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47 reasons FSU will have its first losing record since Bowden's first season in '76

2010-09-11T22:31:00.003-05:00

1. The hype around Greg Reid has been way overblown.
2. The hype around Christian Ponder has been way overblown.
3. The hype around Jimbo Fisher has been wrong all along.
4. Samford is only on the schedule once.
5. Mark Stoops' defensive scheme is equivalent to a high school 3A defense.
6. Jimbo Fisher is calling the offensive plays.
7. Greg Reid thinks he's much better than he is.
8. Christian Ponder thinks he's much better than he is.
9. Jimbo Fisher thinks he's much better than he is.
10. Challenging calls down 47-10 with 2 minutes remaining.
11. Calling timeouts with 18 seconds remaining down 47-10 at midfield.
12. Players are not motivated.
13. Players are lazy.
14. Players panic at the first sign of trouble.
15. Head coach panics at the first sign of trouble.
16. Players don't know where to lineup.
17. Players looking in the crowd while ball is snapped.
18. Players have no discipline.
19. Players have no self control.
20. The ACC is the worst conference in the country.
21. FSU fans are more dedicated than the players.
22. FSU fans are more dedicated than the coaches.
23. Coaches don't know how to adjust.
24. Coaches don't demand anything from players.
25. Fisher leaves key players in to get hurt in a game that's over at halftime.
26. Fisher thinks a drive in the final minute against backups actually means something.
27. BYU is on the schedule
28. Miami is on the schedule
29. Florida is on the schedule
30. Clemson is on the schedule
31. Virginia is on the schedule
32. North Carolina is on the schedule
33. Anybody else on the schedule can beat them on a given day.
34. Lamarcus Joyner
35. The best player on the field is the kicker.
36. The best play in a big game is a field goal.
37. Recruiting 5-star players means nothing if you can't coach them.
38. Maybe Fisher's recruiting prowess is overblown.
39. Fisher's play-calling is predictable.
40. Trick plays don't work down 27 in the second half.
41. Fisher's play-calling bag is empty.
42. Defensive lineman can't get further than the line of scrimmage.
43. Coaches should be able to figure out how to defend a screen after seeing it 30 times.
44. Should be able to run behind a college OL that has been together 3 years.
45. Jeff Bowden's play-calling looks sophisticated compared to Fisher.
46. Coach-in-waiting is the dumbest thing a school can do.
47. You don't screw with a legend.

Rangers inch closer

2010-08-10T23:16:00.002-05:00

Improve to 1-3 vs. NYY this season. Have won 4 of the last 18 vs. NYY in Arlington. Close to within 4 games of NYY in AL standings. All of this accomplished against the worst lineup NYY has fielded in 15 years. Great win.

Did not gain any ground on the 40 pennants or 27 world titles. But that's coming. Go Rangers.

Decent day for Bombers

2010-07-31T15:42:00.000-05:00

Tom Verducci says it best.

Take another team's starting left fielder and make him your fourth outfielder.

Take another team's closer and make him your 7th or 8th inning guy.

Take another team's middle of the order guy and make him your No. 2 hitter.

I love how the rest of the American League thinks they have a chance.

Should just start engraving No. 28.

Who gets shot to into the sun now, Schneider?

2009-12-23T20:37:00.004-06:00

So, my last post - before last week's games talked about how the last four games of the season needed to go to have the Steelers make the playoffs.

So far? Even better than I predicted because of an unexpected loss by the Broncos. With two weeks to go, based on how I predict the final two weeks, here are your NFL playoff matchups.

Steelers, 6th seed vs. Patriots in first round.

Oh, and unfortunately for Wade and Cowboys fans, a loss to the Eagles at home ends the playoff push.

Playoff matchups

As my good friend Lee Corso would say...Not so fast, my friend

2009-12-13T12:29:00.003-06:00

Steelers playoff hopes are not as dim as most would make them out to be.

