Heisman Hunt

In just a few hours, the best college football player from the 2009 season will be named as the Heisman Trophy winner. This year’s five candidates make it perhaps the most contested Heisman race in years. Here’s how I think tonight’s ceremony will break down (although I may not totally agree with it):

#5-Toby Gerhart, Stanford RB: Gerhart ranks first in carries, yards and touchdowns in the nation with 311, 1,736 and 26, respectively. However, his name hasn’t been on the main stage as much this season as the other contestants. What hurts Gerhart the most is playing for Stanford, who got a spot in the sub-par Sun Bowl against a 7-5 Oklahoma team that disappointed many this year.

#4-Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT: Suh’s a beast, with 82 tackles and a 3rd-best 12 sacks in his senior season. However, defensive players don’t standout when it comes to Heisman winners. In fact, there has been just one defensive Heisman winner ever, Michigan’s Charles Woodsen in 1997, who was listed as a D-back and a wide receiver.

#3-Tim Tebow, Florida QB: He’s one of the most beloved (and therefore most hated) players in college football. But, there has only been one two-time Heisman winner ever, and it will remain that way after tonight. Although Tebow posted good numbers, like finishing 8th in the nation with a 155.6 passer rating, his completions, yards and touchdowns have dropped since his Heisman-winning sophomore year. Plus, Tebow landed the Gators just short of another National Championship run. However, he will go down in history as one of the best college football players ever to grace the national stage.

#2-Mark Ingram, Alabama RB: Ingram finished the season with 249 carries for 1,542 yards and 15 touchdowns. He lands higher on the list than fellow running back Gerhart for a few reasons. One being that Ingram is only a sophomore, and tearing apart defenses like he does at such a young age gives him major points. Also, Ingram has been a main reason why the Crimson Tide will be playing in Pasadena for the BCS title.

#1-Colt McCoy, Texas QB: And the winner is… This Longhorn leader ranks 3rd in completion percentage (70.5), 6th in yards (3,512) and 8th in touchdowns (27). McCoy finished 2nd in the 2008 Heisman standings as a junior, so with numbers similar to last year’s, he seems to be a shoe-in. Not to mention he will be vying for BCS National Championship title in January. Another thing in his favor: in the last 10 years, the Heisman has been given to a quarterback eight times. Congratulations, Colt.

Bruce on Life

Hello world. I apologize for my lack of blogging… it’s been about a month! But things were crazy busy with Thanksgiving break and now I have one week of classes and one week of finals left until graduation, so things are quite hectic right now if you can imagine!

Speaking of Thanksgiving break, I was at what could be Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band’s final concert in Buffalo. (I won’t go into detail about how AMAZING it was!) I’ve been really into his song “Land of Hope and Dreams” lately. Not only is the music great, but the lyrics are really uplifting.

While listening to non-stop Bruce lately, I’ve noticed that he uses a train as a metaphor for life in a lot of his songs; this really speaks to me. Here are some examples:

Downbound Train
I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going, mister, in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it ever does it rain
Don’t you feel like you’re a rider on a downbound train…

Better Days
Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening
To the hours and minutes ticking away
Yeah, just sittin’ around waitin’ for my life to begin
While it was all just slippin’ away
I’m tired of waiting for tomorrow to come
Or that train to come rolling ‘round the bend…

Human Touch
Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize
Well it comes at a hard, hard price
You can’t shut off the risk and the pain
Without losing the love that remains
We’re all riders on this train…

What Love Can Do
Darling we can’t stop this train
When it comes crashing through
But let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do…


His lyrics are one of the many reasons why I can never, and never will, have enough of Bruce Springsteen. Some of his songs are so uplifting, especially Land Of Hope and Dreams, which I will leave you with. I think it’s my stage in life right now, graduating college and getting ready to go by myself in the “real world” that makes this song stick to me so much. And as weird as it may sound to some, to me it’s like God is singing this to me, telling me that if I let Him, He will take care of me:

Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder’s rolling down the tracks
You don’t know where you’re going
But you know you won’t be back
Darlin’ if you’re weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We’ll take what we can carry
And we’ll leave the rest

Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

I will provide for you
And I’ll stand by your side
You’ll need a good companion for
This part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Tomorrow will be sunshine
And all this darkness past

Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This train
Carries whores and gamblers
This train
Carries lost souls
This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singing
This train
Bells of freedom ringing
This train
Carries broken-hearted
This train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This train
Carries fools and kings
This train
All aboard

This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singing
This train
Bells of freedom ringing.

The 2009 Fall Classic

”I never knew how someone who was dying could say he was the luckiest man in the world. But now I understand.” –Mickey Mantle

That quote pretty much sums up the state of euphoria I was in when Robinson Cano lightly tossed that ground ball to Mark Teixeira for the last out of the New York Yankees’ 27th World Champion season. However, Yankees fan or not, it has to be said that this series, especially game 6, was nothing short of classic baseball at its best.

