Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sat Sept 25 2010

Well today was a bit of a bumpy ride. If I didn't know better I would say that God is trying to tell me to stop watching sports. He's also telling me to get a new phone because mine dies every few hours. It's dead now. Weird.

Out of the three games of interest to me, only one result, Arsenal of course, was a surprise. ND and DCU didn't let me down as much as they just reinforced what I already figured to be true. They suck.

I didn't endorse the Brian Kelly hiring. I saw it as a lateral move from Charlie Weis. What's the point of making a lateral move? Everybody on TV was clamoring for the BK hiring. Maybe it will work out. I doubt it but I guess you never really know. You just have to be sure that when you get rid of a guy you are going to get a better guy to fill that spot. Making changes just to make changes isn't a great long term strategy.

It's not the losses, its how they are losing. Questionable decisions in both losses to the Michigan schools followed up by the complete ass kicking by the Cardinal. At least Tyronne and Charlie had decency to start out hot. BK is pulling a Bob Davie. In case you didn't know, that's not a compliment.

So what else happened:

Alabama survived a scare. Same with Oklahoma. Mack Brown had his lunch money taken by UCLA. Boise State kept the dream alive. WVU failed at defending the honor of the Big East in Baton Rouge. Norm Chow finally figured out how to win with Prince at QB. The Big Ten as a whole had one of the most dispicable days in the history of conference scheduling. Check out who their teams played and the scores. Embarrassing.

JMU held on to beat Liberty. Liberty held the Dukes to 10 points. Maybe Bud Foster should give one of the kids on Liberty that stupid lunch pail this week. Hopefully JMU keeps getting their AP Top 25 votes so long as they stay undefeated.

The Hoyas are 3-1 and 2-0 in the Patriot League. Today's win against Holy Cross, first in 11 years, could have been program changing. Hoya Saxa even on the Gridiron.

Right now might be one of the best part's of the day. I've got a crazy Pac 10 game to watch with 3 of my best friends. Rocky, Mike & Ike. There really is nothing like a good old fashioned shootout out west that goes well past 2am.

Just inside of the 4th quarter and Oregon leads at Arizona State 42-31. The Ducks returned a lateral for a TD in the 3rd. I feel like Dennis Erickson isn't cheating enough in Tempe. It normally doesn't take him this long to make a team really good. He should go to a Calipari seminar on ethics.

Hey so who gets the fun job of painting the practice field back to green in Corvallis? I doubt the Oregon State players are going to want to look at the blue turf when they get home.

It's hard to believe College Football has been with us for a month now. Next week the games are pretty good. Probably the first of 2 match-ups between Florida and Alabama unless South Carolina or Auburn can step up strong to the mic.

ND travels to Chestnut Hill for a evening kickoff. It will be nice to have all day to dread their taking of the field. Arsenal doesn't get a chance to kill my Saturday next week as they won't lay until Sunday. Thank you Gunnersaurus.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Sat Sept 25 2010

Another smashing start to this Saturday as far as my rooting interests are concerned. Before I get into that here is a look at the latest Kings Park Index.

1- Alabama (1 last week) - I can't believe they really played at Duke last week. It went exactly the way you might figure. What I don't want is for Nick Saban to gloss over the opponent at the end of the year by boasting that his Crimson Tide went on the road and got a win against at BCS school. While technically true it won't really paint an accurate picture.

2 - Oregon (2) - These high flying Ducks love to score. I hope they can win the Pac -10 but I'm not holding my breath. A few years ago I was all about them and then Dixon got hurt.

3 - Ohio State (4) - I guess they are good. Buckeyes look to stay perfect in the MAC this weekend.

4 - Nebraska (NR) - Are the Black Shirts back? They really took the Huskies behind the woodshed last week. They held Jake Locker to 4-20 passing with 2 picks. So much for that Heisman. I worry that the 'Huskers won't get the benefit of many calls once their final lap through the BIG XI begins.