Obviously, they have to win out got get to 9-7. Remaining schedule (vs. Packers, vs. Ravens, at Dolphins)
Predicted finish: 9-7, 6th seed wild-card

Wild-card teams ahead of them and remaining schedules:

Broncos 8-4 (Colts, vs. Raiders, at Eagles, vs. Chiefs)
Predicted finish: 10-6 - 5th seed wild-card

Jags 7-5 (vs. Dolphins, vs. Colts, at Patriots, at Browns)
Predicted finish: 8-8

Dolphins 6-6 (at Jags, at Titans, vs. Texans, vs. Steelers)
Predicted finish: 9-7. Loses out on head-to-head with Steelers

Jets 6-6 (at Bucs, vs. Falcons, at Colts, vs. Bengals)
Predicted finish: 8-8

Ravens 6-6 (vs Lions, vs. Bears, at Steelers, at Oakland)
Predicted finish: 8-8

First round of playoffs: Steelers at Chargers.

So, as another good friend of mine who happened to be an ex-leper once said, "...not dead yet."

Settling in to watch Steelers

2009-11-29T19:24:00.001-06:00

Last time Steelers and Ravens met, Matt and I were there. AFC championship game in Pittsburgh. Here's to a repeat performance.

Matt is getting braces today

2009-08-13T10:33:00.002-05:00

Sheri is taking Matt to the orthodontist right now where he is getting braces.

He will have to wear them for 14 months.

Having been through that, I feel bad for the kid. But he'll be out of them before he knows it.

Good luck today, pal.

Love-hate relationship with Saturdays

2009-08-08T16:01:00.003-05:00

Love them because it's nice to be around the family and friends, like we were today.

Hate them because of MLB's blackout rules which is prohibiting me from watching the Yanks-Red Sox - a game everybody in the country except the DFW and SoCal markets is watching.

Glad 103.3 is broadcasting the game. And Michael Kay is doing play-by-play, too. So, it could be worse.

Watching Rangers-Angels, listening on radio, watching on GameCast.

Oh, and the Yanks just took the lead...

Hopefully, something good will come of dallasnews.com's outage

2009-08-01T19:20:00.006-05:00

So, dallasnews.com and all the Belo websites and their applications went down at about 3:30 a.m. Friday. Been quite a day and a half of figuring out what went wrong and how to handle the issues.

A lot of people worked very hard to fix the problem and do the best they could for the dallasnews.com audience. But I think it was apparent to everyone on hand that the real flaw was in the lack of a prepared backup plan.

I've got to say if I was the one who did the hiring of IBM to support technology, I would be pretty pissed that they did not guard against something like this.

You pay a company like IBM to do just that. I've heard rumors that IBM was on the way out for Belo, but if it wasn't already a done deal this should leave no doubt.

Belo Technology will need to be beefed up, but there are some smart people over there that can handle it with the right resources. Always comes down to money.

It's embarrassing for the company, and quite frankly it's hard to argue with Mark Cuban's tweet on Saturday.

mcuban: how sad is it that the dallas morning news can't keep their website up?

Although, it's also sad a team can't hold on to a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Anyway, hopefully the right people learned something from this and the outcome will be better tech support all around for Belo.

Halladay already sucking up to next teammates

2009-07-13T21:36:00.002-05:00

"I think once you go from the American League East, not that there aren't great teams out there . . . it's a tough division," Halladay said. "I'd rather hit than have to face [ Derek] Jeter and A-Rod, [Hideki] Matsui and [ Mark] Teixeira and all of the other guys. I think it's a little different when you're coming from someplace like that."

Miserable ride home

2009-07-09T17:39:00.001-05:00

Loopy can't drive. Traffic sucks. Hardline is boring. At least I get to take Matt to the cages for practice tonight.

Alfredo Aceves starts today

2009-07-09T10:16:00.002-05:00

Good player. Hope he pitches well.

Nice NY Times profile on him here.

Halladay in Yankees rotation?

2009-07-07T15:09:00.005-05:00

Roy Halladay, CC, Burnett, Pettitte and Joba/Wang sounds like a solid rotation to me.

Now, what to give up to get him.

Hughes would be a must, I'm sure. No problem.

Apparently one of the catching prospects would have to go. Jesus Montero or Austin Romine. I'd try to get away with Romine and keep Montero.

You could throw in Melky and another arm if needed.

I would not give up Austin Jackson, though. That would sting.

Let's go, Cash! Get busy!