Certainly A Classic
This game transported me to a time and place of the past, some I remember, some I wasn’t even alive for. First, you have Pedro and Pettitte facing each other on the mound, amidst chants of “Who’s Your Daddy” from the crowd. It was just like being back in the 2004 ALCS (thank goodness this series turned out a lot better!).

Not only do you have Andy on the mound getting his record 18th postseason win, but catching his every pitch is Jorge Posada, and behind them, none other than Derek Jeter. And keep going further back and Mariano Rivera is coming out of the Yanks pen, with “Enter Sandman” blaring over the PA system, to close out the game. These four epitomize the men in pinstripes, as they are true Yankees down to their core. Congrats on “one for the thumb”, guys.

I cannot forget to mention another true Yankee controlling things from the dugout, Joe Girardi. Although this was his 4th ring and not 5th, he was there behind the plate to celebrate the legendary wins in ’96, ’98 and ’99. I could not be happier for Joe. Not only was he a fantastic player I remember well, but also his managerial skills have proven quite impressive. In his first year holding the clipboard, he was named Manager of the Year as the Florida Marlins skipper. Yet, the Marlins fired him after that season. Think they’re regretting that now? I like Tony Pena and how can you not love Donny baseball? But I agree (even before this World Series win) that Girardi was the right man to take over in Torre’s shoes. #27 is well deserving of #27.

Reminiscing back even further, although none of us were alive for it, consider the 1923 season. The Yanks opened the season in the newly built “House that Ruth Built” and finished that season with a ring. Well, this season they christened the “House that Jeter Built” and the captain is walking away at the end again on top of the world.

Godzilla Invades the Bronx
I’ve heard a lot of dislike for Hideki Matsui winning the World Series MVP, but I agree with the choice and I’ll tell you why. Some argue that Matsui didn’t play every game so how can he have impacted the team that much? Well, many of the same people argue that Mariano should have gotten MVP. Mo pitched 5 1/3 innings with two saves and three strikeouts in the six games. What Mariano contributed in this series was huge, but I don’t think it was quite MVP-worthy, comparatively.

No one can argue Matsui’s numbers. He batted .615 with 3 homeruns, not to mention a World Series record-tying six RBI in game 6. He joins Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth as the only player in World Series history to have a batting average of at least .500 and a minimum three homeruns. That is some good company to be in. “Godzilla” was also the first Japanese born MVP and the first full-time DH to get the award.

Sadly, Matsui’s contract with the Yankees is up at the conclusion of this season. Rumors have it that it is either going to be him or Johnny Damon, who’s contract is also up, remaining in pinstripes. If Matsui goes, some sources say he will be going to the Seattle Mariners to play with fellow Japanese player Ichiro Suzuki. Can’t we just keep them both??

Falling Phillies
Yes, the Yankees won, but this blog wouldn’t be complete without the mention of their opponent. Don’t forget that the Phils were two games away from accomplishing the near impossible – repeating as World Series champions. Chase Utley and Cliff Lee anchored the team. Utley matched Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson’s, record five homeruns in a World Series.

However, they obviously had their downsides. Starter Cole Hamels was basically the heart of the 2008 postseason team. This season, he was quoted as wishing it all were just over. No matter in what context this was uttered, it stirred a little controversy with the team. And then there’s Ryan Howard. His name is linked with tons of hitting accolades through his five years in the MLB, yet none of that was seen in this World Series. Conversely, he had a World Series record 13 strikeouts.

I have no better way to conclude than to quote a writer for The New York Times who once wrote:

”The essence of the Yankees is that they win. From in front or behind they win. And that’s why the history of the New York Yankees is virtually the history of baseball.”

Take a look at SI’s photo gallery of all 27 World Championships. It exemplifies the quote. It shows the Yankees repertoire of winning and shows exactly how this team screams of the ghosts of baseball at its best.

WS post to come...

If you haven't noticed, I stopped my blogging about the MLB when the World Series started, because I am a born and bred, true-to-the-heart Yankees fan and didn't want to get even in the least biased in my writing. But now that they've won, I definitely can write about it! Whoo hoo!

I'm way too burnt out from that game, though, so stay tuned for my thoughts tomorrow. :)

NFL Battle of the Unbeatens

Eight weeks into the NFL season, it’s just about half way over. At the beginning, there were a lot of teams stepping up as tough contenders, but now only two remain undefeated: the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. Who will go deepest into the season with their perfect record intact? Let’s crunch some numbers.

Wins:
Indianapolis’ road to 8-0 has been seemingly easy. They have only faced one team with a current record at .500 or greater. Overall, they have beaten their teams by an average of 15.6 points and have a point differential of +106.

New Orleans, on the other hand, has played four teams with records at or above .500. And their average win margin and point differential are both greater than the Colts at 17 points and +119, respectively.

Remaining
However, no matter what has happened in the first eight weeks, it all depends on how these two teams can finish out the last nine. The Colts begin this next leg facing four teams each with at least four wins. The Saints’ next four opponents have a combined record of 9-20. Overall, Indianapolis’ remaining foes sit at 36-31 while New Orleans’ are 23-41, including two games against the 0-7 Bucs.

