Here is my thought of the day courtesy of a IM conversation between Larry and I:
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: ok..so here is what i was going to blog about today. why wouldn't the NFL make the playoff seeding based on records rather than the division winners and wild card games. instead of having 2 games with meaning this weekend, there would be at least 8. The Giants would be playing for a home game this weekend. The Jags would be playing for a home game against pittsburgh rather than traveling to pitts again in the middle of january when they just smoked them there 2 weeks ago.
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: it makes no sense to me
lawrenceG22 [3:11 P.M.]: the nba and nhl do it
Coops7 [3:11 P.M.]: I was actually going to write PK about this
lawrenceG22 [3:12 P.M.]: u can seed by division and wild card - but the home team should have the best record
Coops7 [3:12 P.M.]: fine, i would even do that. All I know is that the Jags are the 3rd best team in the AFC and are seeded 5th
Coops7 [3:13 P.M.]: and it would all but eliminate the "resting guys" mumbo jumbo
lawrenceG22 [3:13 P.M.]: its an extremely valid point
Coops7 [3:13 P.M.]: yet one that is hardly brought up this week
lawrenceG22 [3:14 P.M.]: hardly - i thought about and didn't speak to anyone about it
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The New York Football Giants
OK. Let's be honest, all I want for Christmas, if I celebrated it, is a playoff victory from the Giants! After 2 seasons of making the playoffs and then bowing out in the first game (the Panthers game is one I will never forget), how nice would it be to win a playoff game in a season most predicted a last place finish?
How about that game today!?!?!?!
What is such a gross shame is that none of this O-line was voted to the pro-bowl this week. They did such a great f*cking job today opening up holes all over the line for the 2 backs to run through. I mean that Bradshaw (more on him in a moment) run was all the Oline. Jacobs long run was all from a great block. This line had the 2nd best average yards per game in the NFC coming into today (the Vikes lead the NFL) and all they did today was ring up 291 on the ground and raise that average to nearly 139. 139 yards per game on the ground folks...you can give me all the complaints you want about Eli but give me 139/rpg and the most sacks in football and lets go to war in the playoffs against this weak NFC.
7 straight road wins. Seven! I mean what team wins 7 on the road and just 3 at home? Oh, right. The New York Giants!
Let me clear one thing up now, and this is mostly for the fellas with tickets. I will be there on Saturday around noon. Danny is booked to come in as well. This will be his 10th game of this season, ALL ON THE ROAD. I fully expect each and everyone of you who call yourself Giants fans to be there along side of us. Whether it is rain or snow or whatever. Sure the Pats are 15-0. Sure the game will mean very little or maybe even nothing to the Giants. But this is what makes us the season ticket holders. When many of you (and I won't name names right now) decided not to come to the last game, your dedication was questioned. To not show up and celebrate the 2007 season, cheer them into the playoffs and of course have one last great tailgate with your extended family, will answers those questions. So many times we have heard that Giants Stadium is not an intimidating place to come play. Do you want to continue to be part of that problem?
OK, a couple of other notes:
- Bradshaw! Finally, the kid is unleashed. Great speed. Nice moves. Do we let Ward walk and make this tandem the 2008 backfield?
- Toomer. What a true professional. What a career. What a bounce back from last week. I can't say enough about Toomer.
- Congrats TC. 10 wins! Who would've thought that was possible. (except for Larry)
- Spags. Can we say enough about him either? I think Strahan may just sign on again just because of him. Best move of the off season by far.
- Kavika! Seriously, I remember the day we signed him. Larry and I were like "OK, nice signing" in hopes of more to come. Nothing more came. Look at them now.
- The Pro-bowl. Let me get this straight...baseball votes at the half-way mark for the all star game, so basically does the NBA and the NHL. Why does the NFL vote with 2 games to play? I mean I get that the actual pro-bowl game means nothing but why not just wait until the end of the year and vote? I seriously don't get this at all. It's like whatever you do in the last 2 games means nothing? You could carry your team into the playoffs single handed in the last 2 weeks and that would be meaningless in the pro-bowl voting. Just a weird system.
OK, that's it for now.
For everyone reading this...I hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas, had a very Happy Chanukah and have a GREAT NEW YEAR!!!
How about that game today!?!?!?!
