Slingbox

-Enjoy your home TV programming wherever you are, at the office, a hotel room, your garden or anywhere there is an Internet connection

-Works seamlessly with your existing home theater setup and PC technologies; easy to use and set up with automatic device discovery and a setup wizard that walks through the setup step-by-step

-Works like a long-distance remote, providing full control of virtually any type of A/V device, including PVRs, digital cable boxes and satellite TV receivers

-Receive TV on an unlimited number of PCs without adding new hardware; no subscription fees or additional service fees

-The SlingRemote in the SlingPlayer software gives you full control over virtually any A/V device, from changing channels and viewing recorded content to fast-forwarding or setting up a season pass

-Easy to use and set up, with no new cables required, automatic device discovery, and a setup wizard that guides you through the process step-by-step

-Absolutely zero subscription fees!

                         

Here is all you need to do:

1. Connect the TV source to the Slingbox.
2. Connect the Slingbox to the Internet.
3. Plug in the Slingbox power adapter.
4. Load the SlingPlayer software onto your PC.

You are now ready to view and control your TV programming via your Internet-connected desktop or laptop as if you were sitting in your living room, watching your TV source, and using its own remote control.

You can buy it at Best Buy, or Amazon.com. 

Can We Get Rid of the Preseason Games???

                            

I hate the preseason.  Sure, it's great to see football back and it fuels the juices for another great NFL season.  But the games are meaningless but the injuries sustained from them aren't. 

Why do we need four preseason games??  Really.  Why?  These games really just determine the final rosters spots and a few battles for starting positions.  And it does give teams game situations to work in.  Clinton Portis, who was injured last night in a preseason game, even said: "For whoever's watching: Let's get rid of some of these games.  Four games is ridiculous. Then you play a 16-game season and the playoffs behind that."

Now, you can poke holes thru this.

You could say, "oh...you only care because Clinton Portis went down for your beloved Redskins".  Nope.  Oh, it is what enrages me to write this....but I've hated the NFL preseason regardless.  I had an opportunity to see my Redskins play on National TV against Cincy last night....and chose not to.  Preseason sucks.

You could say, "even if we scaled back the amount of games to two"...Portis still could've gotten hurt.  Sure.  Portis could get hurt in a car ride or shaving too.  Or in practice.  At least practice is a bit more controlled than an actual game.  And, sure, LeCharles Bentley of the Browns and Steve Smith of the Panthers were hurt pretty much the first second they walked on the practice field....and those things do happen.  But they tend to happen more often during the preseason games where...again...it isn't as controlled.

You could say, "but those jobs are important.  Those position battles and final roster spots mean something."  Yep...but isn't that what all these camps are for?  I mean, the NFL is a 12-month job now.  And with all these mini camps and scimmages....you cannot tell me that these jobs cannot be determined then???  Every NFL player who played in college or high school didn't have "preseason games".  They had camps...possibly scrimmages...and then the season starts.  Sure, in college....some do schedule Appalachian State right off the bat as a cupcake to get the season going....but there are also games like Florida State-Miami that get the season going.  Why not have the same thing with the NFL??  Most teams have scrimmage buddies now [the Skins and the Ravens knock each other around] to be able to match up with someone else.  And those games are somewhat controlled.

And spare me the "battle for those final roster spots".  Yes, it does happen that some guy performs really well during the preseason and nails down one of the final spots.  I was impressed with Mike Espy during that Redskins game last night.  But that was mainly against guys who wouldn't be on the field in a normal game.  And, again, Espy got more run than some other guys in last night's preseason game because he was....say it with me now.....impressive during camp. 

Maybe make the NFL's preseason kind of like the NBA's summer leagues??  In the NBA, only guys who are in their first few years in the league and guys who are fighting for jobs play.  Or guys recovering from injuries.  Shaq doesn't play in summer leagues......Mike Gansey does. 

Heck, let's just scrap the preseason as a whole??  Why not just inflate the NFL rosters for the 2-4 weeks of the season??  Instead of the 45 man roster and the 8 practice squad from the get go....allow for an expanded roster??  At least for a few games.  Maybe allow a 60 or 65 man roster for the first couple of games and allow teams to make cuts after that deadline?  This would keep a bigger roster to allow for guys to see some time....allow for depth for guys getting their game legs....and eliminating those preseason tilts.

I know that's not practical or sensible...but neither is losing your best player in a meaningless game.  Even if is Michael Vick a few years ago or Rex Grossman last year.  Of course, the reason why none of this would happen is money.  Preseason money is free money for owners.  They charge the same prices for meaningless games as they do for the real ones.  And they ain't giving that up....even if it costs them a $8M player in the process.

Sportz' Fantasy Football Draft

Fantasy sports are that thing that you wanna talk about but no one else cares.  Screw it.  This is my blog and I can do what I want...lol.

On Sunday, my 8-team league held it's annual Fantasy Football draft.  And we geeked it out hard core.  We had a podium set up with a microphone and an amp so we could make our picks.  For the first round...I did the Paul Tagliabue thing where I introduced each team as they picked.  For the next 17 rounds...everyone got up to the mic and gave their picks as everyone furiously wrote it down. 

It was a fun affair.  Two guys who used to work with us, but have since left for other pursuits, were there...so we all got to play a little catch-up.  And, with a thrilling Reds-Phillies game as a backdrop...we were ready to rock.