Conclusion
I do not think either team will make it through the whole season unscathed. But, it will be close. I predict Manning’s men will fall week 14 against a tough Denver squad. The Saints will “Brees” through until a week later and be handed their first lost in week 15 against Dallas. New Orleans has just two teams with five wins left on their schedule, the Patriots and the Cowboys, and I think the Cowboys are the tougher of the two and therefore the team to end the Saint’s perfect run.

Agree? Disagree? Feedback, as always, is welcome.

Freshman Phenoms

As the 10-week mark has come to college football season, teams are really showing whom they are. And it seems that the focus is always on the players we know and are used to – the upperclassmen. But this season there are a lot of true freshman out there that are coming up big for their teams and proving they can make the high school-to-college jump.

For top 10 teams, Alabama’s Trent Richardson sits in second place on the team in rushing with 377 yards on 74 carries, including a 52-yard touchdown run against Arkansas in week 4. Matthew Tucker is a big part of #6 TCU’s running game, as well. Tucker has racked up 65 carries, 324 yards and 3 touchdowns so far in his first season. Iowa loves to run the ball, and Brandon Wegher has been a big part of their offense. The Hawkeye freshman has 112 carries for 439 yards and has crossed the goal line 6 times.

Outside top 10 teams, this list cannot be complete without USC quarterback Matt Barkley. He has led the #12 Trojans with 1,727 yards and 9 touchdowns and a QB rating of 141.09. He threw for 283 and 380 yards in back-to-back weeks against a 24th-ranked California and a 25th-ranked Notre Dame team, respectively.

Two other true-freshmen running backs need mention, too. Temple’s Bernard Pierce is 3rd in the NCAA in rushing yards with 1,033 and Southern Miss’s Tracey Lampley is 3rd in punt return yards with 280 on 21 attempts.

And I can’t go without mentioning my own alma mater, Kent State, whose freshmen are keeping the Flashes within reach of a MAC East championship. Receiver Tyshon Goode has 40 catches for 553 yards with 5 touchdowns this season, with 11 of the receptions, 198 yards and 2 of the touchdowns coming in last week’s win. This performance earned him Honorable Mention Performance of the Week for his position by College Football Performance Awards.

Of course, Goode needs a quarterback to get him the ball, and fellow freshman Spencer Keith has proved himself worthy of the starting role at that position. Keith has thrown for 1,538 yards with 11 touchdowns and has become a leader on a team with a dismal outlook.

Even though I love to watch the great upperclassman like Tim Tebow and Golden Tate finish out their careers still excelling, it’s nice to see some new faces, too. How great it is to see young players make the transition into Division I college football so well. It’s going to be exciting to watch these newcomers try to break all the records I’ve seen set and to see how much they can accomplish in their years to come.

The Ultimate Fight

A rare thing is (hopefully) about to happen in the White House. Sen. John McCain and Rep. Peter King are pushing for a posthumous pardon for the world’s first black heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson. The Senate passed a resolution on June 24 and the House followed a month after with a unanimous vote on July 29.

Johnson was convicted in 1913 and went on to serve ten months in prison for having a relationship with a white woman. Ridiculous, right? Well, it was no laughing matter in the early 1900’s, even for a sports-superstar such as Johnson was.

Johnson earned the heavyweight title in December of 1908 by beating the Canadian World Champion. As he went on to continue his dominance, the American public was in overall disgust that the title belonged to an African-American. Finally, in 1910, the whites brought a star of their own out of retirement to face Johnson.

Called “The Battle of the Century,” the “Great White Hope” Jim Jeffries took on Johnson on July 4th. Johnson came out victorious, which should have proved an independence day for the persecuted blacks in America who still couldn’t find equal rights, years after President Lincoln granted them freedom. But, it was not so.

Since Johnson couldn’t be beaten in the ring, the U.S. government charged him in accordance of the Mann Act in 1912. The Mann Act, passed in 1910, was to:

“further regulate interstate commerce and foreign commerce by prohibiting the transportation therein for immoral purposes of women and girls, and for other purposes.”

In the words of the Justice Department, it was a “crime against nature” for a black man to have sexual relations with a white woman. (I’ll get into the hypocrisy of this statement later).

After the decision from an all-white jury, Johnson fled the U.S. in 1913 while free on appeal and travelled the world as a fugitive before turning himself in to the U.S. government in 1920; he then served his 10-month sentence.

Johnson was known for being in relationships with white women. His first marriage was to a black woman, but five other women he was known to have relationships with, including three marriages, were all to white, most of them prostitutes. Johnson clearly had some magnetism. In a few instances, he was seeing more than one woman at once, and the women knew about it and accepted it. His last wife said of him, “I loved him because of his courage. He faced the world unafraid. There wasn’t anybody or anything he feared.”