5 - Boise State (5) - Big game tonight against the Beavers. The Oregon schools just can't keep away from playing the Broncos. My dream scenario involves Boise State playing in the BCS against a non- SEC school. No sweater vests either.

Well Arsenal just laid an absolute boulder sized egg. The teams I root for have been snake bitten since that stoppage time goal last week. ND then lost on a fake field goal in overtime that was so dramatic the heart of Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio attacked him following the win. Then United let Landon Donovan beat them all by himself. The next day the 'Skins blew a 17 point lead at home to lose to the Texans in OT.

I was hoping this weekend would be better. So much for hope. Arsenal was my only real chance at relief in today's slate of games. I'm sitting on my couch just dreading my trip of doom to RFK.

ND is in the batter's box of my personal sports torture show that is currently being played on a rather large loop. I'm not holding my breath. United is on deck. I'd consider scoring more than 1 goal, whatever the result, to count as a win.

Jim Harbaugh this. Jim Harbaugh that. Does anybody know what his record is at Stanford? Yeah he is 20-20. To put that reocrd in perspective it's pretty much the same record that Tyronne Willingham had through 40 games. Yeah in all likelihood he will be a tick above .500 after today but let's get off this guy's proverbial jock for a minute.

Ok well it's almost time to get out of here. NC State is up on GA Tech early. I have a soft spot in my heart for the way Paul Johnson wants to control the ball with the option. C'mon Yellow Jackets.

VA Tech is up on BC. I'm tired of seeing that stupid Lunch Pail thing. Almost as annoying as the trophy case without the National Championship Trophy. Puh-leese.

I hope Arkansas can give 'Bama a game today. I need 'Bama to get a loss but to beat Florida so they both have at least one loss before the SEC Title Game. Even though he's not super dependable, I'm counting on Bobby Petrino today.

hhgregg might be a cool score but their name is retarded so I will never go there. They are having a private sale this weekend. What's odd about this private sale is that they keep showing commercials about it. I wouldn't advise anybody telling their private information to hhgregg. It will most likely end up on a broadcast during college football games.

Can Maryland lose to FIU? That would be a nice little consolation prize for today. Let me check the score. 14-7 Terps. I think the Golden Panthers can do the job.

Let's check in on the Big Ten network. Here are the games right now:

Ball State v Iowa
Austin Peay v Wisconsin
Northern Colorado v Michigan State

I'm serious. Those are the games from the network that was ALMOST the catalyst for conference Armageddon this past off-season. Every week it just looks more and more lucrative.

BC driving in right before the half in what has to be the most boring game on right now. BC being in the ACC is just ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous was the play to end the half for BC. Wait why do the Eagles get to kick a field goal with 0:00 on the clock? HAHA. Nevermind. Half over losers.

Alright that's it for me. See everybody on the Blue Turf.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

ND - Michigan State

This game already has the feel of last year's Purdue game on ABC. Another average Big "Ten" team that is treating this night game like their freaking Super Bowl.

ND Senior DB Gary Gray has a pretty cool name now that I think about it. Neither name is cool on it's own but together it's a cool combination. Two names. Both with the identical letters but not the same. Just to put it in perspective, it would suck if his name were Gary Grey.

Rudolph is a man among boys out there. I'm going to go ahead and assume that he isn't around for his 4th season next year.

Michael Floyd just opened up his scoring account for the 2010 season. ND leads 7-0.

Finally an interception after having their chance at 3 last week.

Uh oh. Floyd looks to have fumbled and they are reviewing it.

So Michael Floyd just opened up his fumbling account of the 2010 season. ND still leads 7-0.

Crist is lucky that there isn't a viable option behind him. That was a horrible interception. What did he see?

Great TD pass by Cousins. MSU really capitalized on that turnover to the tune of a 94 yard TD drive. talk about taking advantage of an opportunity.

ND is just out of sync. They have plenty of good players offensively but Crist isn't good enough to consistently utilize them.

ND will be lucky to go in tied 7-7 at the half. 2 minutes remain in the 2nd.