What is such a gross shame is that none of this O-line was voted to the pro-bowl this week. They did such a great f*cking job today opening up holes all over the line for the 2 backs to run through. I mean that Bradshaw (more on him in a moment) run was all the Oline. Jacobs long run was all from a great block. This line had the 2nd best average yards per game in the NFC coming into today (the Vikes lead the NFL) and all they did today was ring up 291 on the ground and raise that average to nearly 139. 139 yards per game on the ground folks...you can give me all the complaints you want about Eli but give me 139/rpg and the most sacks in football and lets go to war in the playoffs against this weak NFC.
7 straight road wins. Seven! I mean what team wins 7 on the road and just 3 at home? Oh, right. The New York Giants!
Let me clear one thing up now, and this is mostly for the fellas with tickets. I will be there on Saturday around noon. Danny is booked to come in as well. This will be his 10th game of this season, ALL ON THE ROAD. I fully expect each and everyone of you who call yourself Giants fans to be there along side of us. Whether it is rain or snow or whatever. Sure the Pats are 15-0. Sure the game will mean very little or maybe even nothing to the Giants. But this is what makes us the season ticket holders. When many of you (and I won't name names right now) decided not to come to the last game, your dedication was questioned. To not show up and celebrate the 2007 season, cheer them into the playoffs and of course have one last great tailgate with your extended family, will answers those questions. So many times we have heard that Giants Stadium is not an intimidating place to come play. Do you want to continue to be part of that problem?
OK, a couple of other notes:
- Bradshaw! Finally, the kid is unleashed. Great speed. Nice moves. Do we let Ward walk and make this tandem the 2008 backfield?
- Toomer. What a true professional. What a career. What a bounce back from last week. I can't say enough about Toomer.
- Congrats TC. 10 wins! Who would've thought that was possible. (except for Larry)
- Spags. Can we say enough about him either? I think Strahan may just sign on again just because of him. Best move of the off season by far.
- Kavika! Seriously, I remember the day we signed him. Larry and I were like "OK, nice signing" in hopes of more to come. Nothing more came. Look at them now.
- The Pro-bowl. Let me get this straight...baseball votes at the half-way mark for the all star game, so basically does the NBA and the NHL. Why does the NFL vote with 2 games to play? I mean I get that the actual pro-bowl game means nothing but why not just wait until the end of the year and vote? I seriously don't get this at all. It's like whatever you do in the last 2 games means nothing? You could carry your team into the playoffs single handed in the last 2 weeks and that would be meaningless in the pro-bowl voting. Just a weird system.
OK, that's it for now.
For everyone reading this...I hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas, had a very Happy Chanukah and have a GREAT NEW YEAR!!!
Sunday, December 09, 2007
The Return
New York Sports in the Holiday Season
After a few month hiatus, I have decided to make a long overdue return performance in lieu of all the sports fun over the past few days and weeks.
It's been exactly 9 weeks since my last real posting. The day after the debacle that ended the collapse. I tried to keep it going the week after with some half hearted Giants blogging but I really just needed a break.
In the past few weeks, I have started to get many requests for a blog update, so with that, I give you Cooper's team-by-team thoughts on the the NY Sports Scene....
Let's start it off with the pigskin.
The New York Giants
Say what you want about Eli, we are 9-4. NINE and four. Go back to the "experts" picks prior to this season and show me anyone who had them in the playoffs, let alone tied for the 3rd best record in the conference and 5th best in all of the NFL.
Let me stop here for a second and tell you all that my good friend Larry Goldberg picked the Giants to go 11-5. He picked this VERY early in the offseason and stuck with it through everything. He swore by the schedule and especially by the run game, by Reese, by Eli and by one Brandon Jacobs. And while he may have been off about Jacobs' season yardage, NOBODY knew that Derrick Ward would emerge as such a force during the season or that BJ would be such a, um, well, ya know, his prediction looks pretty damn good right now. Hats off my friend. I never doubted ya for a second. OK, that is a lie. I told him he was crazy about 50 times and after we started off 0-2, let's just say I was talking to Larry a lot in a not so complimentary way.
Anyway, we are 9-4. In a way, I already feel like people will look at this season and say if we don't win a playoff game, it's a failure. But those are the same people that had Coughlin fired after the Tiki retirement game in Philly and were bashing Reese all offseason for not doing enough (just checking but can is the left tackle still a problem? Is Kavika Mitchell a crappy LB signing? Were you not disappointed to lose Kiwanukah for the year? How's Luke doing down there in Tampa?). The reality is we have won 6 road games in a row (The first Giants team since 1962 to do that) and will go on the road in the playoffs for the second straight season. If we go to Tampa (say hi to Luke) and win, people will say great! Eli got is first win, he is finally on his way. If we lose, they will want Coughlin fired and call for Eli's head yet again and call the season a failire. We are now going to be expected to win on the road in the playoffs and that, for me, is never a good position to be in. That said, it's been a helluva season to date and with two 8:00 home games left, a lot of cold weather ahead of us.