It may seem completely ludicrous today to think of prosecuting a black man for being in a relationship with a white woman. And it should have been just as crazy back in 1912. How could the U.S. Government be so hypocritical to persecute a man for something one of their great founding fathers did? It is widely known that Thomas Jefferson had a relationship and many children with a slave of his whom was partially black.

Just put this rule into effect in today’s time to see its absurdness; there are many athletic stars with one black and one white parent. If laws were still around today stopping biracial relationships, Jason Kidd would not being tearing up the hardwood; Derek Jeter wouldn’t be leading his team to his 5th World Series title; and the world’s most known athlete, Tiger Woods, would not only not exist, but he would not have the beautiful family he has now.

So, Obama, it is in your hands. As America’s first black president, it is now up to you to liberate the wrong against one of the greatest athletes known in his sport. Jack Johnson paved the way for some of today’s superstars and stood up to injustice when he knew it was wrong. He gave hope for his fellow man, just as you have. He was persecuted for a crime that should have never even garnered legal status.

Please, fix the wrong that your predecessors did against him; give him pardon.

For more information, visit these Sites I used as references:
PBS
CNN
ESPN

Championship Series Predictions

The playoffs are now really heating up after the Division Series are over. I went 2-for-4 in my predictions; I definitely did not expect three series sweeps. Anyway, here’s what I think will happen in the pennant races:

NCLS: winner = Dodgers in 5 I can’t foresee a sweep, but I do see LA taking this one pretty easily. Even though the Phillies return to the postseason with the majority of their squad from last year’s World Series-winning team, they just don’t seem to have the same gusto in 2009. The Dodgers, on the other hand, took care of business with a very tough St. Louis team, and I think they will continue on in the same fashion. Dodgers will take the first two at home followed by the first in Philadelphia. The Phils will hold on to take game four, but LA will take the NL pennant in game five.

ALCS: winner = Yankees in 6 This is gearing up to be a good one. The Angels played the Yanks tough in the regular season, but New York seems to be a different team late in the season and now in the playoffs. New York will start off the series taking both at home, but LA will come right back to take their first two on the West coast. However, New York will untie it in the last bout in LA and bring home an AL crown at home in the new “House that Jeter built.”

Imagine that, a Yankees-Dodgers World Series. Not only will Joe Torre face his former club that he coached to four World Series titles, but he would also be pitted against his former World Series winning catcher Joe Girardi, the new Yankees skipper. Not to mention historically, LA originated as the Brooklyn Dodgers before they made the move west in 1958. Oh, this could be one for the ages.

Muckdogs in the MLB Playoffs

Seven previous players from the Batavia roster have worked their way up the ranks and have taken part in the Major League playoffs this season.

Nick Punto was a big part of the Twins team, even though they were swept by the Yanks in the ALDS. He batted .444 with an on-base percentage of .583. However, he may be best remembered in the series for being picked off when rounding too far off third in the 8th inning when Minnesota was down by just a run.

Randy Wolf, however, will play on. Wolf got the game one start for the Dodgers and gave up six runs on two hits and five walks with two strikeouts. He lasted 3.2 innings with no decision in the game.

Since they were the previous parent-team of the Muckdogs, the Philadelphia Phillies have five former Muckdogs on their postseason roster. Ryan Madson earned himself the save in game three, working 2.2 innings of relief with four strikeouts. All-Star Chase Utley finished up the NLDS with a batting average of .429 and slugging percentage at .643. He had one RBI on a solo homerun. Fellow All-Star Ryan Howard did his part with six RBI and three doubles. Starter J.A. Happ got roughed up in game 3 before teammate Madson bailed him out. Happ went three innings with six hits and three runs. Lastly, 2004-2005 Muckdog Kyle Kendrick was a last edition to the Phillies’ postseason roster. He has yet to hit the mound.

Make sure to keep supporting the Batavia Muckdogs and all other minor league teams to enjoy watching these young players grow into Major League All-Stars.

A Lesson in Heartbreak: My Four Years of Kent State Football

My last homecoming as a Golden Flash was nothing out of the ordinary – Kent lost by one point with five seconds remaining in the game. Let’s face it, this one was just ugly.

Kent looked so promising to start off the game. At the end of the first quarter, we were up 14-0. We also only had a season-low three penalties in the game.

However, that’s about all the positives we can take from this one. Yeah, we had the lead after the first, but that was on a total of six offensive plays. Our offense only saw the field for a total of 8:47 in the first half! No wonder our defense burned out in the end.

Wait. Defense? What’s defense? With the numbers Bowling Green’s Tyler Sheehan and Freddie Barnes put up, KSU’s defense seemed invisible. Barnes was named the College Football Performance Awards Wide Receiver of the Week with school-records of 22 receptions and 278 yards. He also had three touchdowns and beat his career high in yards at the half.

With a receiver like that, BG quarterback Sheehan had school records of his own, going 22-for-63 with 505 yards. That is the most passing yards a Kent State team has ever had against them.