Our league is a keeper league, with each team keeping a QB, a RB and a WR.  It was an 18-round draft to fill a 21 player roster [yeah, we stack the teams and have limited transactions during the year].  So....here is my new team.

QUARTERBACKS:  Colts, Steelers, Redskins

    

In our league, we do the Team QB thing where we take all the QBs on a team rather than just one individual.  The Colts QB [Peyton Manning] were my keeper team.  Because of that, I really don't have to look for a QB until late in the draft.  In round 11, I picked up the Steelers QB [Big Ben Roethlisberger].  I did so mainly because on Week 6, which is Manning's bye week, the Steelers face the defense-less Chiefs.  That's also why I picked the Redskins QB [Mark Brunell] in the 16th round...as they face the Titans the same week.  I am very satisfied with my QBs...as I already had Manning and I essentially just covered my butt for the bye weeks.  And if something really bad should happen to Manning....I think that Big Ben and Brunell can carry some of the load.

RUNNING BACKS:  Clinton Portis [Wash], Brian Westbrook [Phil], Willis McGahee [Buff], Corey Dillon [NE], Fred Taylor [Jack], Ron Dayne [Den]

Clinton Portis was my keeper from last year....and despite his seperated shoulder suffered on Sunday, I think he will have a fine year.  My top pick was Brian Westbrook....who I didn't really want when I was starting to do my research...but I grew to like as the draft neared.  He was rated the #7 available back on my list [I picked 8th]...and I knew that a WR would go somewhere in the first round....so I settled with Westbrook.  But one strange thing also happened.  The guy picking before me, for some reason, selected Hines Ward [Larry Fitzgerald was our #1 overall pick].  That meant another RB dropped a bit.  That was my #6 rated back, Willis McGahee.  I'm not in love with McGahee either....but he isn't too bad.  I figured that I could look at decent WRs for my next two picks in the draft.  I had back-to-back picks all thru the draft [I had the last pick in the odd numbered rounds and the first pick in the even ones]...so I grabbed both Westbrook and McGahee.

After then scrambling for receiver help, I did pick up Corey Dillon in the 5th round.  Not a guy I was really pegging either [since I live in Cincy now, some guys overvalue the former Bengal and usually take him too early].  When my back-to-back picks came for the 5th and 6th rounds....I wasn't too thrilled with two WRs there [I did pick one].   Dillon was still on the board and a decent option, so I scooped him up.  In the 8th round, I picked up fragile Fred Taylor.  Again, not a guy high on my list...but where I was picking....he looked pretty good.  There were no other real starters out there left...and Taylor at least gives me an option if I really need it.  My final back was Ron Dayne who I picked in the 17th round.  I had intended to just pick a backup [Ladell Betts, Shaud Williams or Ryan Moats] to handcuff one of my other backs....but when looking what was still available on the board, Dayne was still there.  So...why not?

RECEIVERS:  Steve Smith [Car], Santana Moss [Redskins], Darrell Jackson [Sea], Derrick Mason [Balt], Donte Stallworth [NO], Rod Smith [Den], Michael Clayton [TB]

Steve Smith was my keeper from last year.  With my decision to draft two backs with my first two picks....I chanced that I could still pick up some decent guys in the 3rd and 4th rounds.  While watching Burress, Chambers, Wayne, Roy Williams and Boldin go....the best guys that were there at those spots were Santana Moss and Darrell Jackson.  Moss had a record setting season in Washington last year and Jackson benefits from a very solid offense in Seattle.  While not thrilled with the talent level [I had pegged Chambers with my 2nd round pick]....they will do fine. 

For the next two back-to-back picks....I split by picking a RB and WR both times.  In the 6th round, I picked Derrick Mason.  With Air McNair now in B-more...I think Mason will be happening again [like when both were in Tennessee].  In the 7th round, I picked up Donte Stallworth.  Hopefully with Brees in N'Awlins, Stallworth can finally reach his potential.  In the 9th round, I went with Rod Smith.  While other guys were filling out their stable of backs, Smith was still on the board.  With Plummer in a battle for his job and with Javon Walker out there on the other side, Smith could have a pretty nice year.  And, finally, I picked Michael Clayton in the 14th round.  To be honest, I needed one last WR and he was the top rated guy on my sheet. 

KICKERS:  Jay Feely [NYG], Sebastian Janikowski [Oak]

               

In my league, people overvalue kickers.  The first kicker taken was David Akers in the 5th round [bad pick].  Vinatieri went two rounds later.  But, most guys didn't go for a kicker until the 12 round.  I picked up Jay Feely in the 13th round.  I figured that with that offense, Feely will get more FG attempts than some other cats.  Also, unless a kicker has an unreal season [like Neal Rackers did last year], most kickers are the same....point wise.  So I was willing to slide on my kicker.  Sebastian Janikowski was my final pick in the draft [18th round] and just was a guy who didn't have the same bye week as Feely. 

