Monday Night Football

It is in the depths of hell that love is cultivated and strengthened. It is in the fires of the underworld where commitment and dedication are sculpted. After enjoying a weekend in upstate New York and seeing a Monday Night Football game in Buffalo, I salute you Buffalo fans. You've been through 4 Superbowl losses, the Music City Miracle, the No Goal, and a bunch of other stuff I probably left out. However, after tailgating and watching a game on a brutal (yet beautiful) Buffalo winter night, I have found new respect for your kin.

Let me say this: the main lot in front of Ralph Wilson Stadium looks like hell. It has fires burning, people in the strangest outfits, crazy music, and possessed Bills fans. It could be something straight out of Mad Max Return to Thunderdome. I was fortunate that my medium sized William Green jersey didn't fit over my winter jacket and various other gear I had on. Otherwise, I might have been maimed or killed. The atmosphere was very hostile to opposing fans, as it should be. In fact, I would have to say it was worse than tailgating in front of Browns Stadium. Obviously I've never experienced life as an away fan in Cleveland (interesting experiment idea, however I'd like to live a little longer), but I have seen the treatment they get. It's worse in Buffalo.

Ralph Wilson Stadium itself isn't too pretty. I wasn't able to check out all the bells and whistles but it is an old school stadium with all of its charm coming from the loudspeakers and the seats. There really isn't any wow factor when looking at the Ralph. But when the Bills score a touchdown and "Black Betty" plays over the PA, the fans go nuts. Honestly, it is pretty fucking scary. Then the mood lightens up a little after the PAT when "Shout" plays and everyone is singing incredibly loudly. I think it should be required that every team have a song that the fans know after scoring. I'm not sure the Browns even have one. Its probably something that died with Municipal Stadium and wouldn't work anyway because everyone is hammered on gameday.

What was completely incredible to me was that I was able to see what utter dejection looks like on the home fans after a devastating loss. And of all the places to see it, in Buffalo. I really didn't appreciate it at the time because I know what the feeling is like, but in retrospect I was pretty fortunate to experience Buffalo pain firsthand. After Lindell missed the field goal attempt wide right, the entire place fell deathly silent. All I could muster up was a subtle fist pump in fear of getting absolutely mauled by some crazy Bills fan. However I really saw the love these people have for their hapless football team. They stick through thick and thin, good weather and bad to root on what has effectively become an impotent team this season. In the words of Ali G: much respect.

Never Trust The Masses

OK, first let me admit that I am not the baseball expert here, much less the AL baseball expert (I'm a Braves fan) but seriously? Dustin Pedroia, AL MVP? The guy is literally the exact same size as I am. I like scrappy players as much as the next guy, but that doesn't mean they should be league MVP.

Maybe I just miss the steriod-filled days when guys like Juan Gonzalez, Miguel Tejada, and Jason Giambi were winning these awards. I guess times have changed when Miguel Cabrera is able to lead the AL in homers with only 37 dingers. For the record, that would have been good for tenth back in 2000.

Even still, I find it hard to believe that there wasn't a single player who could beat out Pedroia. Sure, he led the league in runs, hits, and doubles, and finished second in batting average, but I'm still not feeling it. He only hit 17 home runs and didn't break 100 RBI. You could compare his achievements to Ichiro's MVP-winning season in 2001, but at least Ichiro batted .350 and had over 50 stolen bases that season.

The truth is that there just wasn't a standout player this season in the AL. I think you could have made a solid case for Josh Hamilton or Kevin Youkilis. Hamilton led the league in RBI and was in the top ten for hits, home runs, and slugging percentage. Youkilis had better power stats than Pedroia and also had a higher on-base percentage. Hell, even A-Rod's numbers (in a down year by his standards) were every bit as good as Pedroia's. A-Rod batted .300, hit twice as many home runs as Pedroia, had over 100 RBI, and led the league in slugging. He also had a higher on-base percentage than Pedroia. Of course, the argument against A-Rod and Hamilton is that their teams didn't even make the playoffs.

On a bit of a side note, I have to say I'm a little perplexed that Nick Markakis did not get a single vote. I don't think he deserved to win, but his numbers were nearly identical to Pedroia's.

