NFL, away from a miserable career there, they had a glimmer of hope of returning to prominence again. Well, I would say they are well on their way. Spurrier said in an interview when he first became the head coach at South Carolina that it would not be an overnight success story, but if the school and the fans gave him a few years to turn things around, he would, and he has. Being a South Carolina resident myself, it is kind of cool to hear people talking about them this season, as opposed to Clemson this, and Clemson that. Carolina has improved upon its previous record in each of the past three seasons, and have started to recruit the kind of talented players that will be able to hang with the SEC's elite for years to come. I am not jumping on the Gamecock's bandwagon just yet, but it is fun to watch.

 

This Saturday at 7:30pm in Columbia, SC the Gamecocks host the Wildcats in what should be an excellent game. They near prolific offense of Kentucky against the smack-you-in-the-mouth defense that South Carolina has been producing of late will be a sight to see. The battle of the two fresh faces in the SEC promises to be a good one. At the end of the game, we might have just figured out who is for real, and who has just be pretending up to this point. Kentucky or South Carolina? You decide. Well, actually whatever you decide doesn't really matter, but for purposes of this blog and good discussion. You decide.  

ROCK(ies) & ROLL

It happened. The incredible run continues. The Colorado Rockies are going to the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history. They will face the Philadelphia Phillies in what promises to be an interesting series, as both teams are extremely hot right now.

 

Last night in an extra regular season game that definitely held the playoff atmosphere, the Colorado Rockies continued this dream ride they have been on for the past 15 games. Winning 14 out of their last 15 games the Rockies squeaked into a tie with the San Diego Padres for the wild card spot in the playoffs. Monday night they proved that the deserved it. In extra innings the Rockies took care of business when Matt Holliday walked up to the plate, hit a triple, and then dashed for home just in time on a sacrifice fly on the next play. Needless to say there was a mile-high celebration last night after the game.

 

In the next few days, and maybe long thereafter, there will be much talk about, Matt Holliday's score. Did he touch the plate? Well, I for one don't care at this point. The game is over, they are not going to reverse the call that the official made now, and so its stupid to continue talking about it, if you ask me. Let the Rockies have their 15 minutes of fame. I think they have earned it, don't you?

The Excitement Continues

 

Well, first of all I just want to say that the New York Mets might go down in history as the biggest chokers of all time. Wow, I was amazed at how bad they got all of a sudden. Congratulations are very much deserved by the Phillies, and I hope they do well in the playoffs.

 

That said, lets get to the really exciting story in baseball today. The Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres are playing a one game, sudden death playoff game tonight to see who will win the wildcard spot in the playoffs. This is all brought about the Rockies mystifying winning streak as of late brought on by good pitching, and great defensive baseball. Oh yeah, and because San Diego couldn't beat Milwaukee to save their lives.

 

I was talking with a friend about this yesterday after the Rockies beat the AL West champ Diamondbacks, and learned that the Padres had lost to Milwaukee. I wonder what was going on in the minds of the players and coaches for Colorado? Really, think about it. This is a franchise that has only even reached the playoffs once, in 1999. Since then they have more or less floundered in mediocrity and have been affectionately referred to as cellar dwellers in other seasons.

 

Tonight they have a chance, in their own stadium, to complete a miraculous run, and enter the playoffs as, in my opinion, THE HOTTEST TEAM IN BASEBALL. That is of course, if we base who the "hottest" is on only the past few weeks's games. At Coors field tonight in Denver, Colorado hosts the San Diego Padres as a result of winning the season series 10 games to 8. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 7:37pm ET tonight.

 

Of course in my earlier predictions I predicted the Padres would win the Wild Card. I will stick to that, although, in the back of my heart, I think I want the Rockies to complete this unthinkable run and squeak into the playoffs. I can do that, its my blog.

 

It's going to be an interesting game, lots of emotion riding on it, and tons of adrenaline, at the end of the night, only one team will be alive to play another day. Who will it be?

NFL Anyone?