A few comments on yesterday's game...
Anyone out there that thinks this is a better team on the field without Tiki is not watching the same games I am. Jacobs really needs a lesson on holding onto the damn ball (ditto D. Ward last week). Can't TC give them the same speech he gave Tiki when he came to town? It's definitely a closer and more complete team without Tiki in the locker room but on the field...no way!
How bout that Kavika Mitchell?!
Gutsy performance by Pierce. Really played like a GIANT.
Plaxico is a special player. Really didn't think he had that kinda game in him.
2 games in a row Coughlin has given the ball back to the other team with under 2 minutes to play and both times the defense has won the game. Hats off to Spags and his boys for doing so.
THAT SAID. What is with the pansy ass play calling on offense late in these 2 games?!?! Get the ball back with just under 2 minutes to play and run BJ 3 times for 9 yards and punt so the Eagles get a chance against 2 rookies safties and the moronic prevent D. Great playcalling Gilbride.
We got very lucky that goal post was there, didn't we?
The New York Jets
I really don't have much to say here.
Maybe just a few questions
Is he a Man or a Mangenius? Just wanted to make sure.
Was Thomas Jones still a great trade?
Is it me or are all Jets number 1 picks since like 2002 busts?
Will this team show up next week with any pride for their coach or will they be a part of ass kicking history?
Onto the Hot Stove...(I will try to keep it short)
THE New York Mets
Milledge: I have had a lot of time to think about this one and while I think it made us a better team for 2008, I was an LMillz fan and will really regret giving him up if he finally matures in Washington. That said, putting Lastings Milledge in the same outfield as Eiljah Dukes could go down as one of the all time greatest or all time craziest calls in recent baseball history.
Schneider & Church: Schneider will become a fan favorite. He is a just a baseball player. He will knock in as many runs in key spots as LoDuca has and will play MUCH better defense. Will he knock the ball off the end of his bat into the OF for singles all the time? No. He will ground into more DPs than you and I will like but he will be a positive. (Estrada will not be on the team by the way..he will be non-tendered). Here is my statement about Ryan Church. He is a younger, slightly more athletic Shawn Green. And not the Shawn Green of the 01 & 02 Dodgers but rather the Shawn Green of last season. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so but I do think we need another bat somewhere on this club.
Essentially Church replaces Green which is a wash. Schneider replaces LoDuca. An offensive downgrade (depending on how much PT Castro gets) but a defensive upgrade. The rest of the team is the same exact thing (Wright, Reyes, Castillo & Delgado in the IF, Alou, Beltran in the OF. Marlon, Easley, Gotay, Chavez and Castro are the bench). I think they need a right handed 1B/OF who has some pop that can play against lefties in place of Church and can back up Delgado/Alou when they are out injured (sorry, it's happening). Really wish I had someone to throw out to you guys that I like who is a free agent but I just don't. Maybe they give Gomez the chance in the OF? I don't see him developing enough as a hitter to carry that much of a load yet. Speaking of Gomez....
Johan?!?! Not sure if I believe what I have been reading but if we have to give up 5-6 young guys to bring him in, I do it in a heart beat. He would instantly make us the team to beat in the NL (damn does the NL suck compared to the AL these days!) for years to come. I don't want to get carried away about this cause these rumors can make you crazy.
So far Omar gets a C. Much work to do.
New York Yankees
They have spent FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS on the following 5 players (age in parentheses): Alex Rodriguez (32), Jorge Posada (36), Mariano Rivera (38), Andy Pettitte (35) and Bobby Abreu (34). In every single one of these deals, the Yankees bid against no other team. Yes, there were rumors that the Mets wanted Jorge but aside from that, no bid was made or allowed to be made on these 5 players. Yet, this team decided to commit $400 million on their own players who haven't won a playoff series since 2004.
So clearly, from this spending behavior and age of the players, you would think this club is a "win now" team, right? Well, ya see, they have this new owner named Hank and oh boy is he a hoot. Hank decided to give the $400 million but now is listening to Brian Cashman and holding on to his 3 pitching prospects instead of going out and getting a 29-year old Johan Santana, the best pitcher on the planet.