But, like I said, this is nothing new in my four-year experience of Kent State football. Let me just reminisce on all our other let-downs…

2008 Season (my 3rd year): First in the season, we were delivered a 27-30 double overtime loss against the nemesis Akron Zips. KSU kicker Nate Reed nailed a 32-yard FG to notch the game at 24 as time expired. Both teams made a FG in the 1st overtime, and after Akron’s kicker made one more at 25 yards, Reed missed a 23-yarder to lose the game (wide right…why must Buffalo fans always be tortured with that phrase!). It’s no wonder Reed is sidelined this season…

Anyways…then there was homecoming against Miami where we had no chance. We dropped to 1-6 overall, 0-3 in the MAC after the 26-19 loss.

2007 Season (mi ano numero dos): The Wagon Wheel was lost yet again to the Zips, this time by a touchdown. Kent got the ball and drove down the field to the 36-yard line with 1:36 left in the game before Julian Edelman threw a prayer that was intercepted in the endzone. Game over.

Homecoming was another one-touchdown loss, again to Miami. The flashes got the ball with less than a minute to go. With 4th and goal, Edelman broke loose but was tackled just short on the one-yard line.

And let’s not forget the last game of the season, senior night at home against Buffalo. 14 seniors suffered a 30-23 loss in overtime. The Bulls tied the game up with less than five minutes left in regulation and Reed missed a FG with 1:54 to go that would have probably been the game-winner. In overtime, Buffalo scored a touchdown and then their defense held the KSU offense to four downs.

2006 Season (my rookie season): As a bright-eyed Freshman headed to her school’s first home football game, I was decked out in my Kent State blue and gold looking forward for some spectacular, Division-I college football. Well, Minnesota delivered – a 44-0 loss to the Flashes.

But, my inaugural season was the bright spot in four years (which really isn’t saying much). Kent lost their next game 17-14 in OT, but then went on to win five straight, including a 37-15 win over Akron and a 40-14 homecoming win versus Toledo (which was our first homecoming victory since 2001).

Nonetheless, one season isn’t too satisfactory when the rest have been so disheartening. And I am just preaching to the choir of all Kent State alum. Overall, KSU is 21-41 in homecoming games, including just 2-8 in the last ten years, and we sit 29-20-2 against the “A-K Rowdies,” who we have yet to face this season.

We still have six more games left this season, which leaves plenty of room for a MAC East win. But, let’s be honest, the one thing I’m looking forward to: Kent State Men’s basketball season opener, November 13th.

ALDS Preview and Predictions

Red Sox vs. Angels:

Head-to-Head: The Angels nudged the Red Sox in the regular season by 5 games to 4. LA took the AL West title 10 games up in first with a 97-65. Boston clinched the Wild Card pretty easy with a 95-67 record, 8 games up of the next-best contender. The Angels ended their regular season taking 7 of their last 10 games, while the Bo Sox lost 4 of 10.

On the Mound: Boston is sending Jon Lester to the mound for game 1, who went 15-8 with a 3.41 ERA and 225 strikeouts in the regular season. The Red Sox also have Josh Beckett (17-6, 3.86) and Clay Buchholz (7-4, 4.21 in 16 games) who are making a tough trio with Lester in the starting rotation. John Lackey gets the start in game 1 for the Angels. He finished 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA on the season. LA’s pitching staff may be a little less notable than Boston’s, but they do have closer Brian Fuentes who led the AL with 48 saves.

My pick: Angels: When it has mattered most at the end of the regular season, Boston just hasn’t seemed to come through. With the chance to still clinch the AL East, the Red Sox were swept by rival Yankees in New York and then also were swept at home by the Blue Jays. They did end the season with a 4 game sweep of the Indians, but sweeping a 65-97 ballclub who lost 25 of their last 27 games isn’t saying much. Boston needs to come out of their slump in order to take down the Angels, and I just don’t see that happening.


Twins vs. Yankees:

Head-to-Head: New York has taken all 7 games against Minnesota in the regular season. The Yankees ended with the best record in baseball and the only team with 100 wins with a record of 103-59. The Twins squeaked out an AL Central title by beating Detroit in the season’s 163rd regular season, playoff-tiebreaker game. They ended with 87 wins, 76 losses. Both teams finished the regular season well, taking 7 of their last 10 games.

On-the-Mound: The Yankees are starting AL tying win leader C.C. Sabathia in game 1. Sabathia went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA. The rest of the rotation includes A.J. Burnett, who finished the season on a good streak, with final numbers of 13-9, 4.04.
Andy Pettitte will bring postseason experience and his 14-8 record, 4.16 ERA. And of course, closing legend Mariano Rivera will provide from the bullpen as he did all season with his 44 saves. The Twins will counteract with Brian Duensing in game 1. Duensing has started just 9 games in the regular season and finished with a 5-2 record and 3.64 ERA. Minnesota also has Scott Baker (15-9, 4.37) and Carl Pavano (14-12, 5.10) in their rotation, and big-time closer Joe Nathan, who was 2nd in the AL in saves with 47.