After momentairly going down 14-7, Crist with an impressive drive to knot the score back up. Most noteworthy was his recognizing a mismatch with Rudolph and calling the audible. They are going to need some more of that to get out of East Lansing with a win tonight.

Michigan State is just running the ball down ND's throat right now. Stanford is going to beat that ass next week. I'm definitely not going to be renting a generator. Of course it would probably just be more fun to stay home and watch games anyway. MSU 21 - 14.

I don't know what Crist did at halftime but it worked. Totally didfferent player. He is keeping the Irish in the game. It's time to do something on defense. More tackling and less hitting. I'm looking at you Te'o. 21 - 21.

Well I think we have a 3 and out on our hands here as the 3rd quarter expires.

Michael Floyd now has more TDs than fumbles. I hope it's never even again this season. 28 - 21 Irish.

MSU with the answer. Whichever team can force the other into a field goal will probably win. Kinda like last week. 28 - 28.

If I took a shot every time Brad Nessler reminded everybody that tonight's game is only the 9th Night Game in MSU history I would be dead.

Brian Kelly. Charlie Weis. I can't tell the difference yet. Same dumbass play calling. Same pathetic ass defense.

Penalties are killing MSU tonight. Even with that horrific 4th down decision, MSU is trying everything possible to lose right now. Can ND make them eat it?

ND felt bad so they made sure to throw an illegal block on the punt return. This has OT written all over it now.

OT is about to start. Even if they pull it out somehow, this program is years away. They aren't doing the little things better that would lead you to believe that it's going in the right direction. It's the same old same old from the Irish.

So both Weis and Kelly take their first MSU game into overtime. I hate all of their similarities so far.

Here goes ND for the field goal. This is where the game will be lost. It's up and good. 31 - 28. I'll be stunned if ND holds MSU to a field goal or worse.

Secondary has been playing well the last few series. Cousins has done a good job not forcing and scambling for a few yards.

SACK ND! I can't believe it. The FG just got a little bit longer.

46 yards on the kick.

Fake FG. Game over. MSU wins.

I said it earlier in the 4th. First team to force the other into a FG wins. MSU did it.

I want to wipe that fucking smile off of Brian Kelly's face.

night games - Sat Sept 18

Jerry Glanville isn't coaching at Portland State anymore. That was the only reason to even consider flipping to the Oregon game. The Ducks are on the board early and often. I don't expect that to change. Good Luck Vikings.

I have a hard time believing that South Carolina is #13. Change that 1 to a 2 and I'm all about it.

What is going on in Oxford? Ole Miss is awful. They are 1-2 with home losses to Jacksonville State and Vanderbilt. Yikes. I guess it's karma for picking up Masoli at the last second. Maybe they should hire Sandra Bullock to roam the streets looking for down on their luck kids who want a truck for their birthday.

Old Dominion resurrected their football program last year. They have a homer on TV right now against William & Mary. Their stadium needs a lot of work. A lot. My first recommendation is to build the stands taller so that you can't see random houses in the background. The one house that I just saw looked like the frat house from Old School. I wonder if they know a good sand guy.

The Ducks are up 48-0 just inside of the 3rd quarter. Quack quack.

When is there going to be an option where you can customize the bottom scroll during a sports broadcast? I could really do without baseball scores. It's even worse during college basketball season with all of the women's scores.

If it were a fight, the referee would have stopped this Oregon game a long time ago. 69-0 Ducks.

I feel kind of bad for Wyoming. Boise State is on a mission to prove that even though Va Tech might suck, they don't. Hey how about those Wyoming uniforms? Pretty slick huh?

If you took Portland State +68.5, you lost money tonight.

I'm not watching much of the "other" night games right now. It doesn't seem as if I'm missing much. I hope Clemson wins. I have a theory that the SEC is hyped up this year. I'm more than willing to be proven wrong especially if it involves South Carolina beating Florida.

