Settling in to watch the much balleyhood college game, #1 Florida vs. #2 Alabama. Not sure how long Alabama is going to be able to hang in there, Florida jsut stopped the Tide three and out, then marched pretty easily downfield for a touchdown.
With that said, Bama just completed a pass play for about 60 yards. I was just about to say that Florida has way too much speed, but Bama just tied the score with two speed plays. Incredible start to what promises to be a great game. You have to love college football in the states. There may be nothing more exciting in sports than when the two teams take the field in a huge college game!
Florida beats Bama 31-20. Just a huge performance by Tim Tebow. Tebow is becoming the most legendary College performer since the Rocket. I`m not sure if there will be any place for him in the NFL, but he is only in his junior year and has already reached god like status in NCAA football. Maybe he`ll be a qb in the CFL in 2010.
Sam Mitchell Fired
The Sam Mithcell era in TO is over. The one time coach of the year has been fired by the Raptors and replaced on an interim basis with canadian Jay Triano.
Mitchell has always been considered a lame duck in Toronto. He was the hand picked coach of a horrible GM, Pete Babcock. Considering the Raptors have never had NBA championship talent, the only thing that could have saved his job under new GM Brian Colangelo was to win the Coach of the Year award...which he did. So other teams lined up for his services after 2007 and Colangelo felt compelled to rehire him.
However his marriage with Colangelo was one that you new would not work long term. Colangelo was the builder of the run and gun Phoenix teams featuring Steve Nash. He likes up tempo basketball with a mixture of european and north american talent. Mitchell is a half court, slow it down but run when the opporunity is there coach.
However, the thing that killed Mitchell was that the Raptors were a horrible defensive team. They could not rebound the ball and they seemed lost in the half court defence. Offensive spacing in the half court was Mitchells biggest strength as a coach, but his limitations in teaching defence and full court ball became more and more obvious as his tenure endured.
Watching the Raptors play Portland today, Jack Armstrong said it best when he said that you can always tell how poorly coached a team was after the coach is fired. The Raptors look absolutely awful. Its not Jay Trianos fault and its pretty tough to coach youre first 2 games vs Utah and the Blazers, two very well coached teams.
Triano has to do 2 things. Break all the horrible habits the Raptors players had developed under Mitchell. Secondly, start to install the push the ball mentality that Colangelo wants to see. Tough.
(sorry, my apostrophe key is not working!)
Sloan for NBA Champion
Ive never been a huge Jerry Sloan fan., but id love to see him win an NBA championship. Hes a great coach, a nice man, and extremely dedicated to the Utah Jazz. If he won a championship it would put a smile on alot of faces of people who like good guys that win it all.
Blazers Could be Special
With Brandon Roy, Lemarcus Aldridge (who is so earily similar to Rasheed Wallace, they call him Baby Sheed), and Greg Oden, the Blazers should win an NBA championship at some point, assuming they can keep all three players together. Remember, with the exception of the Pistons in 02 and the Bad Boys in the late eighties, almost all NBA champions are built around 2-3 great players;
Celtics (Garnett,Pierce,Allen and Bird,Mchale,Parish)
Lakers (Shaq, Kobe and Magic, Kareem)
Spurs (Duncan, Parker, Ginobulli and Duncan, Robinson)
Bulls (MJ, Pippen)
Heat (Shaq, Wade)
Rockets (Akeem, Clyde)
Cowboys in Trouble
The Cowboys simply blew an incredible chance to take control of the NFC wildcard chase by giving away a victory to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With the loss the Cowboys drop to 8-5, giving them no chance at the division title, and realistically nothing accept the second wildcard spot. Given the turbulant season it has been for Dallas, I think they would be happy just getting into the playoffs. Remember, the Giants were the #6 seed Wildcard in last year's NFC playoffs.
But to get there Dallas will still have to win at least 2 of thier last 3 games, which will be no easy task. The Boys will play home games vs the Giants and Baltimore, then finish the season at Philadelphia, who are now playing excellent football.
Dolphins Playoff Surge Continues
In what is becoming one of the greatest single season turnarounds in NFL history, the Miami Dolphins are now tied for the AFC East lead.
