Goin' Bowling

There are too many bowl games.

That statement, repeated this time of year a countless number of times, is something I used to agreed with. Too many sponsors. Too many 7-5 teams undeserving to see the field again. Too much everything.

My sentiment changed two days before the end of 2010 when I attended just my second ever bowl game.

The first bowl game? The Rose Bowl in 2004, a huge matchup between then 10-2 Michigan and then 11-1 USC in Pasadena, CA. Michigan lost 28-14, although it seemed like more of a blowout than that score.

The second bowl game? The New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, played yesterday (12/30/2010). A not-so-huge matchup between then 7-5 Syracuse and then 7-5 Kansas State. It was even the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl. They ADDED a bowl game for the Big East and Big 12. That's how insignificant this bowl game seemed to be entering Thursday.

However, after Syracuse won 38-36, I realized that bowl games matter. All of them. And not just because my alma mater won.

These bowl games help with exposure. Who in the Kansas/Oklahoma/Texas area knew anything about Syracuse football this year? Who in the tri-state area knew anything about Kansas State football.


The fact that ESPN covers most bowl games (the rest covered by CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC) means there is a huge upside to being in a bowl game.

For two programs on the rise this game was huge. Longtime Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, who retired in 05 only to return in 09, is helping his team rebuild. Doug Marrone is helping pick up the pieces Greg Robinson left behind.

I understand that some programs fail to play their best game because they're disappointed in the bowl they're in. Boise State starting off slow in the MAACO Bowl is no surprise considering they were an upset and a FG away from playing in the Rose Bowl or for a national championship.

But for Syracuse this game meant everything. And the location didn't hurt either.

The game was held at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Doug Marrone grew up in the same borough. New York City holds Syracuse University's largest alumni base. To see a sea of orange line the stands, to hear 'let's go orange' in the 4th quarter, and to feel the stadium shake when Syracuse recovered the onside kick, was awesome.

So next time you're sitting there watching another 'meaningless' bowl game, think about how much it really means to the schools involved.

As Doug Marrone said while accepting the George M. Steinbrenner trophy on the field, "You've made a Bronx boy's dreams come true."

So This Is Purgatory, Huh?

For some back story, here's how the football season works for me:

I get revved up for fantasy football, for which I always have high hopes, and never expect to be disappointed.

I get revved up for the Jets, for which I always have high hopes, and always expect to be disappointed.

My fantasy football season was seemingly over before it started. Favre was nowhere near the QB he was last season. Addai? Hurt. Pierre Thomas? Hurt. Traded for Randy Moss, didn't work. Jets defense? Not the statistical phenoms they should have been. I ended up starting Fred Jackson and Danny Woodhead in week 13. Needless to say it was horrible.

Luckily, the Jets started off swimmingly. In fact, only one time in the first 11 weeks did the Jets and my fantasy team win together. And the Jets started 9-2. Yea, fantasy was that bad.

Now that my fantasy season is thankfully over, and I can start making changes in the front office, my attention fully turns to the Jets. And as John Malkovich said in Rounders, I feel so unsatisfied. Except there was no quickie.

The Jets lost yesterday. When the Jets lose, I generally stay away from ESPN for six days. There's no SportsCenter. There's no NFL Live. I don't read articles. I just wait for the next game and hope they turn it around. I know what happened in the game, I don't need the 'experts' to tell me what happened.

So as I said, the Jets lost yesterday. Today should be a day of mourning. There's no way I should have watched the last hour of Mike & Mike. But because the Jets gained a playoff berth thanks to the other Rex in the league, Grossman, today has a strange feel to it.

But do not tell me the Jets backed their way in. They started 9-2. Charmed. Lucky. I don't care what you want to call it, they were winning games. Bad teams find ways to lose, good teams find ways to win. And that's what the Jets had been doing. If they started 0-5 and went on a hot streak to now be 10-5, they'd be as good as their record. And that's what they are. 2 out of 3 times they have found ways to win. They beat NE. They beat Pitt.

During the Herm Edwards years the Jets backed their way in. 9-7. Herm even had to bring the playoff invitation (I didn't know there was a physical invite) to a press conference, to show they were qualified to go.

This year? No way.

While the northeast is now frozen over from a blizzard, all the talks in NY football this week are about meltdowns. The talks are about how both teams are losing momentum down the stretch. But for some reason, because David Garrard threw off his back foot in overtime in Washington, allowing the Jets to play meaningful football in January, I don't feel so bad today.

Rex, rest your starters next week. Why risk getting hurt? You have nothing to prepare for in practice. No more breaking legs going full speed. There are enough injuries afoot as is. Lay low, let Sanchez rest, and go to Indi/KC Wild Card weekend healthy as possible.

