The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Week 16

Merry/Happy/Jubilant Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, Decemberween or whatever your preferred wintertime holiday may be. Christmas Eve and the Brownies have become synonymous over the past few years, though not for the best of reasons. Last year, the Browns were embarrassed by archrival Pittsburgh at home, 41-0. This year wasn’t quite that bad, but it tried hard to be. This matchup of two of the most hapless teams in the NFL was generally billed as the lowest-profile game of the season, and it lived up to the hype.

THE GOOD
Hey, it’s still the holiday season! For all the Browns’ misery, there’s nothing that can take away the palpable happiness that covers the earth in late December. Cleveland’s weather was not its usual picturesque snowy white this year, instead taking on a Seattle-style cold rain. I hope you all enjoyed whatever it is you did this Christmas, whether you had a small family dinner, shared a great big time with kin from across the country, or performed a ritual animal slaughter just for the hell of it. Any of those would leave you more satisfied than watching the Browns/Bucs game. But congrats to Kamerion Wimbley for notching his 9th and 10th sacks and Daven Holly for returning a fumble for a touchdown!

THE BAD
There’s a veritable bevy of badness to choose from this week. Derek Anderson’s performance was certainly dreadful, tossing 4 interceptions and no touchdowns as he completed 10 of 27 passes for just 123 yards. His cause wasn’t helped by the offensive line, which allowed 3 sacks and numerous knockdowns, eventually leading to Anderson separating his shoulder and being pulled in favor of everyone’s favorite 110 pound 3rd string quarterback, Ken Dorsey. The Browns defense wasn’t completely terrible given the circumstances, but the team has now lost in consecutive weeks to Kyle Boller and Tim Rattay. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

THE UGLY
This kind of game makes me wonder about a lot of aspects of the Browns franchise. Every shot of Romeo Crennel on the sidelines seems to show him slightly confused and only moderately interested; this look has been popularized by the likes of Dom Capers and Art Shell. Braylon Edwards didn’t start because of various disciplinary reasons, and he seems to be falling into the NFL wide receiver mold of being a high-maintenance malcontent whiny bitch. Would-be impact veteran free agents like Willie McGinest, Ted Washington and Joe Andruzzi are looking slower every week and aging like they’re getting paid for it. All in all, a terrible game for the Browns and their fans.

We here at The Sporting Itis wish you and yours the happiest of holidays, and may the new year be your finest yet.

NBA Fashion Watch: Sleeves

As many of you have probably noticed recently, Cavaliers forward/star/savior LeBron James has recently taken to sporting a sleeve on his right arm. He’s also wearing a support band on his left knee. The AP has reported that he’s wearing the new accessories (which can be seen here and here) to combat a sore elbow and knee. He continues to don two small wristbands on each arm as well as a headband, always meticulously color-coordinated to match his team’s uniforms.

I, personally, am not an advocate of the sleeve. I prefer a minimalist approach to accessorizing, though creativity and originality are priority number one. Allen Iverson was the first great sleeve-wearer, and all other sleeve-wearers will be accused of copying his style. There have been some other NBA players sporting sleeves recently, including Carmelo Anthony, who is either color blind or severely challenged when it comes to coordinating his accessories. Look at this picture: blue uniform, yellow headband, black sleeve, orange wristband, gray compression shorts. Simply inexcusable. Hopefully Iverson, a fine harmonizer of hues himself, will be share his wisdom with the young pup now that they're together in Denver.

Stern Stays Strong Against NBA Brawls

Nearly a week has passed since the ugly fight that broke out Saturday evening during a game between the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. We still don't know why George Karl left his starters in the game with a comfortable lead and less than two minutes remaining. Some columnists theorize that Karl was avenging good friend Larry Brown by running up the score on Brown's nemesis Isiah Thomas, a theory supported by Karl’s recent comments about Thomas. Karl contends he left his best players in because "I didn't want the score to get under 10 points because if it would've gotten under 10 points it would've had a negative feeling on my team," according to the AP. We can't be sure exactly what Isiah said to his team in the huddle either, although replays clearly show him mouthing, "You don't want to go to the basket right now," to the Nuggets late in the game.

But all of that speculation currently dominating the national airwaves is irrelevant next to what clearly did transpire that Saturday night, a terrifying brawl which ended in the stands and endangered the fans that are the very backbone of this game. The bottom line is that regardless of why it started, the fight further sullies the image of a league already tarnished by the melee at Auburn Hills nearly two seasons ago. The despicable actions on display Saturday forced David Stern to take strong action, not just to send a message to his players but to show America and the world that such behavior will not be tolerated.

The Commissioner has become increasingly concerned with the image of his league in recent years, especially since the brawl at the Palace. The new NBA dress code and the increased publicity and emphasis on the "NBA Cares" program are all efforts to promote a classy and caring league. It follows then that he would not be forgiving in his punishment – A 15 game suspension for Carmelo Anthony, who landed a vicious yet cowardly punch on the unsuspecting Mardy Collins (and then nearly tripped over himself running away from the imposing Jared Jeffries), along with 10 each for instigators Nate Robinson and J.R. Smith, and 6 games for Mardy Collins, whose hard foul started the whole thing. In an 82-game season, a 15 game suspension to the league's leading scorer (Anthony) could cripple the Nuggets, and there are already rumbles that Stern's suspension was too harsh. Critics complain that fights in baseball and hockey occur regularly with little punishment; certainly nothing more than a few games at worst. But what these people don't understand is that the NBA cannot afford to be at the same level as its counterparts – it must hold itself to a higher standard.