Girardi and the rotation

2009-07-05T15:53:00.002-05:00

So, if Girardi decided to let Aceves pitch four innings today, he must be trying to stretch him out to fill in in the rotation while Wang is back on the DL. If not, why is Mariano not in the game in the ninth?

I know he's pitched 5-of-the-last-6, but they said he was available today.

So, doea Aceves start on Thursday?

Great July 4th weekend

2009-07-05T10:39:00.002-05:00

After golf on Friday, we had a very nice Saturday with family and friends. Early morning baseball practice for Matt. Somebody was in the pool from noon to midnight. Grilled ribs, steak, chicken, burgers, dogs and more. Drank margaritas, daquiris, beer. Listened to John Sterling's call of the last couple inning of another big win for the Yankees. Least enjoyable part of the day was the lackluster Frisco fireworks display.

Today will be all about relaxing - probably indoors. Wimbledon, then the Yanks, then celebrating Chaz's birthday at PF Changs. Might have to squeeze the grocery store in there somewhere. Need more weekends like this one.

Yankees-Twins live blog from bed watching on Yes

2009-05-17T13:26:00.004-05:00

If I get one person to show up in the room, it's a success.
Yankees-Twins

Land line or not? Who has ditched it?

2009-05-15T21:29:00.003-05:00

Thinking of ditching the land line. All four of us have cell phones. Kept it for a long time because of DirecTv, but really don't need it for that anymore.

Could save about $70 a month so don't see the downside. Anybody?

Gonna have to be 7 for Sixers; Six shutout innings for Hughes

2009-04-28T22:56:00.004-05:00

Was hoping the Sixers could take care of business in six games, but they shot horribly for the second game in a row and will have to take it back in Orlando.

Great to see Phil Hughes come out so strong with 6 2-hit innings as the Yanks got back on track with a pasting of the Tigers.

And the Magical Leoplurodans were able to pull of a big trade to land CC Sabathia.

Crappy sports weekend: 1-for-7

2009-04-26T23:18:00.003-05:00

After a great win by the Sixers on Friday night, everything went downhill from there.

Mariano blew a save later that night. Matt's team lost on Saturday afternoon.

Then the Yanks blew 5 or 6 more leads, then Kasey's team blew a 5-run lead to lose 6-5 on a walk off error (runner steals second, throw goes into center field, runner scores).

Later that day at Babe's the waitress is wearing a Red Sox hat. Needless to say she screwed herself on a tip.

And a Sixers heartbreaker at the buzzer is followed up by another crappy game by the Yanks.

Can't wait to see what Monday brings.

NBA officials are the worst of all

2009-04-26T18:07:00.001-05:00

One game called tight, the next game you have to stab somebody to get a whistle.

vigodas.net 2009 MLB predictions

2009-04-05T09:14:00.004-05:00

What you've all been waiting for:

AL East: Yankees
AL Central: Indians
AL West: Angels
Wildcard: A's
AL champ: Yankees

Awards:
MVP: Mark Teixeira
Cy Young: CC Sabathia
Rookie of the year: Brett Gardner

NL East: Braves
NL Central: Reds
NL West: Dodgers
Wildcard: Cubs
NL Champ: Dodgers

Awards:
MVP: Manny Ramirez
Cy Young: Ryan Dempster
Rookie of the year: Jason Motte

World Champion: Yankees over Dodgers

Another weekend, another Saturday of baseball and softball

2009-04-04T16:51:00.003-05:00

Matt's team came back from down 5-1 to win 12-6. Matt went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. He pitched two innings and allowed two runs, struck out one and walked one.

Kasey's team got crushed by the same team the lost the preseason tournament to last week. Kasey went 0-for-2 with a ground out and strikeout.

Matt's heading to a party tonight and Kasey is having a friend sleepover.

What do the parents get?

Martellus vs. the alien...

2009-04-03T12:12:00.003-05:00

Check it out at Cowboys Insider Blog.

Our fantasy lineup...how do you like it?

2009-03-31T22:59:00.003-05:00

The Candy Mountain Magical Leopluradons look good after the 26th and final round of the DMN B League fantasy baseball draft.

The draft took longer than an Omnigalactic Poker season, but The Leopluradons have a dominant roster. They decided to give up something in the saves category, being that Mariano is worth two closers anyway.