Special teams play in college football is so unpredictable. Clemson's kicker just missed a chip shot to send the game in 2OT. Game Auburn. War Eagle I guess.

I still there is a ton of dead weight in the SEC - particularly in the East.

The crowd at Arizona looks awesome. Iowa is being taken behind the woodshed.

I suppose the United game is on. I've got it on DVR. I doubt I'm missing much.

Texas beat Tech tonight. I have a sneaking suspicion that Tubberville won't find much success in Lubbock. Leach was crazy and that worked. You need a pirate type to get things done there. Everybody can blame Adam James for being a douchebag.

Still scoreless at the Home Depot Center. Weird.

What a crap day. First Arsenal loses on the last kick of the game and ND basically does the same thing. United winning wouldn't fix it either.

afternoon games - Sat Sept 18

I didn't realize that JMU had the week off. I hope they can maintain their 11 points in next week's AP Top 25 Poll.

The Hoyas fell in a shootout at the hands of Yale earlier today. So much for perfection. They actually had a few votes in the FCS poll. Yeah that was a mistake.

Maybe it's just me but I think that Florida - Tennessee is still a big game. I mean without the Vols providing resistance, the SEC East has basically been a layup for the Gators.

Minnesota is on the board early against USC. Better start than against South Dakota State.

Looks like Va Tech has woken up from their slumber. Up on ECU in the 4th by 15. Make that 22. Yeah I'm calling it now. Later ESPN3.

ECU has now given up 49 points for the 2nd time in 3 games. Their record in such games is about to even up at 1-1. The time they didn't give up 49? They scored 49 themselves. Doobie doobie do.

Rocky likes to sleep dangerously. He keeps falling asleep with his head under one of the recliners. He's lucky I'm not drinking.

15 minutes in the books at in Durham and the Crimson Tide are up 28 - 3. I can't believe this game is taking place.

The first player on the KPI all-name team is Air Force Senior DE Rick Ricketts. His parents sent the bar pretty high when they named that kid.

Rocky is also laying on the power cord to my laptop. I feel like it's only a matter of time before he's running with scissors.

Hey remember when people talked about USC QB Matt Barkley for the Heisman?

With the score 28-0 'Bama in the 1st quarter against Duke, Brendan asked me if I thought "they" had punted it yet. I replied by saying, "Who Duke?". The only thing better than sarcasm is more sarcasm. It's sorta like extra cheese on your pizza.

From what I've seen Air Force QB Tim Jefferson is only good at one thing. Bad news for Falcon fans is that that one thing is punting. Close game at the half but I can't imagine Air Force scoring a touchdown on something other than a special teams or defensive touchdown.

I don't want to get all Clinton Portis on everybody but ABC thinks so little of Alabama - Duke game that they have a woman doing play-by-play.

Are Horned Frogs real? I think TCU is for real but I'm not sure about their nickname.

Colorado is awful. I bet they can't wait until they get to play Washington State in the Pac-12. I get the feeling that Dan Hawkins wishes he hadn't left the blue turf of Boise. There's also a good chance his next coaching gig will be with an intramural team.

The Idaho State - Northern Colorado game is in HD. The Hawaii - Colorado game isn't. Also: The announcer just called them "UNC". Yeah that's not their name.

Is it homecoming in Knoxville? This halftime is taking forever.

USC is up 13-7 at the half. This is the 2nd week in a row that I've seen some of their game and they are unspectacular yet turning out results.

I have a hard time believing that Monte Kiffin likes his son.

Minnesota was winning. For about 10 seconds. 19-14 USC because Kiffin loves going for 2 whenever and wherever. Let's hope that comes back to get him sooner rather than later.

Air Force is driving again. It's as if they want to compete in Norman. That's something FSU doesn't know anything about.

The Buffaloes just took the lead over the Rainbow Warriors in Boulder. Still pathetic by Colorado.

I keep flipping to the SMU - Washington State game. There's just something about Gerald Ford Stadium that fascinates me. I feel like SMU with Jim Jones could be a sleeping non-BCS.