DEFENSES:  Colts, Patriots, Redskins

                                                     

It pained me to select the Colts defense in the 10th round.  I had wanted to pick a defense later in the draft.  But when my 10th pick came up...I had almost all of my RBs and WRs taken.  And without a desperate need for a QB...I went ahead and went for a defense.  Same story in the 12th round when I picked the Patriots.  In hindsight, I hate that pick [hindsight was about 2 minutes after I made the pick].  First off, the Patriots defense isn't that good.  Second off, they had the same bye week as the Colts.  So I had to look for a favorable matchup in Week 6 [both Indy and New England's bye week] for another defense.  In the 15th round, I pounced on it with the Redskins....who play the Titans that week.  And it pained me since that meant I had four Washington Redskins on my team...and it makes me look like a homer.  But, Portis was a keeper.....Moss was the best WR on the board....and the Skins QB and Defense made sense where I was picking.

Redskins First Look 2006

  

CLINTON PORTIS:  Everyone watches preseason games and pray that no one gets hurt.  It happens every year.  Whether it is Michael Vick or Chad Pennington....teams fortunes can change with a devestating injury in a meaningless game.  And very early in the game...Clinton Portis had it happen.  Now, it remains to be seen how serious his injury is [they said it's a seperated shoulder]....but it could hinder him early on and be a lingering thing as the season goes along.  And it was made on a tackle when Cincy intercepted the ball. 

CHRIS CLEMONS:  The starting outside linebacker left the game with a sprained ligament in his left knee.

KERRY CARTER:   Carter, a 4th string running back, took a nasty spill as his leg seemed to get caught in the turf and his knee buckled. 

MARK BRUNELL:  It looks like Brunell likes the new offense.  He went 4-for-9 [well that isn't great] for 66 yards and was able to air the ball out a bit. 

TODD COLLINS:  He had such a bad start.  A horrible interception while trying to avoid a sack; a safety when he grounded the ball trying to avoid a sack in the endzone; threw some poor passes; and tripped over his lineman while trying to hand the ball off.  Sure, this is why they play the preseason games.  But, Collins looked smoother as the game moved along and could be a decent backup.

THE DEFENSE:  The first team defense looked very good.  They got a lot of pressure up front and were able to get into the backfield with various blitzes.  They did well in stuffing the run as well.  Sure, the Bengals most likely used a vanilla offense early on....but at least the defense seemed ready to roll when the season starts. 

MIKE ESPY:  If he sticks with the team, he will get a lot of face time on ESPN with his "ESPY" name.  He's also pretty good.  Especially on a 14-yd reception over the middle, in traffic, in which he was nailed pretty good.  He finished with 4 catches for 56 yards. 

JASON CAMPBELL:  Look at his stats.  He went 9-of-15 for 99 yards.  Not bad.  But that was all mainly against the Bengals third string guys and can't be a good indication of his talent.  What is impressive was his command of the pocket, his delivery, and his passes.  They came off quick and very strong.  Maybe next week he can take some snaps with the first or second team. 

BENGALS 19-REDSKINS 3:  Well, as a score....the game sucked.  The offense scored just a FG...but it wasn't a total dud.  The Redskins could move the ball a bit....but couldn't sustain major drives.  When watching the game, you could see the game plan switched once Portis went down [and especially after Clemons went out] - Washington didn't want any more physical damage than already suffered.  In doing so...the Skins were outmanned a bit and struggled. 

Draft Day Cometh

                     

Today is my Fantasy Football League's draft.  It is the 3rd year for our league and my "Assassins" team is the defending champion. 

It is a keeper league, and we get to keep three guys from our 2005 team....but none of those guys can play the same position [you can't keep more than one of any position].  With two years under our belts....talent has been spread across the league.  Because of that, LaMont Jordan is the likely #1 overall pick in our draft....with Steven Jackson, Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, Larry Fitzgerlad and Domanick Davis right behind.

It is an 8-team league with a 14 game schedule [everyone plays each other twice] and the top 3 teams make the playoffs.  The #2 and #3 teams play in a "wildcard round"....with the winner facing the #1 team in our Super Bowl.  We stack up our rosters....and have limited transaction abilities.  We carry 3 QBs, 6 RBs, 7 WR/TEs, 2 Ks and 3 DEFs. 

Heading into this draft, my keepers are QB Peyton Manning [actually, we do the Team QB thing...so I have all the Colts quarterbacks], RB Clinton Portis of the Redskins and WR Steve Smith of the Panthers.  I'm heading into the draft a bit scatterbrained since I make the final pick in the first round....and the first pick of the 2nd round.  So that means that I really don't have much of a strategy heading into this thing...aside from the fact that one of those picks will be a running back [and maybe both]. 

My best attempt at a strategy??  Not much.  I pretty much break the draft into thirds.  We have an 18 round draft....so every 6 rounds we take a break.  That's good, since the draft kinda breaks down to three 6-round sections.  The first second [rounds 1-6] are the guys who you really think will be the stars of your fantasy team.  Everyone already has a QB, a RB and a WR/TE.....so these guys are usually RBs and WR/TEs that will play a lot of the season.  The middle section [rounds 7-12] is where you pick some backups, your top defense, and those sleeper guys that may not be starters now....but could be if the starter struggles or gets hurt [guys like Greg Jones and Marion Barber go here].  The only thing I know I will do is pick my two kickers, #3 QB and my #2 and #3 defenses in the final section [rounds 13-18].  That's what most people do to round out their teams. 