Player A - 118 runs scored, 54 doubles, 17 home runs, 83 RBI, .326 BA, .376 OBP, .493 SLG

Player B - 106 runs scored, 48 doubles, 20 home runs, 87 RBI, .306 BA, .406 OBP, .491 SLG

Obviously, if you were paying attention earlier when I mentioned that Pedroia only had 17 home runs, you know that he is player A. The difference appears minimal at best. Pedroia plays a more difficult position (2B) than Markakis (RF), but I don't see how that could be the difference between winning the MVP and not getting a single vote. Sure, the Orioles lost nearly 100 games, but voters (or at least one or two of them) managed to cast ballots for Ichiro and Raul Ibanez from the 100+ loss Mariners, as well as Oriole teammate Aubrey Huff.

I guess my conclusion from this rant is that when a league lacks a clear standout candidate, voters default to voting for the perceived top player from one of the playoff teams. The Rays, Angels, and White Sox lacked anyone close to worthy of the AL MVP, with the possible exception of Carlos Quentin (who suffered a late season injury that killed his chances), so voters basically defaulted to selecting either Pedroia or Youkilis. Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer also received some consideration since they just missed the playoffs, but that was probably compensation for the lack of any other candidates.

At least the NL got it right when they voted for Albert Pujols, who was head and shoulders above everyone else this season. And for what it's worth, I think Phillies second baseman Chase Utley had a better season than Dustin Pedroia, yet he didn't even finish in the top ten for NL MVP. I guess that's just one more reason why I prefer the NL.

Jesus Christ...

...The Browns are AWFUL.

Just when I thought my football team couldn't be any worse or lose a game in any worse of a manner, they go ahead and prove me wrong. The Browns second half meltdown against the Broncos was not only epic, it was legendary. How can a team, up by 10+ points at the half in two consecutive games, lose? At what point does the coaching staff take a look into the warped mirror and hold themselves accountable? Granted, Winslow's fumble wasn't their fault, but the godawful play calling definitely was.

The only silver lining in this debacle was the fact that Brady Quinn couldn't have looked any better, and gayer. The latter because he just looks really gay when playing football, if that's possible. I can't really describe it in words but the aura of gayness surrounds him at every turn. However, he looked real good as a quarterback. He has the balls to step up in the pocket and complete passes. He definitely reads the field quicker and better that Anderson ever did. DA's definition of progressions was looking at Edwards the whole time and overthrowing him. Quinn went through his progressions and hit the open man every time he could. He wasn't afraid to use his running backs in the flat.

I'm not saying that Quinn is going to be a pro bowler, but his first game was impressive, even in a loss. The only real caveat is that Denver's defense is looser than a $20 whore. It will be interesting to see how he handles the Bills defense this week. Hopefully the Browns will throw short passes and march it down the field like the Patriots did. Speaking of which...

...The Bills Looked Bad

I watched the Bills game this week with B-Rad at a Bills backer's bar in Manhattan. The atmosphere was awesome. I mean the continuous pitchers of beer and plates of wings really helped assuage the devastating full night of drinking and 5 hours of sleep that preceded the affair. However, the Bills play was disgusting. They ran their offense like the Browns usually do. Nothing came easy, not even a 2nd and 2. Marshawn needs to be used more creatively instead of just running off tackle or up the middle, using brute force to move the line. Edwards is still scared from that concussion that he experienced a few weeks back. His feet were real happy. I'll leave the rest of this to be discussed by B-Rad because I feel bad criticizing his team.

...Gold Gloves are a Joke.

I've pretty much come to the understanding that the Gold Glove awards players for being merely good at fielding provided that they can hit. It doesn't necessarily award the best fielders in the game, that's an afterthought. If you can hit and field decently well, you go it. There's also the reputation factor. If you have been a good fielder historically, then you're given the benefit of the doubt. Both of these explain how Derek Jeter has won so many and why Michael Young won one this year.

It's a fucking joke. Really. Derek Jeter has the worst range of any shortstop in the American League. He can barely field balls that are hit to his left (the hitter's right). Sure he's made some standout plays in the past, but overall he's more of a liability on the field than an asset. The last few years have shown that as his errors have mounted. Michael Young was rated as the 30th best fielder in the Majors. The only reason he got the award this year is because he had a high fielding percentage (meaning he did well when he got to balls).