Unfortunately, for a number of reasons the NBA is widely perceived by America to be more "gangster" than other sports, representing a more "thuggish" culture. Part of this is the game's urban roots and widespread popularity in the inner cities. Basketball also allows much more freedom of expression than any other major sport, just by the nature of the game; NBA players are not hidden behind helmets and pads so they are more easily seen by fans, along with their tatts, 'fros, dreads and 'rows. And of course there is the giant elephant in the corner – most NBA players are black, and many Americans and international fans are still not quite comfortable with that. Even though the majority of people do not consider themselves racist, they still carry their prejudices and stereotypes. The uncomfortable and sad truth is that many people's prejudices tell them that people who look, walk, and talk like NBA players are just street thugs and gangsters.

David Stern's primary goal as commissioner is to grow the game's popularity and to maximize profits. He has to cater his league to his fans' tastes, and the most influential and profitable fans are the corporate upper-class types that can afford to pay for NBA tickets. As miserably as this reflects on our society the NBA dress code was implemented so NBA players would dress less street and more like something that rich white folks are comfortable seeing. Stern's lengthy suspensions are just another step towards eliminating the gangster perception.When NBA players get into brawls it just reinforces the notion that the league is full of thugs; when two white hockey players fight its seen as just two guys letting out aggression. Unfair? Absolutely. But the reality is that a fight on the court feeds stereotypes that drive away customers and is therefore much more costly to the NBA than any other league. The players are right when they say the higher standard Stern holds them to is unfair, but the bottom line is the NBA is a business, and Stern understands that to expand the game and maximize profits he has to clean up the perception of his league. And until our society learns to let go of its prejudices, that standard will have to exist.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Week 15

Sunday’s game with the despicable Baltimore Ravens was the last chance for the Browns to get a victory against an AFC North opponent. They entered the contest 0-5 against divisional foes, and exited 0-6, becoming the first Browns team in history to go winless in divisional play. Derek Anderson showed some more promise, throwing two touchdowns, but also threw a couple picks and down the stretch the offense sputtered like a Yugo. Jamal Lewis topped 100 yards once again against the Browns, but mercifully wasn’t as dominant as he’s been in past years – his time in prison must’ve softened him.

THE GOOD
There was no one good thing all game, but here are a few positives: Leigh Bodden intercepting a pass and knocking down two others…Leon Williams’ 12 tackles and forced fumble in his first career start in place of D’Qwell Jackson…Josh Cribbs’ attempted end around pass, even if it was incomplete…Kamerion Wimbley constantly applying pressure and recovering a fumble…Derek Anderson completing 13 straight passes, tying a Browns record… Anderson’s beautiful fade pass to Joe Jurevicius…Special teams dynamo Mason Unck playing defense!

THE BAD
The Browns had 11 opportunities to convert on third downs in Sunday’s game. They converted exactly none of them. The offense was clicking early on, with Derek Anderson whipping frozen ropes to receivers and actually looking like a legit NFL quarterback, but they couldn’t keep it going. As the game got more intense in the second half, the Ravens defense stepped up while the Browns offense laid down. Ineffectiveness on first and second down left the Browns with an endless variety of third-and-tens, when the Ravens sent heavy pressure and left Anderson with no time to throw, giving Ray Lewis ample reason to dance like a little girl after one of his teammates made a play.

THE UGLY
Kyle Boller defeated the Browns. Kyle Boller defeated the Browns. Kyle Boller defeated the Browns. Steve McNair, the Ravens’ savior this season, went out with a first quarter injury when Andra Davis inadvertently stepped on his hand, forcing Boller into the game. Boller has been a stunning portrait of mediocrity in his four years in the NFL, but looked competent as he led the Ravens to victory, completing 13 of 21 passes for 238 yards, 2 touchdowns and one interception. Again, our top story: Kyle Boller defeated the Browns.

Top 10 List

The Top 10 Ugliest Men in the NBA

There seems to be a large proportion of not-so-good looking people in the NBA. I’ve narrowed the list down to 10 of the ugliest. Why not make fun of them? They make more money than most people can even dream of making. Here it goes…

10. Michael Ruffin, Washington WizardsRuffin has that special kind of ugly that hurts just to look at.

9. Stephen Jackson, Indiana Pacers
I can only picture his face of aggression when he was wailing on those fans during the Pacers-Pistons brawl. Maybe I should take his name off of this list. He might come to my house, punch me in the face, and then shoot at me after getting run over by a car, or something.

8. Marquis Daniels, Indiana Pacers
He looks like he’s drugged out of his mind. Sometimes, he plays like it too.

7. Reggie Evans, Denver Nuggets
Evans is even more known for his dirty tactics on the basketball court. Never, EVER stand directly in front of this guy. Just a warning. Got nuts?