The Yankees are about to sign Latroy Hawkins to replace the departed Jose Vizcaino and this is what Cash calls rebuilding the pen.
Who the hell knows what is going on in the Bronx. All I know is they did a great job getting these kids hyped up enough to become big names and now they won't use them to go get the biggest name of them all. Weird team these days.
The other sports..
New York Rangers
GREAT OT win today against the Devils! Shanny!! The King really is fun. Too bad Goldberg and I went on Monday and sat in row A and they got shutout and Henrick looked like crap. Today was a good one. Marty is still amazing but we are 4-0 against them this year. That is great.
New York Knicks
I don't know anything about this sport at all but I do read the papers and this team makes the Jets look like winners. Isiah makes Herm Edwards look like a great coach. James Dolan makes Al Davis look like a genius owner. I feel bad for you Knicks fans out there.
College football
I have been bashing this minor league sport for years so it does feel like a bit triumphant when a season like this one rolls around. Calling a team "National Champions" this season goes beyond comical into a whole new stratosphere of stupidity. Everyone sucks! They can make up 30 stupid bowl game names and give all the money they want to these schools for making it to these bowls but this sport will always be sham until they create some type of playoff format.
OK..that is all I got for you guys...
It's good to be back!
After a few month hiatus, I have decided to make a long overdue return performance in lieu of all the sports fun over the past few days and weeks.
It's been exactly 9 weeks since my last real posting. The day after the debacle that ended the collapse. I tried to keep it going the week after with some half hearted Giants blogging but I really just needed a break.
In the past few weeks, I have started to get many requests for a blog update, so with that, I give you Cooper's team-by-team thoughts on the the NY Sports Scene....
Let's start it off with the pigskin.
The New York Giants
Say what you want about Eli, we are 9-4. NINE and four. Go back to the "experts" picks prior to this season and show me anyone who had them in the playoffs, let alone tied for the 3rd best record in the conference and 5th best in all of the NFL.
Let me stop here for a second and tell you all that my good friend Larry Goldberg picked the Giants to go 11-5. He picked this VERY early in the offseason and stuck with it through everything. He swore by the schedule and especially by the run game, by Reese, by Eli and by one Brandon Jacobs. And while he may have been off about Jacobs' season yardage, NOBODY knew that Derrick Ward would emerge as such a force during the season or that BJ would be such a, um, well, ya know, his prediction looks pretty damn good right now. Hats off my friend. I never doubted ya for a second. OK, that is a lie. I told him he was crazy about 50 times and after we started off 0-2, let's just say I was talking to Larry a lot in a not so complimentary way.
Anyway, we are 9-4. In a way, I already feel like people will look at this season and say if we don't win a playoff game, it's a failure. But those are the same people that had Coughlin fired after the Tiki retirement game in Philly and were bashing Reese all offseason for not doing enough (just checking but can is the left tackle still a problem? Is Kavika Mitchell a crappy LB signing? Were you not disappointed to lose Kiwanukah for the year? How's Luke doing down there in Tampa?). The reality is we have won 6 road games in a row (The first Giants team since 1962 to do that) and will go on the road in the playoffs for the second straight season. If we go to Tampa (say hi to Luke) and win, people will say great! Eli got is first win, he is finally on his way. If we lose, they will want Coughlin fired and call for Eli's head yet again and call the season a failire. We are now going to be expected to win on the road in the playoffs and that, for me, is never a good position to be in. That said, it's been a helluva season to date and with two 8:00 home games left, a lot of cold weather ahead of us.
A few comments on yesterday's game...
Anyone out there that thinks this is a better team on the field without Tiki is not watching the same games I am. Jacobs really needs a lesson on holding onto the damn ball (ditto D. Ward last week). Can't TC give them the same speech he gave Tiki when he came to town? It's definitely a closer and more complete team without Tiki in the locker room but on the field...no way!
How bout that Kavika Mitchell?!
Gutsy performance by Pierce. Really played like a GIANT.
Plaxico is a special player. Really didn't think he had that kinda game in him.
2 games in a row Coughlin has given the ball back to the other team with under 2 minutes to play and both times the defense has won the game. Hats off to Spags and his boys for doing so.
THAT SAID. What is with the pansy ass play calling on offense late in these 2 games?!?! Get the ball back with just under 2 minutes to play and run BJ 3 times for 9 yards and punt so the Eagles get a chance against 2 rookies safties and the moronic prevent D. Great playcalling Gilbride.
