JR's Random Anger

Before I get into this weeks picks, I just wanted to share a few tidbits that I picked up. 

As I was getting milk at the Wawa, I saw a copy of the Philadelphia Daily News, which reported that Julius Erving was interested in buying the 76ers, which are for sale for the left-coasters who don’t know.  Having Dr. J as an interested party in the 76ers proves home a point:  Well, at least somebody is interested in them!

Almost two weeks after Saint Joseph’s announced their plans for improvements to Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse (one of the all-time best home-court advantages in college basketball), Michigan has announced they are planning a remodeling of Michigan Stadium.  I can’t say I’m opposed to either plan, but I will say that it must be a good time to be a stadium architect.  Plus, with all of those 111,000 seats in the Big House, maybe they can reconfigure the stadium to actually make some noise.

I don’t want to add myself to the long list of “outraged” sports guys writing about the Miami-Florida International brawl, but I can’t get a couple of things out of my teeth.  (Insert teeth joke here.)  First, why does Miami and the ACC feel one game is enough for the fugitives on Miami’s sidelines, but FIU and the Sun Belt Conference handed out indefinite suspensions.  Secondly, UCONN dismissed five players for breaking curfew and buying beer to drink back in the players’ hotel room.  They were DISMISSED.  One game suspensions to players committing assault (some of them with weapons) is just insulting.  It’s like the NFL parading around 6’7” 330 lbs. linemen that can run a 4.7 40-yard dash and declaring that there is no steroid usage in the NFL!  I mean we can be easily duped, but c’mon now.

Hmm…Endy Chavez makes one of the greatest all-time catches for the Mets.  Scott Rolen delivered a home run for the Cardinals.  Placido Polanco hit a couple of game-winning RBIs for the Tigers.  Man, it feels good to be a Phillies fan right now. 

And finally, set the date.  November 18, 2006.  The world may well end.  It’s one thing when maybe the largest rivalry in college football goes off.  It’s one thing when a berth in the Rose Bowl is at stake.  It’s one thing when national title chances are at stake.  Ladies and Gentlemen, Michigan and Ohio State are likely to play a “#1 vs. #2” game against each other!  The anticipation is usually palpable for this game.  I have experience with big rivalries (the Holy War, the Big 5, Hill/L-Ville), but this is a completely different thing.  In fact, it already has a nickname: Armageddon.

Here are this week’s picks (remember these are just for fun.  DO NOT gamble on these.)

Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay (+5.5): Brian Westbrook’s knee frightens the hell out of me.  Donte Stallworth needs to get on the damned field.  With both guys playing, the Birds should easily cover a team that has seemingly lost all speed on defense.  PICK: EAGLES.

Jacksonville @ Houston (+9.5): Is it just me or does Byron Leftwich look like the kid who played Fat Albert in the movie?  PICK: Jaguars.

Pittsburgh @ Atlanta (+2.5): I’m torn, because I don’t believe in Ben Roethlisberger or the Steelers.  Yet, I think it’s time to finally come to a conclusion.  Michael Vick is a bad quarterback!  He’s elusive and dynamic, but overall as the distributor of the offense, he stinks.  He can’t hit open receivers.  The only thing he is good for is running.  So, why doesn’t Jim Mora Jr. just make him a running back, throw in Matt Schaub, and give that a whirl.  Because, Mike Vick under center just doesn’t work.  PICK: Steelers.

New England @ Buffalo (+5.5): This was a close game earlier in the year, and it had all the makings of the “team on the rise versus a team on the decline” game.  Now it has all the makings of an “I’m gonna break my foot off up in yo’” game.  PICK: Patriots

Carolina @ Cincinnati (-3): I’m waiting for the real Bengals to show up.  They looked unbeatable and then Tom Brady stole their mojo.  Now they’re losing to the freakin’ Bucs and Chad Johnson has all but disappeared.  Shouldn’t they be doing better than this?  Meanwhile, I just can’t get a read on the Panthers, so I’m sure to lose this one no matter who I pick.  PICK: Panthers.

Green Bay @ Miami (-5): I can’t ever remember the NFL schedule producing three crappy games in one week.  Meanwhile, I second the Sports Guy.  If Brett Favre loses to a team led by Joey Harrington, he should immediately retire.  PICK: Packers.

Detroit @ NY Jets (-3.5): The second of three crappy games.  The only thing that would make this game worse is if it’s called by Dick Enberg.  PICK: Jets.

San Diego @ Kansas City (+5.5): Okay, KC gets absolutely annihilated by the Steelers and now they are only 5.5-point dogs to a team that is decidedly better than the Steelers?  What gives?  PICK: Chargers.

Denver @ Cleveland (+4.5): The Broncos have two big games coming up, so I doubt very strongly if they will show anything.  It will be a vanilla game plan.  Denver will just do enough to win this one, so they might not cover.  I’m just counting on Cleveland’s ineptitude to take care of the outcome.  PICK: Broncos

Minnesota @ Seattle (-6.5):  I think the wheels fell off of Minnesota, and they really aren’t as good as their early season success.  I like Seattle’s game plan by going pass wacky is a good idea with Shaun Alexander on the shelf.  PICK: Seahawks

Washington @ Indianapolis (-8.5): I still can't tell if Indy is any good or they are just playing teams at the right time.  I mean they get Jacksonville when they were down.  They got the Giants before they started bickering to each other.  Either way, for some reason I don't think they will cover against a team that isn't quite as bad as everyone thinks.  PICK: Redskins.          

Arizona @ Oakland (+3): You already know that answer to this question but hey I’ll ask it anyway.  What do you get when you have two team collide, that have both blown 18 point leads at home?  THE PILLOW FIGHT OF THE WEEK!!!  This is one of the two games left that Oakland has a chance to win.  Here’s hoping more weeks of Chasing Futility!  PICK: Cardinals.

NY Giants @ Dallas (-3): Just as I suspected, the Team Obliterator had a great game and was not able to force a loss to the team that passed up on Reggie Bush.  And I don’t think he will strike this week either.  It will be further down the line when T.O. makes his mark and completely sabotages the Boys.  Besides, the Giants absolutely stink on Monday night.  PICK: Cowboys.

BREAKING NEWS:  As I was typing, the Flyers announced the resignation of Bob Clarke and the canning of Ken Hitchcock.  Pat Stevens was named as head coach and Paul Holmgren is the acting GM.  Frankly, the firing of Bob Clarke was a long time coming.  He has crapped the bed as the GM for years now.  He ran Eric Lindros out of town without a championship, he acquired a convicted rapist, resisted European-born players even as they were sweeping the league and put together another goon-special team after the rule changes emphasized the need for fast players.  He has ridden the glory of winning the only Stanley Cups in franchise history (30 years ago, mind you) for way, way, way too long.  So Bob, don’t let the door hit you ass on the way out.

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