Aside from that....who knows??  Last year, I had a plan and scrapped it in Round 2 when Clinton Portis fell to me after a lengthy run on WR/TEs [I drafted Domanick Davis in the first round].  It meant that I would have a bunch of mediocre-to-decent WR/TEs on my roster.....but it worked out for me!  I got Roy Williams, Chris Chambers, Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammad in those middle rounds.  That sounds great now....but last year, Williams was always hurt, Chambers had AJ Feely throwing to him, Smith was coming off a messed up leg and hadn't played in 12 months and Muhammad who left Smith's side to go to the offensively challenged Bears.  All did very, very well for me. 

So, hopefully when I come home tonight with my new roster in tow....I will feel thrilled about my chances of repeating.  Of course, everyone walks away from the draft with a huge smile on their face.  But only one will win the whole thing 5 months later.

Last year, that guy was me. 

I Still Love That Carl Lewis

Here is Carl Lewis....and your National Anthem!!

And Carl Lewis in the greatest music video of ALL TIME!!!

Sportz Assassin's NFL Previews

                           

Check out my NFL previews at my football blog, "PIGSKIN ASSASSIN" by The Sportz Assassin. 

In there, I breakdown each division and what I think will happen.  Here, I will rank my playoff teams as how I see fit.  For further reasons why I picked what I did....please refer to the links at the bottom of this post.

NFC PLAYOFF SEEDS

1-Seattle:  They will win the West easily and are just better than everyone else
2-Carolina:  Tough schedule, but this could be the Super Bowl rep
3-Dallas:  In a dog-eat-dog division, the Boys come out on top
4-Chicago:  Someone must win the North.
5-Washington:  The Skins defense now has an offense to work with.
6-Tampa Bay:  Sneak in barely over the New York Giants. 

WILDCARD
Dallas over Tampa Bay
Washington over Chicago

DIVISIONAL
Seattle over Washington
Carolina over Dallas

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Carolina over Seattle

AFC PLAYOFF SEEDS

1-Indianapolis:  Easy schedule again puts them at the top
2-New England:  They aren't that great...but they get Bills and Jets twice each
3-Cincinnati:  Bengals could be best team.  They just have unfortunate road
4-Denver:  Broncos slide a bit, but still will be tough
5-Pittsburgh:  Hey, Steelers don't mind being a wildcard
6-Miami:  If they stay healthy.  They have a tough Chargers team to deal with too.

WILDCARD
Cincinnati over Miami
Pittsburgh over Denver

DIVISIONAL
Indianapolis over Pittsburgh
Cincinnati over New England

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Indianapolis over Cincinnati

SUPER BOWL XLI
Carolina over Indianapolis

NFC EAST PREVIEW

NFC SOUTH PREVIEW

NFC NORTH PREVIEW

NFC WEST PREVIEW

AFC EAST PREVIEW

AFC SOUTH PREVIEW

AFC NORTH PREVIEW

AFC WEST PREVIEW

Masta Killa "Made In Brooklyn"

          

NCAA Pigskin Preview Part 3 - WAC, C-USA, MAC and Sun Belt

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

                 

THE ELITE:  The question is if Boise State can keep up their winning ways withoug Dan Hawkins...who left for Colorado.  Not only that, but can they be a BCS team???  Maybe.  With Fresno, La Tech and Hawaii all making the trek up to the Spud State....things look favorable.  Fresno State could be a solid BCS team as well...but they play a balls-out schedule that is hard even for BCS conference teams.  They play at LSU and host Oregon...and have a tough WAC sked since they must go to Boise and to La Tech. 
BOWL WORTHY:  Nevada is another team that could fit into the mix.  The Wolf Pack won 8 of their last 9 games last year...including a thrilling Hawaii Bowl.  Even if they aren't winning...their games usually are exciting to watch. 
SURPRISE TEAM:  Hawaii should be in the mix for a bowl bid again.  They have a whopping eight home games....but some of their toughest WAC matchups are on the road [BSU, Fresno].  Still, they could emerge as the best of the rest and make a name for itself with an upset or two. 
DISAPPOINTMENT:  Lousiana Tech may have a good WAC record...but a bad overall record.  They open up at Nebraska, at Texas A&M, at Clemson and at Boise State [there is a Nicholls State game thrown in there].  They are breaking in a new QB and defense.  They do get Nevada and Frenso State at home. 
YOU SUCK!:  San Jose State has a shot at getting a berth if they can find some short of consistency on offense.  Dick Tomey can coach and is trying to build the program up from nothingness.  Utah State has a beastly schedule that could stifle their progress.  Idaho hasn't won more than 3 games since 2000.  And New Mexico State went a whopping 0-12 last year.  Maybe they can snap that streak against SE Louisiana or Texas Southern??
HOT SEAT:  Fresno State's Pat Hill is one of the edgiest coaches in the nation.  He isn't afraid of anyone...and that sometimes hurts his program.  Sure, national exposure is nice...but turning a 7-1 team into a team that lost their final four games after a close shave loss to USC may not be what the doctor ordered.  If a bigger school comes knockin'....he may want to really look into leaving. 
TOUGHEST SKED:  Again, I think it is Louisiana Tech.  Roadies at Nebraska, Texas A&M, Clemson, Boise State, North Texas and Hawaii are really tough....with Nevada and Fresno State on their home slate. 
GAME OF THE YEAR:  Fresno State heads up to Boise State to try to knock off those Blue Broncos.  Last year, Fresno humiliated Boise, 27-7, and giving the Broncs their lone WAC loss last year and ended their 31 game conference winning streak.  The game will be an ESPN Thursday nighter.   
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Hawaii's Colt Brennan [ain't that a great name] could do a Timmy Chang number on everyone.  Brennan threw for 4,301 yds and 35 TDs...on 68% passing.  Wow. 
OVERVIEW:  The WAC should boil down to Fresno and Boise again....with Nevada possibly in the mix [remember, they are co-defending champions].  I think Boise State runs the WAC table with a huge win over Fresno State in Idaho as the topper.