But fielding percentage is a gilded statistic. It only tells you how effective they are when the play comes to them. You have to look at range to determine how many plays the fielder actually made. Here's an example. Young could race to a ball in the hole and dive but let it get past him and it wouldn't be counted an error. It wouldn't be part of his fielding percentage either because he never got to make the play. However, if a shortstop with better range actually got to the ball and botched the throw, its an error. If he made the play entirely, then the process (looking at fielding percentage and errors) wouldn't award him anything. In fact, him making the play and Young's/Jeter's inability to even get to the ball are treated the same. What a joke.

On the experience and reputation side of things, Carlos Gomez of the Twins got absolutely robbed. He was incredible this year. Gomez deserved to win over Hunter, Ichiro, and Sizemore. They could have easily put him in there and taken any of those three out. However, the voters decided to "play it safe" and give it to the same guys who won it last year.

What I Learned This Weekend

The Browns are Putrid

After the two touchdown comeback by Baltimore that effectively dismantled the Browns' season, they had the audacity to bench Derek Anderson and start Brady Quinn. Benching Anderson for Quinn isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, it has solidified the hypothesis I've had about the Browns organization for a few seasons now. They are at the mercy of their fanbase and the Cleveland media.

Trent Dilfer lambasted the Browns on Sunday night for their move. I tend to agree with him. The Browns are subject to knee jerk reactions and this was one more. Dilfer made some good points in his rant. The offensive incompetence cannot be entirely attributed to Derek Anderson. Braylon Edwards can make the most ridiculous catch but drop the routine one. He has the most dropped passes in the league. The offensive playcalling lacks any sort of in game adjustment and variety. The only time they have lived up to their potential was during the Giants game. They led a balanced attack that kept the defense on its heels the entire night.

It's completely unfair to blame Derek Anderson for all of these miscues and poor coaching. He's not the one calling the plays or the timeouts during the two minute drill. However, I think this is a move in the right direction. Brady Quinn is obviously the future and it isn't a bad time to take a chance to see if the season could be saved. The Browns weren't going to make any progress taking one step forward and two steps back under Anderson. I wonder, though, how long Romeo has before he is canned. He definitely has to be in the hot seat right now.

C.C. Sabathia Should Go to the Dodgers

I think the Dodgers are the perfect fit for Sabathia. He has had enormous success in the National League this year. In fact, he looked nearly unhittable. Sabathia has made it known that, if not playing in Cleveland, he would gladly move back to the West Coast to be closer to family. The Dodgers play in a weak division and can legitimately win the NL next year with him.

However, I think its important to consider the financial implications of his free agency. In other words, would he be worth the cost to the Dodgers? Especially after Santana's enormous contract? Yes. Santana has had pretty good success with the Mets but hasn't been as dominant as he was with the Twins. His only major weakness is that he is predictable. When teams hit against him often, they tend to figure him out. He has tendencies that he hardly ever sways from. In 2007 the Indians faced Santana about 5 times and beat him every single time. They were the only team he didn't have a win against.

The problem stems from the fact that Santana is a 2 pitch guy. Fastball and changeup. Granted, he throws those two very well, but you can only throw so many combinations with those pitches during a count. He goes to that changeup a little too often and its been blasted out of the park this year by NL teams. They know when its coming. I'm not sure if he has a tell or if he's been scrutinized by scouts, but he's been figured out.

Sabathia, on the other hand, is a smart pitcher who goes on 4 pitches. He's very good when mixing up his fastball and slider. But he's at his best when he gets that changeup involved. Thats what made him so dominant this year with the Brewers. Obviously the garbage hitting in the NL helped out his statistics. I hope he goes to the Dodgers. I'd rather not see him on the Yankees playing against the Indians. However, an opening day with the Cy Young winners from the previous to years at the new Yankee Stadium would be pretty sweet.

Minorities are People Too

You know I had to write about the election. I'm sorry to do this but it is pretty historic. First off, I didn't vote for Barack Obama because he is a black. I voted for him because I agree with his policies and am completely amazed by his intellect and general demeanor. He handled the financial crisis with a steady hand while his opponent was erratic at best. However, President Obama's ethnicity does have an effect on me personally as a minority in the United States.

We have long accepted that there is equal opportunity in this country. However, that wasn't true for government and public office. That was the white man's burden. The question of leadership belonged to the majority. Was this due to racism? Who knows. I am a firm believer in the equality of people in this country, maybe even to a fault. But what this election actually says to me is that it is possible.