I went over this last week but Simms is not a good quarterback. 24-10 Gators and I'm putting this game to bed.

If Verne Lundquist were to read a bunch of books on tape I would start buying books on tape.

Alabama just punted for the first time. There are still 4 minutes left in the 3rd. 55-13. I don't know what the spread was for this "contest" but I have to imagine that Duke was one of the largest home underdogs from a BCS conference EVER.

Ball game in Knoxville again. Huge 4th down conversion for SIX.

Blocked XPT in Madison has the Sundevils trailing the Badgers by 1 with 4 minutes to go. So much for the OT game I was hoping on seeing this afternoon.

We have mercifully made our way to the 4th quarter in Durham. Duke has given up 109 points the last two Saturdays. So far.

Make that 106 points. Even Coach K would have a problem with that this early in the season.

I think Chick-fil-A does a really good job with their commercials. The reasons are two fold. I want to try their Spicy Chicken Sandwich and I think they are funny. Win-win.

I wonder who would win if BYU and Samford played in football. I'm sure FSU wishes they were in the ACC.

Jake Locker for Heisman? Yeah I don't think so.

The backup at Tennessee must really suck because Dooley keeps sticking with Simms.

The 2nd player on the KPI All-Name Team has been spotted. Tennessee Freshmen WR Da'Rick Rogers. Verne Lundquist really stressed the RICK part of his name.

Well it's time to get serious for that killer 8pm kickoff from East Lansing.

early games Sept 18

I love College Football Saturdays. As we start Week 3 here is my top 5:

Kings Park Index (KPI)

1. Alabama - I always keep the defending Champion in the top spot until somebody proves that they can beat them. They also looked great against Penn State from what I saw.

2. Oregon - It's always difficult for a west coast team to come across the country for a game but the Ducks had no problems with Tennessee last week. I also think 72 against a team from the Mountain West is pretty good. That being said Oregon has tricked me before.

3. Oklahoma - I thought FSU would provide a game. I was wrong. Air Force should be a tougher test today.

4. Ohio State - #3 and #4 were a toss up for me. I hate sweater vests. Seems like a good way to settle a tie-breaker.

5. Boise State - JMU really might ruin their season. Oh well.


I'm not a fan of the Arsenal game being on at 12:30 today. That is going to take a big chunk out of the Noon games in the incredible world of college football. The good news is that the early games aren't that great.

Georgia Tech gave up a ton of yards early but held UNC to a field goal. They are doing some renovations behind one of the endzones in Chapel Hill and it looks horrible on TV when they kick field goals/xpt's.

Maryland is getting smoked early in Morgantown. 14-0 midway through the 1st Quarter. No first downs yet for Friedgen's slow death offense.

It is a thing of beauty to watch Paul Johnson's offense go. A simple option pitch ends goes for about a 65 yard touchdown. It's so fun to watch and so sick when it's done well. You have to get physical wide receivers because they do way more blocking than catching in his scheme.

I had no idea Al Groh was on the GT staff. It makes that loss to Kansas make a little more sense.

Maryland is one of the worst 2-0 teams in awhile. It's criminal that they would even schedule Morgan State. So that's one of their wins. Their other win is against Navy who did absolutely everything in their power to give that game away and they were successful. I've never seen a team lose they way did by dominating rushing yards/scoring chances/time of possession.

How is Kent State v Penn State on ESPN2? Is it a Paterno thing? God Bless him but he shouldn't be talking to reporters at halftime. It was painful last week. I hope I'm as active as him when I'm 83 but it's asking way too much of him to give halftime quotes.

Speaking of Penn State and the Big "Ten" I have a bunch of Big Ten Network channels. Here are the three games that I can choose from right now: Ohio v Ohio State, UMASS v Michigan, and Ball State v Purdue. Yeah thanks but not thanks guys. Great work Delaney.

I think Jock Sanders is such a cool name. Mainly the first part. The dad on Dallas's name was Jock Ewing. Now that is a sick name.