Just don't let Buffalo beat you to end the season. Cause even in this bitterly cold weather, that's hell.


*I encourage comments. I want to hear what you have to say. These are my true feelings.
I hold nothing back. I stand behind everything I say. But, who am I?

I'm A Numbers Guy

As I sit here and watch the Jets and Bears go at it in a shootout (31-31 in the 3rd quarter), I came to the conclusion that I love stats.

I watch alone, too insane to go to a bar (who watched that NE game at a crowded bar only to realize they spent the night eating peanuts and talking about how the season's over?), and I hate watching with anti-Jets people or bandwagon-fans. So I sit here, TV set on CBS (taping to watch later should things go well), and a computer in front of me to follow other games.

But I also sit here to spit out stats at people. What I've come across thus far:

-First half, Jets had 11 plays of 10+ yards.
-First half, while he didn't throw a TD, Sanchez was 13 of 15 with a passer rating over 100.
-Sanchez has finally thrown a TD pass, first time in seemingly forever. That's not a stat, but it feels like one as week-after-week the Jets aren't scoring through the air.
-LT has 6 carries for 9 yards (1.5 per carry) while Greene has 10 carries for 62 yards (6.2 per carry).

There's no method to my madness. I just like to sort out what's working and what's not, and if there are numbers to support what the game's feeling like.

(Knox just scored, again, to give the Bears a 7 point lead). Three Cutler TDs this quarter. Where's the Jets D?!?

I was an accounting major along with graphic design up at Syracuse. I didn't like love the accounting stuff but there's something nice about stats. Such as:

-The Jets being 0-7 in Pittsburgh before winning there last night.
-The Jets being 10-0 this season when scoring more than 10 points.
-The Jets being 10-0 this season when scoring a TD.

They've accomplished those last two thus far, shouldn't this be a guaranteed win!?!

That's the funny thing about stats. It's hindsight. You can mix up numbers to say whatever you want. But stats like these are not a predictor of the future.

If they were, then last week I would have turned the Jets game off after Brad Smith returned the opening kick for a TD.

-----

UPDATE (4:12pm)

Jets lose 38-34. More stats to add:

-The Jets are no longer undefeated when scoring 10+ points.
-The Jets are no longer undefeated when scoring a touchdown.
-The Bears first three possessions of the second half all started in Jets' territory. They all resulted in TDs.
-After having a 100+ passer rating in the 1st half, Sanchez had a 60 passer rating in the 2nd half.
-After having 62 yards on the ground in the first half, Greene had 2 carries for 8 yards in the second.

I understand stats are skewed by having to pass the ball when playing from behind, but still, play the hot hand and stick with Greene.

Game changing play? Fake punt on their own 40. Kick it away. Not only do you give up field position, you also lose confidence on both sides of the ball. Result? Next play, a 40 yard TD to Johnny Knox.

You just can't do that.


*I encourage comments. I want to hear what you have to say. These are my true feelings.
I hold nothing back. I stand behind everything I say. But, who am I?

What You Might Expect

So it begins. This blog is not a New Year's resolution (as was my last blog, tracking my p90x efforts). This is simply to rant and vent and see what my thoughts look like typed out. And to see if there's anyone out there who wants to listen. But as I write this, I know there's no one. Followers = zero. Echo echo echo echo.

This post is to test out what my future posts might be like. The idea is to take a topic, or topics, and throw my feelings at them. It might be recycled information which I will gladly admit, or far-fetched thoughts on general stupidity.

To be honest, I don't know where this blog will take me. If I can keep it up for a year it will mean I put some serious thought into it. But for now lets aim for months. Scratch that. Weeks. Let's just hope there's a follow-up post to this one.

Toes Before Hoes

That's the latest t-shirt being sold on BarStoolSports, pertaining to, of course, Sexy Rexy and his foot fetish. The Jets can't stay out of their own way. This season? Hard Knocks where the 2010 hype began. Cromartie not being able to name his own kids. Braylon's DUI the morning of my birthday (no I was not out celebrating with him). Favre, not even a Jet anymore, and Jen Sterger. The lockerroom incident with Ines Sainz. Sal Alosi, the sideline tripper. And now Rex and his 'personal' matter.

And that's exactly what it should remain. Personal. This does not pertain to the Jets' on-field performance. It happened between two consenting adults, who for some reason decided to post it on the internet. What I don't understand is why Rex didn't simply deny it. It would have taken a lot of digging to uncover the truth. And by the time they found out, the season would be long over.

What impresses me is how the Jets have persevered through all the garbage. At the moment they're 10-4. Very easily could Braylon Edwards have dropped the ball (pun intended) on the season. But he's gone out and made some insane plays (see: Houston / Pittsburgh). The Jets handled the media well through the Favre incident, the Ines Sainz investigation, and the Sal Alosi scapegoat.