Sure we theorized about minority presidents in the past. And, sure we could chalk this up to outside forces. But in an hour of need the American people chose a black man to lead them. We chose based on ideas, personality, intelligence, and the appearance of leadership. We looked past his name and skin color and said, "This is the best candidate for the job at this moment." It was the vindication of the millions of people who put their lives on the line during the civil rights movement of the 60s.

This election gives millions of people in the United States the belief that they can actually make a different regardless of what they look like. More kids in the inner city suffering from socioeconomic distress will believe they can be president and don't have to settle for sports or entertainment. My kids will look at the poster of the presidents and see someone that looks like them on there. At least, for now, the the American dream is finally a reality to everyone.

The Second Quarter

Yikes. The wheels are starting to fall off on many of my predictions for the 2008 NFL Football Season. Happily, all the other people who had faith in the Cowboys and Jags are in the same boat at least.

Here are the halftime results, with my predictions in brackets:

AFC EAST
Jets 5-3 [9-7]
Patriots 5-3 [11-5]
Bills 5-3 [10-6]
Dolphins 4-4 [6-10]

Maybe because this is my hometown division I actually did okay. The Bills have played agonizingly bad, especially in the fourth quarter, against their AFC East division opponents. BUT they still have the 49ers, Chiefs, and Browns on the horizon. If they can win just two of their final 4 division games they still have a shot at the playoffs and 10-6. If I knew Tom Brady was going to get hurt I would have thought the Patriots would finish in last place. The Pats have done a good job of being an okay team without the best player in the NFL.

AFC NORTH
Steelers 5-2 [7-9]
Ravens 5-3 [4-12]
Browns 3-5 [8-8]
Bengals 1-8 [6-10]

In making my predictions I had the most difficult time with this division. The Ravens and Joe Flacco have blown me away, but I'm still seriously not sold on the Steelers. A loss tonight against the Skins, mounting injuires, and a tough schedule to end the season will still make it difficult for them to make the playoffs. As for the Browns...I am mad I believed in them. Is it Brady Quinn time yet?

AFC SOUTH
Titans 8-0 [7-9]
Colts 4-4 [8-8]
Jaguars 3-5 [12-4]
Texans 3-5 [10-6]

The Titans are definitely the surprise team of the league. Their defense is Raven/Buc like and might lead to the most pure Super Bowl ever (Giants/Titans). I am sad I didn't see the Titans domination coming, but did draft Chris Johnson in my fantasy league. The Jags miss Marcus Stroud and their defense has been putrid. The Texans cannot win away games. As for the Colts? One ballsy pick that looks okay at the halfway point.

AFC WEST
Broncos 4-4 [7-9]
Chargers 3-5 [11-5]
Raiders 2-6 [7-9]
Chiefs 1-7 [4-12]

Western football this year is disgusting. Though they certainly won't finish 11-5, I still think the Chargers find a way to take this dung pile.

PLAYOFF TEAMS: If the playoffs started today I would hit on a measly 2 of 6. I do think that will get better though.

NFC EAST
Giants 7-1 [8-8]
Redskins 6-2 [11-5]
Eagles 5-3 [12-4]
Cowboys 5-4 [12-4]

If I had the Cowboys and Giants switched the East then I would be smart. I too got sucked in my the stars in Dallas. How did I forget the lessons of the Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith Redskins?

NFC NORTH
Bears 5-3 [5-11]
Packers 4-4 [7-9]
Vikings 4-4 [10-6]
Lions 0-8 [4-12]

With Kyle Orton out a month the Bears Norris division hopes are hit hard. Will the Lions win?

NFC SOUTH
Panthers 6-2 [7-9]
Buccaneers 6-3 [8-8]
Falcons 5-3 [9-7]
Saints 4-4 [8-8]

Not too bad here. I was half joking with my Falcons pick, making it strictly on the NFC South last place finisher being first place the next year pattern, but how bout them Falcons??? Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White look legit. Looking forward to watching the division games between the top three teams. The Saints just don't play defense and are looking at three players possibly missing four games due positive drug tests.

NFC WEST
Cardinals 5-3 [10-6]
Seahawks 2-6 [9-7]
49ers 2-6 [3-13]
Rams 2-6 [3-13]

Wow. I end on a high note. Sure the Seahawks won't approach 9 wins, but they've been decimated by injuries.

NFC PLAYOFFS- Again, if the playoffs started today I would hit only 2 of 6, but seriously, things will get better for me...I hope...