CONFERENCE USA

                            

THE ELITE:  Elite in this sense means just elite in the C-USA.  There really are nopossible BCS Busters in this mix.  UTEP may be the closest thing.  The Miners are building themselves into the C-USA's "it team".   How long is it before coach Mike Price makes it back to the big time?  Central Florida was the darling of the nation last year when they followed a 17 game losing streak to win 8 of 9 [and finish last year 8-5 and in a bowl].  Don't get it too twisted:  of their 8 wins last year, only Memphis was bowl bound.  They should be there for the Eastern division crown again.  Tulsa won 9 of their last 11, including the C-USA's inagural title game and the Liberty Bowl over Fresno State. 
BOWL WORTHY:  Southern Miss could be the only real challenger to UCF in the East.  Their defense is solid enough to keep them in most games.  But, they must go to Florida and Virginia Tech.  Ugh.  Also, they get NC State in the non-conference.  Their road in C-USA play takes them to UCF, to Tulsa and to Memphis.  Not ideal.  Houston's schedule lends for a promising season.  All their tough conference games [UTEP, UCF, Tulsa] are at home. 
SURPRISE TEAM:  Marshall could make some noise.  Sure, they will get off to a bad start...what, with road games against West Virginia, K State and Tennessee early on.  But their conference slate isn't bad...with UCF and Memphis visiting Marshall.  And with that beast of an early sked...the Herd won't be afraid of anything the conference has to offer. 
DISAPPOINTMENT:  Memphis was gutted after a very good 2005 season.  And getting by without DeAngelo Williams will be no easy task. 
YOU SUCK!:  East Carolina is medicore at best.  UAB's schedule takes them out of it immediately.  SMU has a cake schedule of sorts [well, Tx Tech is no slouch]...but the team isn't good enough to play a real one.  Tulane gets to go home after a nomadic 2005 caused by Hurricane Katrina.  The fact that they were homeless and with all that was on their minds....they ended up losing their final 8 games.  Rice's schedule is unreal.  Especially for a team that isn't good. 
HOT SEAT:  Despite having one of the top offenses in the nation, Houston struggled to a 6-6 record.  They lost home games Memphis and SMU last year...and were killed by Kansas in the Forth Worth Bowl.  If Art Briles cannot get his team into a 3-dog fight with Tulsa and UTEP in the West division....he could be shown the door. 
TOUGHEST SKED:   How about Rice???  This schedule is the wildest thing I've seen in quite some time.  They play at UCLA, Texas, at Florida State, at UCF, at UTEP and at Tulsa.  WOW!
GAME OF THE YEAR:  UTEP-Tulsa should determine the West's winner.  Last year's game ended on a last second field goal from UTEP. 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Houston's Kevin Kolb is the top returning career QB....stat-wise....in the nation.  If the Cougars do some damage....Kolb could get DeAngelo Williams type Heisman coverage. 
OVERVIEW:  The races should be good atop both divisions.  In the East, UCF and Southern Miss should be neck and neck all year long.  I think UCF wins that one.  In the West, Tulsa, UTEP and Houston should be strong.....with UTEP coming out on top.  UTEP?  UCF?  I think Mike Price has his Miners as champs. 

MID AMERICAN CONFERENCE

    

THE ELITE:  Northern Illinois will be back amongst the top of the MAC.  They had a decent 7-5 season [and the West division title]...but had a complete fallout in the MAC title game against Akron which cost them a bowl berth.  Yes, that was Akron as a bowl team last year.  And look for it again this year.  They will be the favorites to win the East and could repeat as MAC champs again.  They have one of those NFL-type QBs the MAC seems to produce...named Luke Getsy.    Toledo will battle NIU for Western supremecy. 
BOWL WORTHY:  Bowling Green is usually tough...and usually play a tough sked.  This year, they have Wisconsin and Ohio State on tap. 
SURPRISE TEAM:  Western Michigan was a bit of a surprise last year, winning 7 games....all in an 8 game stretch that saw their only loss a 5-overtime affair against Ball State.  They return alot from that team. 
DISAPPOINTMENT:  Miami-OH has 12 straight winning seasons...which is the 5th longest current streak in the nation.  That should end this year, as the Redhawks lost a lot of people from a 7-4 team. 
YOU SUCK!:  There are several.  Ohio is building up it's young team and should be ready to compete in 2007.  Kent State is also short in the tooth.  Ball State, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan will languish in the bottom of the West.   And Buffalo may be the worst program in Division IA. 
HOT SEAT:  Ohio's Frank Solich hasn't done much yet with the Bobcats....and had a drunk driving event to boot.  Ohio will have to perform in an iffy Eastern division for Solich to stick around. 
TOUGHEST SKED:  It is one thing to suck....it's another to suck and play a tough schedule.  Buffalo has non-con games at Auburn, Boston College and Wisconsin.  In the MAC, they go to Bowling Green, Northern Illinois and Akron.  Not too kind. 
GAME OF THE YEAR:  Toledo heads to Northern Illinois on November 7 to basically determine the West division winner.  It will be a nationally televised game. 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  NIU's Garrett Wolfe has run for 34 TDs and over 3,200 yds rushing the last two seasons combined....and the nation's leading returning rusher.  There is no reason that he can't keep it going. 
OVERVIEW:  The MAC figures to get two teams in....most likely Akron and Northern Illinois.  But either Toledo or Bowling Green could sneak in as the third team in the mix.  Either way, I think Northern Illinois avenges their loss to Akron in the MAC championship game.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE

                            

THE ELITE:  Just like The Waterboy's mama said, "a snake don't really have any parts"....the Sun Belt really doesn't have any "elite" teams.  This is a conference filled with filler.  Only two teams finished with an overall winning record and they saw one bowl bid.  This year, there is a good battle for that bid.  Louisiana-Lafayette are the favorites with their "zone read offense".  That, plus they get the top three contending teams at home. 
BOWL WORTHY:  There will be no second team to make a bowl....but these teams could topple La-La.  North Texas was the beast of the conference when it was first formed.  But last year they fell apart with poor QB play.  They do have a great running back in Jamario Thomas.  Middle Tennessee have a very potent offense that could lift them to a league title. 
SURPRISE TEAM:  Troy could be a big surprise.  They have a new offensive style and a transferring QB [Omar Haugabook] that will open things up.  The key will be how the young defense forms. 
DISAPPOINTMENT:  Arkansas State went to the New Orleans Bowl last year....but they lost several players from that team.  They will take a small step back this year before contending for the crown again. 
YOU SUCK!:  Florida International and Florida Atlantic are coached by big names [Don Strock and Howard Schenellenberger, respectively]...but aren't big name programs yet.  Louisiana-Monroe changes it's name to the Warhawks this year...abandoning the "Indians" nickname. 
HOT SEAT:  North Texas coach Darrell Dickey was once the toast of the conference.  But the team has underperformed greatly since their dominant run.  Last year, they were an embarrassing 2-9. 
TOUGHEST SKED:  Troy has an early stretch where they go to Florida State, Georgia Tech, Nebraska and UAB...in a row. 
GAME OF THE YEAR:  North Texas at Louisiana-Lafayette.  November 11.  Sun Belt title on the line. 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  North Texas' Jamario Thomas led the nation in rushing in 2004.  With Cedric Cobbs now a Denver Bronco, Thomas has the lay of the land to himself. 
OVERVIEW:  The Sun Belt may as well be a Division IAA conference...as they went just 1-26 in D-IA non conference games last year.   I think La-Lafayette wins it and heads to the N'Awlins bowl.

NBA's Southeast Division Offseason Update

The Southeast Division houses the current NBA Champion....the Miami Heat...and the NBA's newest franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats.  There is also Atlanta, who's ownership drama has put a cloud over the franchise [especially when the judge placed an order that no free agents can be signed for more that one season].  Oh, and that JJ Redick and Adam Morrison [who were linked together all last season even though they never met on the court] are both now division rivals.

ATLANTA HAWKS: 

ADD:   C Lorenzen Wright, PG Speedy Claxton, PF Sheldon Williams, C Solomon Jones. 
LOST:   SF Donta Smith
Wright returns to the Hawks after a long stay in Memphis.  He's a pretty good defensive player [when healthy] and could form a tough front line with new draft pick Sheldon Williams.  Signing Speedy Claxton finally nets the Hawks are real live point guard [not Joe Johnson or Royal Ivey].  Williams should be a solid NBA player for years as his defense and rebounding will be needed anywhere he goes.  But, the Hawks took him too high and there were guys at the #5 spot that fit bigger needs [Foye, Roy].  Jones has a chance to make the team. 

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: 

ADD:  SF Adam Morrison, C/PF Othella Harrington, C Ryan Hollins. 
LOST: 
Morrison brings a scorer to the Cats, something they haven't had.  He's a guy that can get his shot off anywhere on the court.  And he's passionate which could make him a fan favorite.  Harrington adds depth underneath...which may be necessary with Emeka Okafor and Sean May coming back from injuries.  Hollins could come in and be a solid prospect as well...a big man who can run the floor.  

MIAMI HEAT: 

ADD:   SG Mike Gansey
LOST: 
Miami was the only team who had no picks in this draft.  The picks they would've had in this draft were used to get Shaquille O'Neal and Antoine Walker.  Not bad.  They did pick up rookie free agent Mike Gansey.  Gansey is smallish for an off guard and slow for a point guard, but dude is a leader and canshootthe lights out. 

ORLANDO MAGIC: 

ADD:  SG JJ Redick, SG Keith Bogans, C James Augustine. 
LOST:  SG DeShawn Stevenson
Redick is small for a two guard and may not be what Orlando needs.  There were bigger, more athletic guards availiable when theypicked....so I don't like it.  Redick, again, will be a Steve Kerr kind of player....not Reggie Miller.  As for Augustine, he could make the team as a backup center.  Bogans is another too-small-for-his-position guys, which Orlando already have too much of.  Bogans has been a decent backup player, though...and cheaper than Stevenson, who the Magic let walk. 