6. Kevin Pittsnogle, Boston Celtics
Pittsnogle is a rookie, formerly of West Virginia University, but I’m sure many of you just assumed he was from there, anyways. I wish I had the restraint not to say it, but “You’ve Been Pittsnogled!”

5. Robert Swift, Seattle Supersonics
College is the ideal period for people to try new things. Too bad he never went to college.

4. Charlie Villanueva, Milwaukee Bucks
I know, he can’t control the fact that he has no hair on his body. But, picture him in a scary movie lurking outside of someone’s house, wearing a black hoody. That would be the creepiest movie ever.

3. Shelden Williams, Atlanta Hawks
Williams may be less attractive than most, but who else has a cool nickname like "The Landlord"?

2. Chris Kaman, LA Clippers
The man is so ugly that NBA 2K7 made his facial appearance literally look like a zombie’s. He had to get the creators of the video game to soften his features.They were only trying to be realistic.

1. Sam Cassell, LA Clippers
One of a kind, a cross between E.T. and Gollum, a winning combination! But you know what, at least he's having fun out there.

Honorable Mentions: Tyrone Hill, Popeye Jones, Adam Morrison’s mustache

Indians Investing in Bargains or Busts?

The 2005 Indians were the best team in baseball after the All-Star break and just missed the playoffs by one game. They would have certainly made the playoffs if they had improved upon their astonishing 22-36 record in one-run games, leading the majors in one-run losses by a wide margin. In the offseason Mark Shapiro worked to improve that record by emphasizing fundamentally sound play, spending the winter preaching a new focus on “manufacturing runs” and promoting Luis Rivera from Single-A Kinston to coach baserunning, bunting, and first base. With mostly the same players as the previous year, all of Shapiro’s efforts produced an abysmal 6-13 record in one-run games as the 2006 Indians regressed to a sub-.500 season. The same atrocious baserunning blunders, bunting errors, and mental lapses all remained and the defense appeared to get worse.

Last year Indians pitchers led the American League with a whopping seventeen errors, which contributed to 84 unearned runs, also tops in the AL. If last year taught us anything, its that you cannot teach fundamentally sound baseball without players able and willing to play that way. One hoped that Shapiro would heed that lesson and sign players capable of that style. Here’s how the Tribe’s major offseason acquisitions grade out in the department of fundamentals and defense.

2B Josh Barfield: A definite upgrade over Ronnie Belliard, Barfield has much more range at second base and has soft hands and a solid arm. He is a good baserunner, stealing 21 bases in 26 attempts, and is reputed to be a solid bunter; the Indians were lacking in both skills last season.

OF David Delluci: Delluci is more of a power hitter, and will be expected to drive in runs more than set the table. His lack of bunting ability and speed on the bases (one stolen base in 2006) don’t affect him as much as others. However, last year he batted .185 with runners in scoring position, .083 with the bases loaded and a hideous .034 with runners and scoring position and two outs. Thankfully he will only be platooning.

RP Aaron Fultz, Roberto Hernandez, Joe Borowski- All three of these relievers are veterans and have been around the block, but their defense is awful. Only Aaron Fultz is a passable defender (.889 Fielding Percentage in 2006); Borowski and Hernandez are downright abysmal, boasting Fielding percentages of .800 and .750 respectively. As if an error every fifth opportunity wasn’t bad enough, the range factors of the latter two pitchers were both below 1; both CC Sabathia and Bob Wickman were better last year at getting to slow rollers and bunts.

Generally the Tribe have not gotten markedly better fundamentally and defensively. Our pitchers’ defense could actually get worse this season, if that is even possible. On offense Barfield will help, but we still lack one or two veterans off the bench (preferably insurance for Jhonny Peralta and Andy Marte) that can step in and deliver a clutch bunt or sac fly. If Shapiro can make those key acquisitions the offense should improve significantly. But we had better hope that last season’s defensive numbers were aberrations, or that Luis Issac can work miracles on that bullpen, or we could have another disheartening season of one-run losses.

Almost There

Saw the Lakers-Rockets shootout Friday night. The Lakers prevailed 112-101 in double OT, rallying from 21 down behind Kobe’s 53. With Tracy McGrady out with another back injury, Yao put up 35 points, 15 rebounds and 8 blocks. It was his third 35-point, 15-rebound performance of the season; no other NBA player has one. He’s averaging almost 26 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks per game, and is looking more and more like the dominant player the Rockets were hoping they drafted four years ago.

The part that has me excited? He can still get better. A lot better.

Yao has shown steady progression, improving his game every year in the league. He has increased his scoring every year, but more important than any statistic is how his in-game personality has developed. He entered the league as the most scrutinized foreign player ever, with both the United States and China expecting him to become an instant force. Two entire nations were following his every move. He was understandably timid in his rookie year, a result of adjusting to a new country and feeling out a new league. His flashes of brilliance were outshined by his gentleness. He wasn’t mean enough. Still isn’t.

He’s refined his skills over the years, developing a go-to fadeaway that he can shoot over anyone. It’s not quite as dominant as Kareem’s skyhook, but in time it could become that effective. He’s improved his upper-body strength, improved his defense, and isn’t a push-over in the paint anymore. With McGrady out, he’s become the Rockets’ primary scorer. He’s their number one option every time down the court, and consistently attracts a crowd. He’s also a ridiculously good free throw shooter for a big man (82% for his career) and shoots a high percentage from the field (52% career). His combination of size and skills makes him an impossible matchup night in and night out.