I love football. I love both college and professional football, and I love that my team is 3-0 on the season right now. Which team you might ask? Well, the fact that I said 3-0 should limit it. Could it be the Patriots? The New England Patriots, standing at 3-0 after totally demolishing all of their opponents so far.  Even in the midst of controversy of clepto-Belichick stealing play calls from other teams. This team seems to always have something up their sleeves to pull out victories even when it seems the odds are stacked against them. However, regardless of how much drama is pumped into a situation, when it comes right down to it, they have arguably the best quarterback in the league in Tom Brady, the best coach in the league in Belichick and some of the best role players out there. So on the field is a different world, a world owned by the Pats and one not soon to be destroyed by anybody else. But, no, it's not the Patriots. NEVER will it be the Patriots.

 

Who else then? How about the surprising Green Bay Packers? I mean, who thought they would be sitting at 3-0 right now? Look at them on paper. They have a quarterback who is probably drawing social security now and goes back to the nursing home every night to ice down after practice, and aside from him they have a whole host of young guys with little to no experience. What gives? Well, Grandpa Favre must be teaching the young guns a thing or two. Week three against San Diego, a team with some serious firepower, they had 405 yards of total offense, 363 of which were through the air. Brett is airing it out on almost every play. You would think other teams would recognize this and use it to their advantage. I mean seriously, how long can that arm hold out? I would say the number one reason this team is 3-0 right now is because they take care of the football. They don't turn it over, and when other teams turn it over to them, they take advantage of that for a score. Well, as much a Cinderella story as it is, nope, its not Green Bay either.

 

Dallas, no, but I do like what I am seeing out of Tony Romo. Pittsburgh? No, I think they are tough though. That defense is going to be very stingy all season. Oh, and Polamalu, CUT YOUR HAIR!

 

No, my team are the defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. Yes, last season was amazing for me. As I sat in front of my television weeping tears of joy over the comeback win against New England in the AFC championship, the hopes of a childhood dream were realized. Well, except for the fact that I wasn't playing in the games. I had literally waited my entire life for that moment, and winning the big one against Chicago was just as sweet.

 

This season may be a repeat. I think it is going to be VERY tough for them to put together a record like last season, and I think, yet again, that the road to the super bowl goes through New England and we are going to have to get a lot better before we can beat them. However, each week Indy has shown some improvement in one area or another. An encouraging thought considering their defense at this time a year ago was something a team of junior high girls could have scored on. In a tough game against Tennessee on the road Peyton & his ponies come through when it mattered most. That shows veteran leadership and poise from the champs and something that will benefit them greatly this season. Are the Colts primed to make a run at a second straight championship? I would say it is too early to tell, but, until they are beaten, I dare someone to say they aren't.

Autumn in Major League Baseball

By popular demand, I am writing an article on baseball. I will be the first to admit that it is my least favorite sport, the most boring to watch, and totally overshadowed by the corruption within its ranks. Then again, show me a professional sport without corrupted players, coaches and owners. I dare you.

Anyway, as autumn rolls around we think of a lot of things. The leaves changing colors on the trees and falling to the ground, Halloween parties and little kids dressed up in costumes, even Carmel apples and apple cider. Oh yeah, and baseball, the “fall classic” as it is sometimes called. The pennant race is getting exciting, especially in the AL. The NL has some excitement too, but the AL is going to be a barn-burner.

At this point in time there are four teams in the AL that look primed to make a deep run in the postseason and maybe win it all. However, this is not exclusive, other teams could make a surprising run. Let me make this simpler, this is how I see the AL working out.

AL East: Boston Red Sox (BARELY) beating out their rivals, the New York Yankees. This is going to be interesting though, a lot of factors at work here. I feel the least confident about this predicition. The Sox are injured and that may be the deciding factor right there. I believe though, they will pull it together in time and take the AL East.

AL Central: Cleveland Indians. I mean, who saw this coming at the beginning of the season, I knew they would be good, but this good? There is no contest here. The closest team is Detroit and the Indians just handled them easily in a series. Cleveland wins. End of story.