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: 

ADD:  SG DeShawn Stevenson, PF Darius Songala, PF Olexsiy Pecherov, PF Vladimir Veremeenko. 
LOST:  SF Jared Jeffries
Losing Jeffries hurts a bit....but I don't think it is a big of a loss as others do.  He is a decent defender but wasn't special on the offensive side of things and wasn't worth the money the Knicks signed him for.  The Wiz signed Songala as a big man who can shoot...yet isn't afraid to bump around with the big boys inside.  Stevenson is a decent swing guard that gives them some depth there.  Both of their draft picks will sit in Europe for at least a year...but that's fine with Washington.  The Wiz still have Calvin Booth and Michael Ruffin [how is Ruffin making $1.8M???] on the books this coming season....and then they are gone.  These rookies can come in and, at worst, fill the exact same roles. 

NBA's Atlantic Division Offseason Update

The Atlantic Division placed just ONE team in the playoffs last year....and that was the New Jersey Nets who won the division by 11 games.  Now, the Nets haven't done much in the offseason...save for a possible steal in the Draft, but did they really need to? 

The big mover and shaker has been the Toronto Raptors who are bringing in the #1 overall pick and have made a bevy of trades and free agent signings.  Not many of the names are big....but they could be changing the recent losing culture in Canada's lone NBA squad.

So enjoy the offseason update:

BOSTON CELTICS: 

ADD: PG Sebastian Telfair, C Theo Ratliff, PG Rajon Rondo, PF/C Brian Grant, F Leon Powe, PF Kevin Pittsnogle, PG/SG Allan Ray 
LOST:  PG Dan Dickau, C/PF Raef LaFrentz, PG Orien Greene
Boston gained two point guards in Telfair and Rondo.  Interesting, since neither is a good shooter.  Telfair is a poor chemistry guy as well.  This may lead to a possible deal for Allen Iverson down the road.  Ratliff shaves a year from dealt Raef LaFrentz.  Powe could be a sleeper as an undersized power forward.  Grant just adds some experienced frontcourt help.  Pittsnogle, who went undrafted, gives the C's a cheap replacement for LaFrentz [read: a big guy that plays on the perimeter].

NEW JERSEY NETS: 

ADD:  PG Marcus Williams, PF Josh Boone, C Mikki Moore, SG Hassan Adams. 
LOST:  PG Jacques Vaughn, SF Scott Padgett
Clifford Robinson was let go...then resigned him.  The Nets had to have been shocked to see Williams fall in their laps.  He was labeled a "Jason Kidd type" of player...and now he gets to work with Kidd.  So he should fit with what the team is trying to do.  Boone is a risk, but when his mind is right, he can rebound, block shots, score around the basket and defend well.  The Nets need that badly.  Adams is a highlight dunker who brings gritty defense.  Moore is a veteran center that brings some depth to the front court. 

NEW YORK KNICKS: 

ADD:  SF Jared Jeffries, PF Renaldo Balkman, PG Mardy Collins. 
LOST:  C Jackie Butler
I don't like the Jeffries signing, aside from the fact that he will play defense.  He just isn't worth that money.  I just hate the picks.  Balkman isn't worth the #20 pick in the draft.  He could've been had later in the draft.  Collins is a defensive combo guard....now on a team with four combo guards. Sigh.  This was the one area that most hoops people felt that Isiah Thomas was really good at.  Not anymore. 

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: 

ADD:  SF Rodney Carney, SF Bobby Jones, C Edin Bavcic. 
LOST:  SG/SF John Salmons
The biggest story of the offseason was one that never happened.  Allen Iverson was all over the trading floor...but nothing came of it......again.  The draft picks, to me, were rather interesting.  They got an athletic swingman in Carney and a very tough defender in Jones [Bavcic is a project].  Carney was a very good pick, especially at the 16th spot.  However, they still failed to get a point guard. 

TORONTO RAPTORS: 

ADD:  PG TJ Ford, PF Andrea Bargnani, PG/SG Fred Jones, PF Jorge Garbajosa, C Rasho Nesterovic, SG/SF Anthony Parker, SF PJ Tucker, PF Kris Humphries, PF Uros Slokar. 
LOST:  SF/PF Charlie Villeneuva, PG Mike James, PG Alvin Williams, SF Eric Williams, SF Matt Bonner, C Raphael Araujo, C/PF Pape Sow, SG Andre Barrett
In an offseason full of movement for Toronto, the biggest catch was signing Chris Bosh to an extention.  For the first time, they get to keep their big young star.  Getting Ford means Toronto gets a real point guard to run their show [they let James walk].  It cost them Charlie V, but with Bosh signing an extension and Bargnani as a draft pick...someone had to go and Villeneuva was the odd man out.  The Raptors added some depth there by getting combo guard Freddie Jones [who could be a starting 2-guard].  Boy....Bargnani is a very risky pick.  I think he'll be solid...but it is a risk to take him #1.  Especially when most anyone in the top 6 wouldn't have wanted him.  Toronto coulda/shoulda dealt the pick back and got him and some other stuff.  Still, they wanted him and got him.  Tucker is a nice player, but they drafted Joey Graham last year who does the same things.  They also got Nesterovic in a trade...which gives them a serviceable center and all it cost them was a couple of guys that didn't want to be there anyways.  Toronto also brings swingman Anthony Parker over from Israel...meaning that they have some depth at the swing position with Parker, Tucker and Graham.  The Arajulo-Whaley/Humphries trade won't be a major one, as Whaley was already waived and picked back up by Utah.  Garbajosa was the Spanish Cup Finals MVP.  With these point guard moves, the Raptors bought out Alvin Williams...who had played just one game in two years and was the longest tenured Raptor. 