We got very lucky that goal post was there, didn't we?
The New York Jets
I really don't have much to say here.
Maybe just a few questions
Is he a Man or a Mangenius? Just wanted to make sure.
Was Thomas Jones still a great trade?
Is it me or are all Jets number 1 picks since like 2002 busts?
Will this team show up next week with any pride for their coach or will they be a part of ass kicking history?
Onto the Hot Stove...(I will try to keep it short)
THE New York Mets
Milledge: I have had a lot of time to think about this one and while I think it made us a better team for 2008, I was an LMillz fan and will really regret giving him up if he finally matures in Washington. That said, putting Lastings Milledge in the same outfield as Eiljah Dukes could go down as one of the all time greatest or all time craziest calls in recent baseball history.
Schneider & Church: Schneider will become a fan favorite. He is a just a baseball player. He will knock in as many runs in key spots as LoDuca has and will play MUCH better defense. Will he knock the ball off the end of his bat into the OF for singles all the time? No. He will ground into more DPs than you and I will like but he will be a positive. (Estrada will not be on the team by the way..he will be non-tendered). Here is my statement about Ryan Church. He is a younger, slightly more athletic Shawn Green. And not the Shawn Green of the 01 & 02 Dodgers but rather the Shawn Green of last season. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so but I do think we need another bat somewhere on this club.
Essentially Church replaces Green which is a wash. Schneider replaces LoDuca. An offensive downgrade (depending on how much PT Castro gets) but a defensive upgrade. The rest of the team is the same exact thing (Wright, Reyes, Castillo & Delgado in the IF, Alou, Beltran in the OF. Marlon, Easley, Gotay, Chavez and Castro are the bench). I think they need a right handed 1B/OF who has some pop that can play against lefties in place of Church and can back up Delgado/Alou when they are out injured (sorry, it's happening). Really wish I had someone to throw out to you guys that I like who is a free agent but I just don't. Maybe they give Gomez the chance in the OF? I don't see him developing enough as a hitter to carry that much of a load yet. Speaking of Gomez....
Johan?!?! Not sure if I believe what I have been reading but if we have to give up 5-6 young guys to bring him in, I do it in a heart beat. He would instantly make us the team to beat in the NL (damn does the NL suck compared to the AL these days!) for years to come. I don't want to get carried away about this cause these rumors can make you crazy.
So far Omar gets a C. Much work to do.
New York Yankees
They have spent FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS on the following 5 players (age in parentheses): Alex Rodriguez (32), Jorge Posada (36), Mariano Rivera (38), Andy Pettitte (35) and Bobby Abreu (34). In every single one of these deals, the Yankees bid against no other team. Yes, there were rumors that the Mets wanted Jorge but aside from that, no bid was made or allowed to be made on these 5 players. Yet, this team decided to commit $400 million on their own players who haven't won a playoff series since 2004.
So clearly, from this spending behavior and age of the players, you would think this club is a "win now" team, right? Well, ya see, they have this new owner named Hank and oh boy is he a hoot. Hank decided to give the $400 million but now is listening to Brian Cashman and holding on to his 3 pitching prospects instead of going out and getting a 29-year old Johan Santana, the best pitcher on the planet.
The Yankees are about to sign Latroy Hawkins to replace the departed Jose Vizcaino and this is what Cash calls rebuilding the pen.
Who the hell knows what is going on in the Bronx. All I know is they did a great job getting these kids hyped up enough to become big names and now they won't use them to go get the biggest name of them all. Weird team these days.
The other sports..
New York Rangers
GREAT OT win today against the Devils! Shanny!! The King really is fun. Too bad Goldberg and I went on Monday and sat in row A and they got shutout and Henrick looked like crap. Today was a good one. Marty is still amazing but we are 4-0 against them this year. That is great.
New York Knicks
I don't know anything about this sport at all but I do read the papers and this team makes the Jets look like winners. Isiah makes Herm Edwards look like a great coach. James Dolan makes Al Davis look like a genius owner. I feel bad for you Knicks fans out there.
College football
I have been bashing this minor league sport for years so it does feel like a bit triumphant when a season like this one rolls around. Calling a team "National Champions" this season goes beyond comical into a whole new stratosphere of stupidity. Everyone sucks! They can make up 30 stupid bowl game names and give all the money they want to these schools for making it to these bowls but this sport will always be sham until they create some type of playoff format.
OK..that is all I got for you guys...
It's good to be back!
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