AL West: LA Angels: Again, not contest. Boasting the best record in the league the Angels look like the favorite for the World Series at this point. However, I can think of at least three teams off the top of my head that could beat them in a series. Seattle is chasing them in the division, and they are riding a three game win streak, but still, there is not enough time left, and the Angels are too good to let Seattle catch up.

AL Wild Card: New York Yankees: Surprise, surprise. The pinstripes pull it together again. This is one of the most Jekyll and Hyde teams I have ever seen. Earlier in the season, it was almost to the point where they couldn’t buy a win even with you know who throwing money around like it was toilet paper. Now, they look like a team that might not lose another game all the way to the World Series Championship. I don’t know what their problem was, but I hope their sakes, that it doesn’t come back to haunt them in the postseason.

Suffice it to say, its going to be a very interesting road to the playoffs in the AL.

The NL is going to be a heated race as well, but that will be for another article. For now, I will leave you with my picks for the NL.

NL East: New York Mets.

NL Central: Chicago Cubs

NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks

NL Wild Card: San Diego Padres

Unfamiliar Territory

We are currently in the waiting period for week four of the 2007 NCAA College Football Season. The first three weeks have been a wild ride to say the least. What have we seen so far? Well, normally about this time of year you would hear me say something along the lines, of the traditional power house conferences are dominating as usual, and the mid-major conferences are still fighting to be considered at the end of the season. Same old song and dance, right? Well, this season it’s been a little different. Okay, a lot different. So far this season we have seen one of the biggest upsets in NCAA regular season history, two traditional powers that have struggled more than any other time in history, a much maligned coach coming back to the college game and turning a sinking ship around, and not one single team that at this point has proven itself to be “the team to beat.” Some of you know exactly who I am talking about, but for those of you who don’t let me break it down for you.

THE UPSET

Where exactly is Appalachian State University? Well, if you didn’t know before, I am sure you know now. AppState, as the locals call it, is located in Boone, NC. Not much to talk about in Boone before the big game, but now the friendly folk there will be talking about this one for a long time to come.

Appalachian State University got paid a lot of money to travel to Ann Arbor, MI to take on one of the two winningest programs in college football history. The Wolverines of Michigan. The Big house was rocking for the season opener, lots of fanfare, cheerleaders jumping up and down, the band playing “The Victors March” and thousands upon thousands of Big Blue fans ready to see their boys destroy another mediocre team.

Sorry to disappoint you Ann Arbor, but not today. Not a whole lot went Michigan’s way in this game. Their defense gave up 387 yards in total offense to a team that the odds makers didn’t think would even see the end zone in this game. Michigan had plenty of problems on offense too. Losing 56 yards due to the seven penalties they racked up, turning the ball over twice, and holding the ball for almost four minutes less than their opponents, they gave themselves every opportunity to lose. And they did.

With time running down on the clock the Mountaineers of App State marched down the field again. This time they go to within field goal range, and kicker Julian Rauch stepped up for what would normally be a chip shot, at 24 yards, but at this point was probably the biggest attempt of his career. Confidently Rauch put it through the uprights to give his team a 34-32 lead with under thirty seconds to play. Michigan had one last chance, their leaders drove them down the field and they had the same opportunity. One chance to knock a field goal through to save the day. As the 100,000+ fans in the Big House held their collective breath, Michigan’s kicker gave it his best shot. To everyone’s surprise Corey Lynch of the Mountaineers got a hand in the right place at the right time, blocked the kick and gave App State it’s biggest win in school history. As they celebrated themselves off the field back to Boone, what happened at Michigan? The rumors began to fly and the “good people” of Ann Arbor are almost ready to run Coach Lloyd Carr out of town on a rail.”

SABAN : A Savior?

In every sport there are some who can hack it in the pro leagues, and some who can’t. Then again there are also some who don’t even try, and run away back to the college game. Such is the story of Nick Saban. Saban, once the outstanding coach of the outstanding LSU Tigers, now coaches the less than outstanding Crimson Tide of Alabama in the same conference. We all know the story, Saban took the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins, only to vacate it as soon as possible and head to Tuscaloosa to say “Roll, tide roll.” Why? Who will ever know? I for one, could care less. I think he did the right thing. The right thing for him, I wont say this for everyone, but I think the college game is where he belongs, and as far as I am concerned the college game should be glad to have him, I know Alabama is.