But still, there’s something that isn’t quite there yet. Yao doesn’t have the killer instinct, the badass I-own-the-paint attitude that makes a great inside player a dominant one. He obviously won’t be as physically imposing as Shaq, but needs to incorporate some of The Big Aristotle’s elements into his own game. He can’t settle for that fadeaway every time, no matter how effective it is. When he gets matched up on a smaller defender, he needs to muscle his way down to the block, force his way to the rim and dunk on him. He has to let it be known that he cannot be stopped. On defense, he has to deck opposing guards when they try to come down the lane for layups. He has to add some Laimbeer to his game.

He’s getting closer every game. After knocking down a jumper to put the Rockets ahead of the Lakers, he let out a little yell and a fist pump. He bulled through Kwame Brown for a second-quarter bucket. He blocked eight shots in the game, swatting many of them against the backboard. But some signs of the past remained, like when Kobe caught him flat-footed and went by him for a dunk in the lane in the second OT, but Kobe makes a lot of people look bad. With Shaq’s career far into its final act, there’s nothing and no one stopping Yao from becoming the most dominant big man in the game. He’s got the size and he’s got the skills. Now he just needs the swagger.

The End of the A.I. Saga in Philly

Allen Iverson will be traded away from the Philadelphia 76ers any day now. Iverson’s locker has been cleaned out. He has officially played his last game as a 76er as the team has put him on the inactive list. Now the only question is his next destination. It didn’t have to be this way.

A.I. was a prep star out of Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, who was an even better quarterback than he was a basketball player. He had scholarship offers to virtually any school in the country, but they were all rescinded after he was convicted of a felony charge (maiming-by-mob) at a bowling alley. Before Allen was found innocent due to insufficient evidence, his mother plead to legendary Georgetown basketball coach, John Thompson, to guide her child in the right direction. Thompson decided to take Iverson in and offered him a scholarship. Then, Thompson and the program reaped the benefits.

In only two years, Iverson electrified the team, and in the process set the highest career scoring average with 23 points per game. In his short collegiate career, the Georgetown Hoyas advanced to the Sweet 16 in 1995 and won the Big East Conference in ’96. Iverson received the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award both years. He then decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility and go pro. The Philadelphia 76ers drafted this young talent with the #1 overall pick in the 1996 Draft. Contrary to this current decade with the Kwame Browns’ and Nikoloz Tskitishvilis’ of the world, back in the 90s, having a top pick meant that there was a large probability that that player would at least be a solid contributor if not more than that for years. In Iverson’s case, he was guaranteed to be a superstar from the moment he joined the organization.

Entering the league, what made Iverson different than any other player was his swagger, his “Me Against the World” attitude, his “don’t take crap from anyone” glare, his baggy shorts, flashy jewelry, and the tattoos covering his body. It’s that swagger that made A.I. an icon whom people would pay a premium just to see him play. A.I. was a stark contrast to the previous and current figureheads of professional basketball: Magic, Bird, and Jordan. In a way, the league wasn’t ready for him. Allen Iverson came in his rookie year and took the league by storm, scoring 23.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.07 steals per game, leading all rookies in each category and becoming the NBA Rookie of the Year. But, the moment that made him most well-known that year was his famous crossover of the then untouchable Michael Jordan. People saw that highlight on SportsCenter over and over again. It was that moment that eveyone knew they were in for a fun ride watching this guy.

Over the next few years, A.I. emerged as a one of the most dominant scorers and consistently went to the All-Star game. Game in and game out, he would carry the 76ers on his shoulders, putting out maximum effort, and sacrificing his body in the process. But still, the stigmas remained that he wasn’t a team player, that he took too many shots, and that his partying lifestyle had an effect on his play. More criticism arose after his famous press conference in which he was perturbed by the reporters and other media sources making such a big deal of his missing practices. Maybe he did miss a few, but he sure did show up come game time.

Even with a ragtag of a supporting cast around Iverson, the 76ers still made it to the playoffs for five straight years from ’99 to ‘03. In 2001, A.I. took the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals, where they beat the Lakers in the first game of the series and then proceeded to lose the next four. However, that was as close as the organization would ever get to a championship. While other teams made key acquisitions to improve their chances of winning, or rebuilt for possible future success, the 76ers remained stagnant. They drafted pieces they thought would fit to the puzzle: Samuel Dalembert, a big man out of Seton Hall; Andre Iguodala, an athletic small forward out of Arizona; and Kyle Korver, a prolific sharpshooter from Creighton. However, these pieces never developed as much as they should have. Instead of trying to rebuild or make any changes to the squad, management sat on its thumbs and crossed their fingers for a miracle that wasn’t going to come.

And today the 76ers sit with a 5-16 record, at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a poor supporting cast and a disgruntled superstar on his way out. The sad thing is, due to Iverson’s hefty contract and appearance as a threat to team chemistry there is no way GM Billy King will get close as much value in return. Believe it or not, A.I. is 31 years old now, and his career won’t last forever. One can hope that wherever A.I. does go, he will be around a formidable supporting cast – and possibly even with another superstar – where he can flourish. His stats may go down as a result, but I’m sure he’ll sacrifice a few scoring titles for a legitimate chance to win a ring. Ask Alonzo Mourning or Gary Payton how much numbers really mean.