With WVU driving in for another potential score, Rob Stone just said that he would love to know what Ralph Friedgen's blood pressure is right now. Um I'm pretty sure his BP is always bad.

OMG what a crazy goal from Cesc for the 0-1 lead. Just one more goal and I'll be feeling good about this game. Arsenal concede goals on the road. You can set your watch by it.

I let lots of little things bother me. One of the little things bothering me right now is the way in which the grass has been cut at the Stadium of Light. The majority of the field has been cut in a circular pattern. I hate that.

Well that was a bummer. Arsenal were seconds away from being lucky to win only to end up being unlucky NOT to win.

It's hard to miss a penalty and win a game. Especially when you are down a man.

Ok I need to snap out of this and get back to the CFB grind.

Looks like Maryland made a little comeback but is going to come up 2 touchdowns short. Weird.

Maybe everybody can get excited about them being 3-1 if they survive to beat FIU next weekend.

GT with the win in Chapel Hill. I roll with the Ramblin' Wreck in the ACC. You should too.

UMASS put up a fight in the Big House. Too bad they couldn't App State them.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Last call - Sat Sept 11

20 minutes ago. That was about the time when everybody in Tennessee gave up on the Vols game to root against Kiffin.

So Tennessee is getting crushed at home by Oregon and ESPN comes back from a commercial by by showing a bunch of trophies from the Lady Vols collection. Some ball signed by Pat Summitt and some other junk. Talk about rubbing salt in the wounds of Vols fans everywhere. That's a dirty move from the guys in Bristol.

UVA - USC is still a game in the 2nd quarter. I'd consider that a win for the Cavs.

The beauty of a fake punt in the 2nd quarter is that the other team will NEVER suspect it again. I hope Mike London knows that.

I love it when they show fans celebrating in the stands but you know that the play is coming back because a big ugly on the line was holding.

What job will Lane Kiffin get after failing at USC? Probably take over for Wade Phillips or something.

I hope Morgan State can avenge today's loss to Maryland on the basketball court this winter.
Keith Payne just scored. I first saw him play as a sophomore at Oakton. Big kid then. Big kid now.

The more I think about the Notre Dame game in my head, the more I realize that they still have a maniac calling plays. He just goes by a different name, isn't as fat, and doesn't have snot running down his nose all game.

I'm glad I wasn't born in an era when Baseball mattered.

It sucks that South Bend is still the place to go if you are looking to make a case for the Heisman Trophy. That's a tradition I could live without. I've also grown tired of the cornerbacks giving a 15 yard cushion on every play.

This USC game is the worst. It's still close so I'll keep watching only to get burned at the end when they win handily.

And another missed FG. Still a one score game between UVA and USC.

Oh my eyes. I just saw John Feinstein in a Washington Post Live commercial. He has the ultimate face for radio.

USC looks beatable tonight. On Nov 27th they will be firing on all cylinders. LOCK OF THE YEAR.

So UCLA sucks. I wonder if Norm Chow is having fun yet.

I hope UVA scores a late TD and follows it up with a throat slash gesture. That would make staying up until 2am worth it.

By watching most of this USC game I am really building a solid foundation in the case to show just how much I dislike myself.

Taking your shirt off at a game and painting your chest isn't that great but at least have the decency to not be a fat slob. It's ok if you are a little overweight. Just keep your clothes on. I do.

Why is Mitch Mustain smiling? He has wasted his entire college career at two different schools. I mean I think it's funny but he shouldn't.

Still time for a throat slash from the Wahoos.

USC just called timeout up 10 with 11 seconds left. Interesting. If UVA scores they should go for 2.

TD CAVALIERS.

Unfortunately no throat slash or 2 pt conversion try. Do you onsides kick it with 4 seconds left?

Only 4 seconds left but it was more than enough time for one of the Trojans to have a player ejected. I have a good feeling about the Lane Kiffin era.

Well that's it for me.

Wait a second here's Lane with the interview.

Eh that was a let down.