My pick: Yankees All bias aside, how could I not chose New York in this one? When talking about momentum, both teams have it; but the Yankees take the cake when considering everything else. Not only have the Twins lost to the Yankees every time this season, but they also have not won in Yankee Stadium (new or old) since July 4, 2007. Minnesota will be dragging in game 1 after the 12 inning dramatics last night with travel added on. Joe Mauer is a big help for the club as reigning MLB batting leader. However, Minnesota offense will need more help than that against a New York offense that includes Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez (who just recently had a record 7 RBI in 1 inning). Not to mention guys up and down the line-up that can get hot and produce anytime. I don’t want to bank on a sweep, but I do think the Bronx Bombers will be a shoe-in to the ALCS.

NLDS Preview and Predictions

Cardinals vs. Dodgers:

Head-to-Head: In the regular season, St. Louis took 5 of the 7 games against LA. The Cardinals won the NL Central with a 91-71 record, 7.5 games up from the second place team. The Dodgers took the NL West , finishing 95-67 with a three game lead.

On the Mound: Postseason is all about pitching. St. Louis is throwing NL Comeback Player of the Year Chris Carpenter in game 1. Carpenter ended the regular season with a 17-4 record and 2.24 ERA, which made him the NL leader in ERA and 2nd most in wins. Joe Torre is sending Randy Wolf to oppose Carpenter. Wolf had an 11-7 regular season record with a 3.23 ERA.

My pick: Cardinals: One of the biggest factors in postseason performance is momentum, and that factor is leaning heavily in favor of St. Louis. First of all, Pujols and the boys are quite familiar with the playoffs. Just four years ago they took the NL Central and NL pennants, followed by the club’s 10th World Series win. While the Dodgers are used to winning the NL West, in recent years, they haven’t seen much postseason play. And if they keep playing like they have in the end the regular season, things aren’t looking too good. The Dodgers won just 4 of their last 10 games, including series losses to Pittsburgh and San Diego – both sub .500 teams. LA is also going to have a lot of trouble with the Cards’ pitching staff. Not only will they have to face Carpenter, but Wainwright will prove troublesome on the mound, too. The tall righty had 19 wins against 8 losses and a 2.63 ERA. He also finished 4th in the NL with 212 strikeouts.


Rockies vs. Phillies:

Head-to-Head: Philadelphia took the season series against Colorado 2 games to 4. The Phillies won the NL East 6 games up with a 93-70 record. The Rockies had a similar record at 92-70 and slid into a playoff spot by winning the Wild Card race.

On the Mound: In game 1, the pitching matchup isn’t anything too remarkable. The Rockies are sending Ubaldo Jimenez, who went 15-12 with a 3.47 ERA, to the mound. The Phillies are starting Cliff Lee, who has struggled after his Cy Young/All-Star 2008 season with the Indians, when he was also named AL Comeback Player of the Year. But Lee has a lot to comeback from after his 2009 record of 14-13, although is ERA is at 3.22. Philadelphia fills out the rest of their rotation with names like Hamels, Happ and Blanton who all were on the World Series winning roster a year ago. They also have Pedro Martinez, a post-season veteran while in Boston. In 9 starts, Pedro is 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA. The Rockies have Cook, Marquis, DeLaRosa, Hammel and their own post-season vet Contreras to fill out their rotation.

My pick: Rockies: I am a firm believer that “the numbers don’t lie” and love to crunch stats, but although the numbers are leading towards Philadelphia in this matchup, I have to go with Colorado. I think I’m going to have some déjà vu in this series. Like the 2007 Rockies clinched the Wild Card and swept the Phillies in the Division Series to go on into the World Series…well, I don’t think it will be exactly the same this season, but a similar start. It will be a close match, but Colorado will prevail. Plus, the Rockies get my award for best postseason slogan: “Rocktober.”


Stay tuned for my ALDS predictions after the completion of the Twins-Tigers tiebreaker.

5 Reasons to Love Fall:

It’s official. I know the actual first day of autumn is in September, but now that it is October, fall is undoubtedly upon us (especially in terms of weather…brrr cold and rainy the past few days!) Keep reading for five reasons why the beginning of this season is so great.

1. Football, football, football. Need I say more? Both college and pro football is really underway now. The excitement builds at the end of summer as the seasons get started, but now that they are a few weeks in, the drama really starts to unfold and things begin to get interesting. Farve is going for a record on Monday night (the first QB to ever beat all 32 NFL teams) as he faces his former Packers; Tebow is out of the hospital, getting a lot better and might actually be starting this week as the Gators take on LSU; and that’s just two of the many storylines shaping the 2009 football season thus far.