One thing’s for sure. Whoever is lucky enough to get A.I. will have one of the greatest players and fiercest competitors of our time. His presence alongside a team with a few good pieces should prove to be a winning formula.

A.I. has a chip on his shoulder from people saying he’s too selfish, he doesn’t always work hard, or he’s just not a good recipe for success. He’ll probably always have that chip until the day he retires. That being said, the rest of the NBA better be on watch for when “The Answer” comes to town.

Playoffs?!

That’s right, Jim Mora fans. Playoffs. Many a college football junkie (see Williams, David A.) has wondered what might happen if the powers that be sacked up and instituted what everyone has been yearning for for years: a playoff.

But how many teams? How would they be selected? When would it happen? What would the games be called? How in the name of Doak Walker could the NCAA figure out a way to make this happen without pissing anyone off?

Truth be told, there’s probably no way to make it happen without issues, because somewhere, someone is going to be unhappy. That aside, I am taking the liberty of crafting the first college football playoff system, to be instituted in roughly 2041. I will take any and all criticism of this system, but I warn you ahead of time that it is the most perfectly refined concept in the history of sport. Go ahead, try to argue.

The selection process
Eight teams will be chosen to compete in this glorious event. Six seeds will be given to the winners of each of the BCS conferences: ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC. The last two seeds will be given to the highest-ranked teams remaining. The teams decide (in order of ranking) where they would like to play. For example, #1 Ohio State would get first choice of where it wishes to play, #2 Florida would go second, and so on through #8 Wake Forest. The only restriction is that no first round game would be allowed to have two top-4 teams, because that would defeat the purpose of the playoff system: having the two best teams playing in the national championship.

The Scheduling
Enough of this waiting for four months before a decent bowl game garbage. The first round of games – yep, all four of ‘em – would be on the Saturday one weekend before New Year’s Day; this year it would be December 23. The second round would then be on New Year’s Day, when bowl games oughta be, and the National Championship would be one Saturday after New Year’s; this year it would be January 13. The TV networks probably wouldn’t go for it, but this is my playoff and I’ll cry if I want to.

The Venues
Instead of creating some new fangled sponsor-ridden bowl games (MPC Computers Bowl, anyone?), the games will be played at the oldest, most prestigious existing bowl sites. This means first rounders at the Fiesta, Cotton, Gator and Sun Bowls, and as was alluded to earlier, the top-ranked teams get to choose their venue. The second rounders would be played at the Sugar and Orange Bowls, with the championship being at the Rose. The big four bowls – the Fiesta, Sugar, Orange and Rose – would rotate as they do now, so each could host a first rounder and a championship within a four year span.

This would all mean less bowl opportunities for the little guy of college football, but frankly I don’t care. I can live without a PapaJohns.com Bowl between South Florida and East Carolina. Leave bowls to the best teams in the land. Once upon a time bowl games meant more than just a paycheck for a 7-5 team from the Mountain West.

Playoffs are the most exciting events in sports. College basketball's March Madness dominates an entire month. The NFL Playoffs are the most exciting sequence of games in football, and ends with the greatest production in all of sport, the Super Bowl. Baseball's regular season may drag on for months and months, but once the World Series begins, it's a whole new ballgame. Every great sport has great playoffs. Why should college football be any different? Make the postseason as great as all of these other sports, and settle things on the field instead of in a computer.

And make Jim Mora happy.

Problem at the Polls

Once again, following the regular season there is controversy in the polls for Division I Football. Once again, people will be arguing whether a team is deserved to have been put in the national championship game. The difference this year is that the controversial BCS poll is not at fault; most of its weight now is determined by how the people vote. The voters for both the AP and the USA Today/Coaches Poll – featuring a cast of newspaper writers, radio announcers, and D-I coaches – should be to blame.

It all started after the “Game of the Century”, or so it was advertised, pitting the consensus #1 and #2 teams against each other, in a classic rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State. Ohio State won by a close margin and debates began over whether Michigan deserved a rematch, as the best one-loss contender.

Most experts believed that USC was more deserving. They dominated their top three opponents: SEC-runner up, Arkansas, co-Pac-10 champions, Cal, and rival, Notre Dame. Their loss came to an Oregon State team, which ended up with a more than respectable 10-3 record for the program. Southern Cal had a smooth pathway to the national championship, but a kind of significant problem arose: They lost. The last game on their schedule is annually reserved for cross-town rival, UCLA, which hadn’t won this contest since the days of DeShaun Foster in 1998. SC faced a hungry team, bitter of being overshadowed in Los Angeles for so many years. The Trojans came out flat and crumbled as a result.

This shocking loss should’ve paved the way for Buckeyes-Wolverines II right? Not if the people voting don’t want to see it.

Florida, ranked 4th before the USC loss, jumped to #2 in both the AP and the Coaches poll, while Michigan sat and watched. Yes, they beat Arkansas, and won the tough SEC conference, but the win wasn’t convincing enough for voters to be swayed that much.