ABC Sports to Become ESPN

                        

Big news in media.  ESPN will take over...pretty much replacing....ABC Sports.  Wow!

Of course, anyone who's watched ABC over the past decade won't really see a difference.  Both ABC and ESPN are owned by Disney....and the networks' sports coverage has pretty much been identical.  The ESPN guys do work for ABC already.  ESPN's "Game Plan" package, which is available for pay-per-view, carried those out-of-market ABC games.  ABC and ESPN's NBA coverage has pretty much been seemless....as has their golf coverage.  Heck, Monday Night football was moved from ABC to ESPN starting next month. 

So....is it really anything new? 

Well....no.  Aside from things you may see, like the ESPN logo on ABC....along with analysts working for both networks now....I really see no direct change.  The change will be indirect.  ESPN can use it's marketing edge in a bigger way with a broadcast network to display itself.  With NBC Sports making a minor comeback and Fox Sports doing very well.....this gives ESPN something more than just "we do ABC's work for them" excuses. 

Maurice Clarett: Tasered, Maced and Arrested

                             

Why haven't the Bengals signed this guy??

Maurice Clarett was charged with carrying a concealed weapon [four of them, actually] after he led police on a highway chase this morning [or late last night, depending on your view] that ended with police using mace on on him and finding the loaded guns in his SUV.  The cops used mace to bring down Clarett after a taser didn't work becaus....get this....he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Get outta here.

Of course, if I had four loaded guns in my car and wearing a bulletproof vest....yeah, I'd make a big U-turn on the interstate.  That's what Clarett did that got him nabbed in the first place.  The cops tried pulling him over....which he then sped off down I-70.  Down the road, cops set up a spike strip which blew out his tires....which he then pulled into a parking lot.   The police then removed him from the SUV after failing to exit it by himself, despite police orders.  And that's when they found a loaded rifle and three loaded handguns. 

Not in his trunk.  In the front of the car. 

Oh, and there was a half bottle of vodka in the car, too.

Not too shabby for a guy that's already heading to trial for aggravated robbery, robbery and gun charges. 

I wonder if the Eastern Indoor Football League's Mahoning Valley Hitmen will suspend him or not.  In fact he was on his cell phone with the Hitmen's coach when all this started.  No kidding.  He was wondering about upcoming tryouts when the phone cut off and no other contact was made.  That was about when the U-turn happened. 

And the picture above is him getting his phone call in a Columbus jail...while reporters snapped up pictures of him. 

What a disgrace of an athlete. 

Your New NFL Commissioner: Roger Goodell

                             

Roger Goodell was a unanimous decision to replace Paul Tagliabue as NFL's commish.  Not really a surprise, as Goodell has been Tags' right hand man for years and was the frontrunner the moment Tagliabue announced his retirement.  As Tags' COO, he's had his hands in a lot of the league's affairs already and has a very small learning curve. 

He takes over a good situation.  This past spring, Tagliabue made his final work the current CBA....which was difficult to get to.  So there is labor peace.  Also, the upcoming 2006 season is under the new TV deals....which has Sunday Night football on NBC, Monday night football on ESPN and Thursday games on the NFL Network.  This is also the world's richest sports league. 

But there are some hurdles upcoming soon.  That CBA that was pounded out earlier this year...has an out clause during the 2008 season.  And some owners don't like the deal they made...and may want to dump it.  Also, that CBA hasn't been officially written and there are some things that are still being discussed - mainly revenue sharing.  Revenue sharing is also a big deal...since it was a major problem between the owners themselves and certain forms of revenue the players want to get their hands on.  There is also the Los Angeles situation.  It is a big stain on the league [how can the NBA have a team in Sacramento....the NHL have a team in Raleigh...but the NFL can't get in LA??].  The costs of development are already insane...and if anything actually gets done....it will take another mint. 

He also replaces two of the most effective commissioners in any sport.  Pete Rozelle was the Inovator of the NFL....bringing in television, new franchises, the AFL merger and the Super Bowl among many other things.  Paul Taglibue fine tuned all of that and made the business of the NFL into a top priority and the league into a $6 billion a year biz. 

Yet ANOTHER Bengal Arrested

I have to give a shout out to my wife on this....who informed me of this newest Cincy Bengal transgression when I came home from work earlier tonight.

From ESPN.com

NEWPORT, Ky. -- Bengals guard Eric Steinbach was arrested and charged with boating under the influence on the Ohio River, becoming the fifth Cincinnati player in three months accused of breaking the law.

A Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources officer stopped Steinbach because he was violating an idle-only zone Saturday night, agency spokesman Mark Marraccini said.

Steinbach failed a series of field sobriety tests, Marraccini said.

The player was released from the Campbell County jail in Newport after posting bond and was to appear in court Tuesday, jail and court records show.

The Bengals had the day off Sunday, their first free time since they opened training camp in Georgetown, Ky. Steinbach practiced with the team Monday and declined comment about the case.

Steinbach was a first alternate for the Pro Bowl last season, when he started all 16 regular-season games and a playoff loss to Pittsburgh. He was part of a line that allowed only 21 sacks, a club record.

The Bengals generally do not comment on players' arrests.