The final roster:

C Posada
1B Teixeira
2B Cano
SS Jeter
1B/3B Giambi
2B / SS O. Cabrera
3B A-Rod
OF Damon
OF Nady
OF Matsui
OF Cameron
OF J. Rivera
UTIL Crede
UTIL M. Bourn
Bench Saltalamacchia

Pitchers
Chris Young
Joba
AJ Burnett
Chien-Ming Wang
Andy Pettitte
Randy Johnson
Joey Devine
Chris Volstad
Jamie Moyer
Mariano Rivera
Phil Hughes

Only one championship game on Sunday

2009-03-28T22:40:00.003-05:00

Matt went 1-2 with a run scored, but the Thunder gave up a 3-run lead to fall 10-7 in a semifinal heart-breaker.

But we'll be back at the field at 1 p.m. for Kasey's Rockies to take on the Padres and hopefully defend their FBSA preseason championship. Oh, I'm also 1-0 as manager as I had to fill in for Kasey's softball coaches today. So, if they lose tomorrow, it's not on me.

I really hope it's warmer out there. It makes everybody grouchy if it's not.

Thunder advance to semifinals in 13-14 baseball

2009-03-28T15:28:00.002-05:00

Matt went 0-1 with a walk and a run scored in a 12-2 victory over the Tigers.

It was 37 degrees when the game started, warmed up a little, but was kind of funny seeing the kids playing with sweatshirts and ski hats on.

Tonight's game against the Storm should be equally as cold.

Kasey's Rockies play at 6:30 p.m.

After all that, I might go to Winstar with Dennis Hall, we'll see.

Oh, and not sure who's pick it is in the DMN fantasy B League, but we'll be making picks when we can.

Sheri is not enjoying the day, acting like she's going to die because it's cold.

Long, cold day at the ballparks

2009-03-28T08:40:00.000-05:00

Matt & Kasey's tournament games are still on as scheduled for noon and 6:30 p.m.

Not so worried about the kids as I am their mother. Sheri does not do well when the temp dips below 70, let alone below 40.

We'll see how it goes out there. I'll see if I can take some photos.

Kids' tournament games postponed again

2009-03-27T21:43:00.000-05:00

Matt and Kasey will both begin their baseball and softball tournament play on Saturday.

Matt's 13-14 Thunder play at noon. And Kasey's 12-U Rockies advanced to the second round by forfeit. They play their first game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

If the Thunder win, they'll play again at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Both championship games are on Sunday afternoon.

Fantasy draft now getting interesting

2009-03-27T21:40:00.000-05:00

The Candy Mountain Magical Leopluradons kept the Yankees streak rolling for 13 consecutive picks until selecting former Yankee Jason Giambi in the 14th round.

Sucks that we have to have non-Yankees on the roster, but we'll do our best to bring them around the Leopluradon way.

Shun the non-believers!

2009-03-26T07:41:00.001-05:00

Mattingly's first shot at a DMN fantasy league has resulted in the selection of six Yankees drafted in the first six picks to the Candy Mountain Magical Leopluradons.

1. Mark Teixeira
2. Alex Rodriguez
3. Derek Jeter
4. Mariano Rivera
5. Robinson Cano
6. Joba Chamberlain

Cameron Maun swooped in and grabbed CC Sabathia early in the second round, the Yankee to join a team other than the Magical Leopluradons.

We'll update this after picks are made.

Sheri and Matt still have a shot in NCAA pool

2009-03-25T12:54:00.000-05:00

Sheri is tied for the lead in the SportsDay NCAA Tournament Pool. If Memphis wins it all, she is likely to take home the first-place prize.

Matt is within striking distance and has UConn to win it all. If they do, he has a good shot at winning the pool.

Kasey has UNC and will need a ton of help beyond that even if they win.

Basically, I'm the only one in the household eliminated because of my misguided belief that Leonard Hamilton might actually be able to coach.

So, I guess it's Tigers or Huskies for us.

Here we go again

2009-03-18T17:01:00.000-05:00

Okay, another blog to post my rants. It will be 99 percent sports, one percent who knows...

I'll send some invites out and you can blog along if you wish. You can certainly comment on the threads. But please, no trash talking. You know how I hate trash talking.