Surely, people voted for Florida into the #2 position because they only lost once in the best conference in the country. Florida had to travel to Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia, and Florida State, all of which are among the toughest atmospheres for opponents. However, they lost to Auburn and Georgia and Florida State were in a transition period.

After looking at the fact that Florida played Central Florida (4-8) and Western Carolina (2-9 I-AA team), their supposedly impossible schedule isn’t as good as advertised. And not to press the issue too much on how you win, but Florida almost lost to Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida State, and Vanderbilt. That’s a lot of close calls.

Michigan’s schedule was most certainly not any better – they played Central Michigan and Ball State, and almost lost to the latter – but they won convincingly in hostile atmospheres (Penn State, Notre Dame), gave Wisconsin its only loss, and took OSU down to the wire.

People attest that Michigan had their chance already against OSU, but considering that the only blemish on the team’s resume is a 3-point loss to the best team in the country, maybe they deserved another shot.

A playoff could resolve all of this...

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Week 14

Week 14, Browns vs. Steelers

The 110th meeting in the Browns-Steelers rivalry looked much like most every other game the teams have played since the Browns returned in 1999. The same old formula, played out in a newly embarassing fashion: Steelers ram the ball down the Browns throats, Browns get physically dominated, Steelers triumph. A game is really bad when you can say that it was much worse than the 27-7 score. After an encouraging victory over a solid Chiefs team, it's puzzling to see the Browns fold against their archrivals. Romeo's going to feel the heat on his trousers all week, and if he wants to stick around much longer he needs to get this team to play with some semblance of inspiration. The organization has been telling us to be patient and let Crennel and Savage work their magic, but abominations like this just won't be tolerated.

THE GOOD
Derek Anderson performed as well as a sixth-round backup getting his first career start could’ve been expected to. He completed 21 of his 37 passes (56.7%) for 276 yards, had 1 TD, 1 INT, lost 1 fumble, and was basically average across the board. He showed some decent poise in the pocket against a good Steeler pass rush, and didn’t take a sack. Credit must go to the offensive line for that, though they really don’t deserve too much praise after a game in which they paved the way for 18 whole rushing yards. The Browns are now in the enviable position of having not one, but two completely mediocre quarterbacks to choose from.

THE BAD
Willie Parker rushed for 223 rushing yards. Najeh Davenport rushed for 62. That’s two individuals who outrushed the entire Browns roster. It was nearly three as John Kuhn, a 255 pound ball of undrafted glory from Division II Shippensburg, tallied up 16 yards on his lone carry. Pittsburgh amassed 303 rushing yards altogether, and 528 yards of total offense. That makes three genuinely bad outings in a row for the Browns defense, which had been pretty consistent earlier in the year. This might’ve been the most demoralizing game of the year, though the 30-0 loss to the Bengals is very close. If nothing else, the Browns are raising their draft position to bolster another strong offseason of we loyal fans imagining how great they’ll be next year.

THE UGLY
Anderson’s decent day could’ve been a whole lot better if his receivers caught his passes. The total number of drops varies depending on the source, though the consensus is between 7 and 9. Dennis Northcutt led the botch brigade with three drops, proving once again that he is indeed a crappy pass-catcher. Braylon Edwards, Jason Wright, Darnell Dinkins and Terrelle Smith all got in on the act as well, though in the latter three’s defense, they’re not expected to be productive. Joe Jurevicius seemed to be the only receiver capable of hauling in Anderson’s passes, as he finished with 7 catches for 111 yards. Braylon Edwards explains: “There's a different velocity on Derek's ball than Charlie [Frye's]. We're not trying to make excuses, but Derek throws the ball very hard, so when you turn around, the ball is humming. It's there. You don't have time to play around. You have to be ready.” In summary, Derek Anderson throws the ball too hard and it gets to the receivers too fast. And that's a bad thing.

Great Derek Andersons

With Derek Anderson rallying the Browns to victory over the Chiefs, one is naturally inclined to recall fond memories of other great Derek Andersons in Cleveland history, namely the one who played for the Cavs. Let’s systematically analyze these outstanding individuals, and decide once and for all who the greatest Derek Anderson of all-time is.

Full Name
Football: Derek Matthew Anderson
Basketball: Derek Lamont Anderson
Advantage: Push. Very average names.

Nickname
Football: “DA”
Basketball: “Lil’ Smooth”
Advantage: Basketball. And it’s not even close. In this era of initials being passed off as nicknames, it’s refreshing to see a nickname with some flair to it. However, you can probably count the number of people who call Basketball Derek “Lil’ Smooth” on one hand. Still good though.

School
Football: Oregon State
Basketball: Kentucky
Advantage: Football. Oregon State gets the edge primarily because it has a cool rivalry – The Civil War with Oregon. It also gets points for having a Seafood Laboratory.

Cleveland Experience
Football: Two years in Cleveland, 2 games experience, 57.1 completion percentage.
Basketball: Two years in Cleveland, 104 games experience, 11.3 points per game as a Cavalier.
Advantage: Basketball. Simply more games and a bigger role.

Key Stat
Football: Oregon State record 4,058 passing yards in 2003.
Basketball: 12.7 career points per game.
Advantage: Basketball. The former Cavalier wins because of his longevity (10 years of experience), and the Beaver loses because of his mediocre 51.3% completion percentage and 24 interceptions during that historic 2003 season.