After enduring several seasons that were mediocre at best the Tide fans were ready for someone to bring them back to national prominence. Nick Saban was just the thing they needed. Due to all the controversy with the Miami job, when he came to ‘Bama he automatically thrust the school and the program into the spotlight. Oh yeah, and he is a fantastic football coach too. He turned the LSU Tigers into the perennial powerhouse and a team that challenges for the national title every year, even after he was gone. Will he do the same for Alabama? Well, he is well on his way.

Last week was his first real test. A ranked team came to Tuscaloosa. That team, the Arkansas Razorbacks. They came in ranked #16 and were definitely the favorites in this game. However, one huge defensive stand, a last-minute drive led by John Parker Wilson and Matt Caddell and a final, game-winning pass into the end zone sealed the victory for the Crimson Tide. A huge win, and possibly a taste of things to come in the Saban era at Alabama.

Dominance?

Again I ask you, who is the dominant team this season? I realize that USC is number one and undefeated, but, I think that their trip to Nebraska revealed the weaknesses in the armor for USC. They gave up 427 yards to the Huskers, most of which were through the air. Granted the Trojans are amazing when defending the run, but if they come across teams with a fantastic aerial game, they are going to lose. Also, the Trojans turned it over. If there is one thing that Pete Carroll coached teams don’t do it is turn the ball over. I was surprised to see it happen and if it continues to do so, teams will beat them. I will say this, for now, they remain #1 in my book, but I don’t think they are indestructible.

Who else? LSU? I would say yes at this point, they have destroyed everyone they have played, but then again, who have they played? In my opinion they have only played cupcakes. Some will argue that Va Tech was a true test, well with a final score of 48-7 I beg to differ. I think their first real test will be Spurrier’s Gamecocks. When South Carolina come to the Bayou we will see two things. First, how good the Tigers really are, and second, if SC’s win over Georgia was fluke or if Spurrier has the Gamecocks primed for a run at that SEC crown.

Is there any other team that looks like they can’t be beaten? Florida? Maybe, but wait until they play South Carolina, LSU, and Georgia before making that call. Oklahoma? Can we say chokers? They will, trust me. Ohio State? Hmm. That’s a good question, ask me after the Penn State, Indiana, Purdue, and Michigan games.

Suffice it to say after only three weeks, I don’t think you can choose a dominant team. However, it will be very interesting to see what happens from hear on out.

Hello, the season has started.

What is going on in Ann Arbor and South Bend? These two cities boasting the two most winning programs in college football are not off to a very good start.

Let’s start with Michigan. Of course we already mentioned the embarrassing loss to App State, lets jump ahead to the game against Oregon. We are talking giving up a staggering 620 yards in total offense to the Ducks. Not to mention 4 turnovers and going 7-19 on third downs. After two games in a row like this the fans in Ann ArborMichigan struggling so badly. Although I am sure the good people at THE Ohio State University aren’t exactly providing moral support. are restless and want Carr’s head on a platter. It is almost sad to see, a powerhouse like

The luck of the Irish does not seem to be residing in South Bend, IN right now. I will be the first to admit that I am a biased Notre Dame fan. Born and bred in Indiana, I kind of have to be. This season though has been the first in a long long time that I have turned off the TV during ND games. I couldn’t stand it. The Irish looked like a pee-wee football team taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Bradshaw era. It is just painful to watch. It really is shocking too, how poorly they have played. I still firmly believe that Charlie Weis is one of the top 5 coaches in college football today and he will have them back, but its going to hard for him to endure all the mud that will be slung at him from people in South Bend.

These two winless teams met in week 3 at Michigan. It was not even something I care to talk about. Michigan 38 Notre Dame 0.

Lloyd Carr lives to coach another day and Charlie Weis said after the game that maybe his players and coaching staff were not awake yet, and were not aware that the 2007 season had begun. He decided they needed to go back to the beginning, so he is taking them back to training camp, literally. I guess we will see if it helps.