2. Playoff Baseball. Any baseball is terrific in my book – and I mean any, even Little League. But we get the cream of the crop as October begins pennant races in the MLB. My Yanks clinched the AL East in their 100th win this season by sweeping Boston and were the first to secure a playoff spot. Although the playoff races don’t seem quite as tight this season as in the past, there are still races heating up, like in the AL Central. Nothing beats the crack of a bat on a crisp autumn night when the entire season’s on the line. (I’ll have my post-season predictions when the regular season comes to a close…)

3. Gotta Love Fall Fashion. Even though it’s not too wonderful that the weather’s getting colder, it still isn’t unbearable. I love this time of year when I can throw on a pair of jeans, a cute sweater and some boots. It is so easy to be comfy-casual and still look cute this time of year. Once that wind blows cold with snow, I give up and just bundle up in layers of sweats, half the time looking like I just rolled out of bed right before class. But for now, I have a month or so before I get to that point.

4. Harvest Time. Who doesn’t love being in the country this time of year, taking a drive, seeing all the colorful foliage and crisp cornstalks blowing in the wind. Plus picking pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and, my favorite, apples! There’s nothing better than warm spiced cider, apple cider donuts or a warm apple crisp. Not to mention the thought of delicious pumpkin pie to come. Fall is a treat for the eyes and the tongue.

5. Television Season Premiers. All I can say is, “Grey’s is back!” Since the weather is cooling down at night, I love coming home, making dinner and then relaxing with some great primetime television. Most sports are on the weekend, so during the week I can now enjoy the return of Grey’s Anatomy, Project Runway, The Office, The Hills and four great, new, hilarious shows on ABC Wednesday nights. Modern Family and Cougar Town are so funny! I recommend checking them out Wednesday at 9:00 and 9:30!

SportsCorner Pick 'Em

Check me out on the Pick 'Em segment of TV2's SportsCorner from Tuesday night:

Top Ten Favorite Kids Movies (continued)

5. The Neverending Story- Even though this movie came out a few years before my time, I still remember loving it when I was a kid. A troubled boy finds a book that implants him into a world of fantasy and wonder. This one is full of all the things that make a movie great: drama, intrigue, suspense, laughter, adventure and learning. Plus, great characters (or creatures) like the racing snail and Gmork. And I can’t forget to mention the one character that still sticks in my mind, Falkor, the friendly dragon that I still think looks more like a flying dog.

4. E.T. the Extraterrestrial- An obvious classic, I have to admit that I was terrified of E.T. when I was younger. Even though I used to only watch the movie by hiding under a blanket whenever E.T. was on screen, it has since grown on me and it never gets old. From the cinematic masterpiece of the bike ride in front of the moon to the unforgettable line ”E.T. phone home”, Reeces pieces definitely became my favorite candy because of good old E.T.

3. The Mighty Ducks, all three- C’mon, who can forget the flying v?! These movies take the cake for the best characters. Gordon Bombay, Hans, Charlie Conway, Goldberg, Connie, Germaine and my favorite, Averman, and that’s only the start! Fulton Reed, Adam Banks, Julie “the cat” Gaffney, Dean Portman, Dwayne Robertson, the “bash brothers”, and so many, many more. So many great plays and great lines, like it’s knucklepuck time! Perfection.

2. The Sandlot- Many have uttered, “You’re killing me smalls,” yet don’t know this movie is to thank for that saying. It also taught us put downs after put downs, including the ultimate ”You play ball like a girl!”. The whole gang is memorable, from Smalls to Ham to Squints to Yeah-Yeah, and I still have a crush on Benny. The classic kids’ baseball movie naturally sits high on my list. It taught friendship, perseverance and never giving up. And The Babe taught us all a lesson that we can still abide by, “Remember kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die. Follow your heart, kid, and you’ll never go wrong.”

1. The Goonies- ”Hey you guuuyssss!!” This one is an easy favorite. Take a bunch of misfit kids trying to save their homes, a treasure map from 1632, the legend of One Eyed Willy and his treasure and murderous villains on their tail and we’re just getting started. Add in innocent romance, grand adventure and the truffle shuffle and you’re really in business. Not to mention, distinct characters like Mikey, Brand (aka a mid-80’s Josh Brolin!), Chunk, Mouth, Data, Andy, the Fratellis and the monster everybody loves, Sloth. And did I mention Steven Spielberg directed??! “The Goonies” is #1 in my book when it comes to kids movies. This is one that never gets old.

Top Ten Favorite Kids Movies

Last night, TBS treated the nation to “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Goonies” back-to-back….such a treat! Really made me reminisce of some of my favorite movies growing up. So, without further ado, here’s my top ten:

10. Life Size- (shout-out to my sisters) No list is complete without a Disney Channel movie, and 2000’s “Life Size” makes the list. How could you not love Lindsay Lohan before she was an alcoholic, drug-loving lesbian? And in this one, she is a motherless girl who accidently brings her doll to life when trying to resurrect her dead mother. None other than Tyra Banks plays the roll of the life-sized doll. Plus, this one wins the award for best theme song.