Fun Fact
Football: Wore size 17 shoes at age 10, which his family had to order from the Portland Trail Blazers.
Basketball: Scored 2 points in 0 minutes of an NCAA tournament semifinal game. He had missed the second half of his senior season with a torn ACL, but entered the game against Minnesota to shoot two technical foul free throws in a dead ball situation.
Advantage: Football. This one was very close, but you just can’t beat freakishly large feet. Also, Football Derek may very well have worn the same shoes as the immortal Kevin Duckworth, who was a member of the Blazers in 1993.

Outlook
Football: Current starter for the Browns; in just the second year of his career.
Basketball: Currently comes off the bench for the Charlotte Bobcats; in his 10^th year; has long history of injures.
Advantage: Football. There’s nowhere to go but up for Football Derek, who was a 6^th round pick and has just 21 career passes as of December 7. Basketball Derek’s best days are behind him, especially since he won an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat last year. He’s now on a very average Bobcats team, and isn’t getting any younger.

Overall
Basketball Derek gets big points for his nickname, but Football Derek’s collegiate success, bright future and large shoes give him the overall edge.

David's College Football Awards

It’s the season…ESPN has their own set awards Thursday at 7 ET. Well I have a few right now.

Players of the Year:
1. Troy Smith, Sr. QB, Ohio State – From a not-so-biased Buckeyes fan, Troy has been efficient, and easily conquered every challenge he’s faced so far this season. He may not have the style points that Vince Young and Reggie Bush had last year, but he sure does deserve the Heisman. Brady who?

2. Darren McFadden, So. RB, Arkansas – One of the most talented players (regardless of position) I’ve seen for a few years. He can run like Adrian Peterson, throws the ball like an actual quarterback, and runs routes that corners have trouble covering. And plus, where would the team be without him?

3. Calvin Johnson, Jr. WR, Georgia Tech – Ditto. Johnson is the most talented receiver I’ve seen since Larry Fitzgerald. Plus, he’s 6’5 238. Johnson would be silly to stay in college. He is a bona fide top 5 pick as long as he stays healthy. He can get his degree later.

4. Garrett Wolfe, Sr. RB, Northern Illinois – Leading the NCAA in rushing yards means something, doesn’t it Jerome Harrison (If you haven't heard of him, then I've made my point)? Wolfe is a tough little guy though. He carved up the Ohio State defense the first game of the year. I’d love to have him on my team.

5. Steve Slaton, So. RB, West Virginia – One of the most talented running backs in the country. Watch out for him next year. He will be a Heisman favorite.

Brady Quinn, Sr. QB, Notre Dame – If only he could play every game against Army…But seriously, if he shows the consistency he had as a junior, Brady will be a star. If not, here is the reincarnation of Eli Manning. Say hello to the Oakland Raiders.

Frosh of the Year:
1. P.J. Hill Jr., RB Wisconsin – One of the tops in the nation in rushing

2. Colt McCoy, QB Texas – Stepped in for Vince Young and set the school single-season record for passing touchdowns

3. Percy Harvin, WR/RB Florida – A player who carries the ball a lot and averages 12.7 yards per touch must be doing something right.

4. Riley Skinner, QB Wake Forest – Stepped in for injured starter, Ben Mauk - the pride of Kenton, OH - and helped guide the Demon Deacons to the Orange Bowl.

5. “Fast” C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson – he’s really, really fast

Worth mentioning:
Ray Rice, So. RB, Rutgers – The little guy can play. He will be on the list of Heisman favorites next year.

Colt Brennan, Jr. QB Hawai’i – 53 passing touchdowns for the season - one shy of the record - ain’t too bad.

Brian Brohm/Hunter Cantwell, QB’s Louisville – Best QB tandem in the country

JaMarcus Russell, Jr. QB, LSU – Best arm in the country. Think: Daunte Culpepper with bigger hands, before knee surgery, and not tained by the "Loveboat" incident.

Ian Johnson, So. RB Boise State – One of the nation's leading rushers...and Boise played against good rushing defenses

Special mention:
Reagan Mauia, 6’0 296 lbs, RB Hawai’i – and he LOST OVER 50 POUNDS this offseason. I saw him play on TV against Oregon State. The announcers seriously mistook him for a lineman. When the quarterback pitched the ball forward towards Mauia, he caught it and ran for a few yards. The announcers both said there should be a flag thrown for an illegal pass, but they were mistaken. That’s how big he is. But the boy can fly.

Coach of the Year:
Jim Grobe, Wake Forest – No one (including me) had ever heard of him until a few weeks ago.

Jim Tressel, Ohio State – The team did go undefeated.

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma – BCS bowl after they lost their starting quarterback during camp and their star RB broke his collarbone midway through the season.

Chris Petersen, Boise State – The team did go undefeated, and yes I had to look this guy up.

Greg Schiano, Rutgers – The trendy pick.

Disappointments:
Miami Hurricanes – Bad enough that it was justified for the head coach to be fired 5 years removed from winning a national title. The fight against Florida International was a disgrace.

Brady Quinn – Either way he’ll be a Top 5 pick. As you can tell, I’m not a fan.