So, imagine how well they could be doing if they didn't get in their own way. Maybe Rex should stop talking a big game. Be like Belichick and let his team's play do the work. Perhaps, Rex needs to keep that foot in his mouth.

Cheese With That Whine?

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson doesn't want to play on Christmas. A couple years ago, Stan Van Gundy was upset that his Orlando Magic were scheduled to play on multiple holidays.

Okay, so you're upset that you don't get to spend your holidays with your family and instead must coach your teams in front of millions of fans as they settle around their fires. You are forced to make too much money to increase your stardom. However, there's a simple solution to this. You ready Phil? Stan?

STOP WINNING.

ABC, ESPN and the NBA don't show bad teams. My Nets haven't played on Christmas day since 2002. The previous season they played in the NBA Finals against the Lakers. The year they played on Christmas they faced the Spurs in the Finals.

So if you don't want to play on Christmas, tone down your game. LeBron took his ego, mouth and I guess his talents to south beach, and look who's playing under the spotlight this season.

Perhaps this poses a larger question: should games be scheduled on holidays? And the answer is a roaring 'yes'. Imagine Thanksgiving without football. Sure the holiday's great. Food, family and fulfillment. Turkey, tryptophan and Tums. But imagine it without catches, collisions and Cowboy cheerleaders. Just would not be the same.

Then there's New Years Day. There's no commitment to family. Only to your couch, to a bottle of Advil, to dim lights, low volumes and perhaps the person you woke up next to. What better way to spend a day than with college football. Again, if you don't want to play on a holiday, don't have a good season.

Or don't have two of the greatest young stars in the league. This year's Winter Classic pins Pens' Sidney Crosby against the Caps' Alexander Ovechkin. Took them long enough to get the matchup right. I'm still waiting for the Rangers to play at Yankee Stadium. A Winter Classic being held where the Fall Classic should always be staged. But a New Year's Day necessity nonetheless.

But there are teams who don't necessarily deserve to be playing on New Year's Day. For instance? The University of Michigan. Greg Robinson, head football coach of Syracuse football for my four years there, ruined the team. The Carrier Dome couldn't hold a solid crowd. The Loud House became a funeral home. Even I stopped buying season tickets.

Greg then took his talents to Ann Arbor, hilariously my sister's alma mater, to become the Wolverines' defensive coordinator. He turned Charles Woodson's former defense into a laughing stock. And they get to play on New Year's Day? That's crap.

But give Greggy credit for trying. He didn't want to coach on New Year's Day. He wanted to sit home wearing star-shaped '2011' glasses, sipping warm mimosas and reheating pigs-in-a-blanket. So what did he do? He tried his best to lose. He posted historically low numbers. But to no avail.

So Greg, if you try to fail and succeed, what have you really done?

Pryor To The Play, Delay of Shame...

Terrelle Pryor and his co-violators should be ashamed of themselves.

The NCAA should find a Buckeye tree to hide behind.

The punishment must fit the crime, right? Fives games seems sufficient for selling team items and rings to boosters. But the timing is completely wrong. How in the world does Pryor get to play on January 4th in the Sugar Bowl? I thought winners get to play in big games. Winners never cheat, cheaters never win. And if you're suspended for five games, you're a cheater.

I've been trying to find a comparison for this.

Imagine a thief being sentenced to 90 days in jail. But instead of his time starting two weeks after he's found guilty, he gets to wait eight months before he's due to arrive at his jail cell. And oh by the way, he might flee to a country whose jurisdiction overrides the first. Not making sense at all? That's how I feel about this investigation.

Pryor is suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season. But what if he goes to the NFL? I know he's already said he's committed to returning to Ohio State, but considering he's going to miss 40% of the games, why not leave?

I'm not an Ohio State fan, so I can't speak on their behalf. But if I was a student, alumnus or general fan of the Buckeyes, I'd be furious. He and the other four players have left their mark in the worst of ways. This isn't Reggie Bush being stripped of a Heisman. That happened after his tenure there. They already had his replacements. Nothing says OSU is prepared to move on beyond Pryor just yet. Especially after saying he was coming back.

And for Pryor and co. to be selling such memorabilia, to have zero pride in their school and what they've accomplished is horrible. I hope Pryor did in fact get a tattoo at a discounted price. It's an ever-present reminder of what he did to his legacy and his school.

No matter what, this year's Sugar Bowl is going to leave a sour taste for many people.

---

Let's see if this blog idea catches on.


*I encourage comments. I want to hear what you have to say. These are my true feelings.
I hold nothing back. I stand behind everything I say. But, who am I?