9. Black Beauty- It seems every little girl has an obsession with horses at one point, and I was no exception. Hence, I was obsessed with Anna Sewell’s classic alive on the big screen. From the heart-pumping suspense of Beauty getting his owners home safe in the storm to the heart-wrenching moment when Beauty finds his beloved dead. A great drama for the young and old alike.

8. Teeange Mutant Ninja Turtles, I and II- I started saying, “’Bunga Dude!” when I was three (trust me, we have it on home video). This quartet was huge back in the day. Even though I was scared of Shredder and both his monsters in the second film, “The Secret of the Ooze”, I still couldn’t get enough of these pizza-loving teenagers. Add in a little Vanilla Ice and all I can say is, “Go ninja, go ninja, go!

7. Little Giants- As a tomboy, I idolized Becky “the Icebox” O’Shea. I loved the way she hung with the boys and kicked butt. Not to mention the innocent eye candy of Devon Sawa. Add in a underdog-wins-it-all storyline, lots of laughs and a cast including Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neill complete with cameos with NFL stars John Madden, Bruce Smith, Emmitt Smith, Steve Emtman and Tim Brown and you’re set.

6. Rookie of the Year- This movie made every little leaguer’s dream come true. When Henry breaks his arm and it heals oddly, it gives him the ability to be good enough to get him a spot on the Chicago Cubs’ roster. Of course, Henry goes on to pitch his club into the playoffs while having to overcome adversity to do so. This one is also filled with laughs, mostly from the unforgettable pitching coach Phil Brickma. Let’s play some ball!.

Check in tomorrow for my top 5 as the countdown continues…. ☺

Next Kent State Pro-Bowler: Julian Edelman

…Well, that’s if he keeps at the same pace he started his professional career.

Kent State’s three-year starting quarterback is proving he’s pro material so far in his first year as a New England Patriot. The California native kept his spot on the roster during the preseason with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Pat’s opener versus the Eagles. On top of that, he also had five receptions for 37 yards. Not too bad for the former Mid-American Conference player in his first professional game – that was shown on national television.

But, preseason is just that, the preseason. It doesn’t really have any sway on the regular season, when play really matters. Did this stop Edelman? No way. Just say “thank you, Wes Welker.”

With the Patriots big-time, big-name receiver sidelined with an injury in week 2, the spotlight was on Edelman.

But before we get there, let’s take a look at Edelman’s collegiate career. He was none too shy to take over a game and make big plays. In his senior year, Edelman led the team with 26 touchdowns (13 passing, 13 receiving) and was the leading passer and rusher on the team. He garnered two MAC offensive player of the week honors in his 2008 campaign. That same year he also broke the Kent State record with 3,190 total yards in the season.

New England liked these numbers… but not for a backup for Tom Brady. Edelman was drafted in the 7^th round in 2009 by the Pats to be used as a wide receiver and punt returner. He proved his worth during the preseason returning punts and had his chance in week 2 of the regular season to show what he could do as a receiver.

They don’t call him a mini Wes Welker for nothing. Filling in for Welker, Edelman became a Brady-favorite, catching eight passes for a team-leading 98 yards. He also had two kickoff returns, averaging 19.5 yards. Coach Belicheck couldn’t be anything but happy with these numbers from his fill-in rookie.

Edelman showed a lot of promise in his pro debut. But how does he compare to the most recent Kent State pro-bowlers? Let’s take a look.

An easy, automatic comparison is the Cleveland Brown’s Josh Cribbs. Cribbs was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Golden Flashes and ended his career with his name on top in the KSU record books for career attempts, completions, passing yards, total yards and touchdowns. Not to mention, twice he had 1,000 passing AND rushing yards in a season.

Comparing Kent State careers, Cribbs gets the nod above Edelman. However, when Cribbs saw the field for the Browns in his first game (also drafted as a receiver/returner), he had just one reception for five yards and a fumble.

Kent Stater Antonio Gates never saw the gridiron as a Flash; he ruled the hardwood. In his first game playing tight end in the pros, he didn’t touch pigskin. It wasn’t until the 4^th game of his rookie season that he had two receptions for 30 yards. He ended that season with 24 catches for 389 yards, averaging 16.2 yards a grab.

Although he is a defensive player, James Harrison still can’t boast the numbers Edelman had in his first game. Harrison played in just one preseason game in his first season with the Steelers. In his first regular season game with Pittsburgh, he had three tackles. Last year, he was the NFL’s defensive player of the year.

Clearly, Cribbs, Gates and Harrison don’t compare to Edelman when it comes to professional debut performances. But, the former three all have a few more seasons and a Pro Bowl appearance under their belt. Is Edelman the next former Kent State player to earn a trip to Hawaii?

If he keeps going like this, I sure think so.

Just getting started...

Thought it was about time to start a blog. It's a good thing to have as a journalist and a little something to pad on to my resume. :)

More to come soon once I get some ideas and get some time to research and write!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with some lyrics....Matt Nathanson, check him out!:

"All we are, we are

All we are, we are

And every day is the start of something beautiful..."