Florida State – The son finally stepped down. We’re waiting for the father.

Georgia/Alabama – Every other SEC team looked pretty damn good.

Conference of the Year:
SEC – I was convinced after the Auburn-LSU game, the most exciting 7-3 ballgame I’ve ever seen.

Most exciting game of the Year:
OSU-Michigan lived up to the hype, with the close game, 42-39. The back and forth action of each of the offenses surely was something to see. We got to witness some of the future NFL stars in Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, Chris Wells, Mario Manningham, Chad Henne, and Michael Hart. Smith locked up the Heisman award after his performance that afternoon.

Rutgers-WVU was pretty good, too.

Worst Refereed game of the Year:
OU-Oregon. OU should be playing for the national championship. Instead, Ohio State will probably thrash Florida. Oh well.

Best Names:
Kyle Sackrider, Michigan State
Ray Ray McElrathbey, Clemson
De’Cody Fagg, Florida State
Richie Rich, UNC
Luscious Pusey, Eastern Illinois
Brit Barefoot, Kicker, Southern Miss
Casey Dick/Robert Johnson, Arkansas
LeQuantum McDonald, Baylor
Knowledge Timmons, Penn State
Socrates Zacharias, Carnegie Mellon (yes, they have a football team)
I-Perfection Harris, formerly of Georgia Tech

The “I” is for Immaculate

Man, my name is boring.

Why the Cleveland Browns Need Troy Smith

Entering the season, the Cleveland Browns were viewed by some insiders as a sleeper pick. They had a lot of young talent on both sides of the ball, and things were only looking up. Charlie Frye was emerging as a serviceable starting NFL quarterback. Reuben Droughns was fresh off of a 1,200 yard rushing performance. Both 1st round picks from the past two years, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow II, were back from torn knee ligament injuries. They signed the right pieces to Romeo Crennel’s signature 3-4 defense. Willie McGinest and Kamerion Wimbley fit well as rush outside linebackers, and Ted Washington was ideal for the nose tackle position. Most impressive was the revamped offensive line, which featured Joe Andruzzi, Kevin Shaffer, and Cleveland-born All-Pro center LeCharles Bentley. However, it looks like they’re just another team of (I hate to quote Joey Porter but….) paper champions.

The Browns enter the last five weeks of the season one loss removed from the worst in the league. While they have had a few close losses (to the Ravens, Steelers, and the Chargers), they are in familiar territory for the 4th year in a row. Needless to say, some changes need to be made, not only with personnel, but with the overall image of the team. Although there are individuals on the team having good seasons (K2, Wimbley, Sean Jones), they aren’t playing well collectively.

It isn’t good that the best player on the team last year was accused of beating his wife (Droughns), and that the best player this year is an “f-in soldier” and constantly criticizes the play-calling (Winslow). What the Browns need is a player with poise, good decision-making under duress, and a role model for young kids growing up in the city. What the Browns need is a player like Ohio State quarterback, and soon-to-be Heisman winner, Troy Smith.

Just a year ago, there is no way I would’ve said anything like this. You live, you learn, and you grow up. I remember less than two years ago when Troy Smith was the troubled guy who accepted boosters and was seemingly in Jim Tressel’s eternal doghouse. Smith was suspended for the first game, and could’ve just slipped between the cracks. However, Smith – and Tressel, for that matter – took the high road. For him to even get back on the field, Tressel made the risky decision to start him over the then-more popular and safer choice, Justin Zwick, because he saw something in Smith that we are all witnessing now in the soon-to-be Heisman trophy quarterback. At first, many still felt Zwick should’ve been starting. He was the pride of Massillon, Ohio, home of the movie, “Go Tigers”, a documentart about a city that takes football just a little too seriously. He was all hype, a blue-chip prospect, expected to bring a prolific aerial attack to Columbus. On the other hand, Smith was a throw-in prospect with a troubled past. Over the years, it’s evident that actions speak louder than words.

First, Smith cleaned up his act. An alumnus of Glenville High School in Cleveland, he has become a prominent figure for the inner city youth. He’s on billboards around the city with teammate Ted Ginn Jr., showing the importance of kids staying in school. This past summer, Troy got his undergraduate diploma from Ohio State after four years, showing teenagers in the city that if he can do it, they can do it too.

Smith got himself out of the doghouse by displaying his leadership skills on the field. Smith first showcased his talent on the national stage last year against Michigan, when he went into the Big House and led his team to the Fiesta Bowl. In Tempe, he dissected the Notre Dame secondary and overshadowed one of the top NFL prospects, Brady Quinn, in the process. This year, he’s only picked apart some of the best defenses in the country en route to a return trip to Arizona, this time for a shot at the BCS National Championship.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a guy who fits so well for this team. For his whole career, people have questioned just about everything about him, and time and time again, they’ve been proven wrong. Sure, he lacks ideal size, but his combination of leadership, poise – as well as mobility and arm strength – don’t come along too often. Drafting the local kid from the inner city who made it against all odds would be like a fairy tale. It almost makes too much sense.

(Voice inside my head: “Wait a minute, our running backs aren't doing so well...We could draft Adrian Peterson and Troy would still be available in the 2nd round, right? Right?)