The fish took care of business vs. the downtrodden Buffalo Bills, while the Jets lost to the niners in San Fran and the Patriots escaped Seattle with a win. All 3 teams now have records of 8-5. The pivotal game could be in the last week when the Dolphins play at the Jets. Otherwise Miami has an easy couple of games coming up, home to San Fran (although the Niners have knocked off the Bills and Jets in consecutive weeks) then at Kansas City. So far the Dolphins have won all the games they were supposed to win, all be it ugly at times. If they can handle the Niners and Chiefs they would be 10-5 heading into New York.
The Jets play at home next week to the Bills then go to Seattle. The Patriots play at Oakland then home vs Arizona.
So it's very likely that all 3 teams will be 10-5 heading into the last game of the season. The Patriots will be at Buffalo. Looking at the tiebreaker scenarios, it would appear that the Jets or the Dolphins would win the East if they share the same record as the Patriots, based on projected records vs the AFC conference. So the Pats need to sweep the rest of their schedule and hope that the fish or Jets slip up the next couple of weeks.
Colts/Ravens in Drivers's Seats for AFC Wildcards
The Colts finally had an easy game with a 35-3 win over the Bungles. The Ravens were very impressive in thier big win over a pretty good Washingon team. Ed Reed is a scary, scary man. Both teams are now 9-4 and in control of the race for the last 2 wildcards. Of course the Ravens still have a chance to win the AFC North if they beat 10-3 Pittsburgh next week, but with a road game at Dallas 2 weeks from now, the wildcard is much more realistic.
The Colts have one more gimmee when they host the horrible Lions next week, then they are in tough at Jacksonville, and finally home to the Titans, who could be resting starters that game. The Colts should finish 11-5, giving them a wildcard spot. They have an 8-2 record vs the AFC so they would win any tiebreakers.
The Ravens definitely have the toughest schedule of wildcard hopefuls. Home vs the Steelers, at Dallas, then finishing at home vs the Jaguars. Assuming they'll handle the Jags, they'll have to win at least 1 vs Pittsburgh and Dallas to get to that magic number of 11 wins. They also have a strong record vs the AFC so would prob. win a tiebreaker vs an 11 win team from the AFC East.
Understand? I hope so, because I think my head is about to explode.
NFC Wildcard
With their victory tonight over Tampa Bay, the Panthers should be able to win the NFC South. Personally, I think the South is extremely overrated. I can't see any team from that division playing in the Super Bowl. With that said, the Bucs and Falcons could still claim the last 2 wildcard spots.
The Bucs have the best chance at 9-4, with a big game at the Falcons next week, then home games vs the Chargers and Raiders. They should finish at least 11-5.
The 8-5 Falcons are in tough. Even if they hold serve at home vs the Bucs, they're last two games are at Minnesota before an easy one vs St.Louis. They should finish at 10-6, with an NFC record of 7-5.
The Cowboys should finish at least 10-6, with an NFC record of 7-5/8-4.
The Redskins need to win thier last 3 games which is very possible. They play at Cinci and San Fran with a home game vs. the Eagles in between. If they win out they'll be 10-6 with an NFC record of 8-4.
The Eagles still have a chance at 7-5-1, but they need to win out and get some help. They should beat the Browns at home next week and then they'll have 2 critical games at Washington then home vs Dallas. Unlike the Skins who appear to be fading, the Eagles are playing their best football of the year, and Philly has had alot of great December runs to the playoffs under Andy Reid.
Obviously the Eagles vs Redskins and Cowboys vs Eagles games are going to be huge and will probably determine the last wildcard spot. The Falcons need to win out and hope the NFC east teams pick each other off, while Tampa Bay certainly control thier own destiny.
I think the NFC north will only give 1 team to the playoffs, either the Vikings or Bears as division champs.
The 8-5 Vikings are at in very tough with games at Arizona, then home to Atlanta and the Giants.
The 7-6 Bears have it much easier with home games vs New Orleans and Green Bay, then on the road at Houston.
If the teams finish tied, the Vikings should have the tie breaker advantage.
So...there are no fewer than 6 huge games next week.
Tampa Bay vs Atlanta
Pittsburgh vs Baltimore
Vikings vs Cardinals
Giants vs Cowboys
Bills vs Jets
Browns vs Eagles
That's not mentioning the Patriots, Dolphins, Colts, and Redskins trying to take care of business vs bad teams, and the Bears with a pretty tough game at home vs the underachieving Saints. Should be a great weekend.
Also;
The Brewers are trying to make a serious run at C.C. Sabathia...good luck.
I can't wait for Oklahoma vs Florida.
Michigan basketball may be back....the Wolverines beat Duke over the weekend.
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