Review of Champions League Match Day One
The exciting encounter between AC Milan and Barcelona ended in a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou. Continue reading “Review of Champions League Match Day One”
Year: 2011
Quinton Rampage Jackson… and other UFC 135 notes
After last night’s fight between Rampage and Jones, I am sure there is a certain expectation that I write something in praise of Jon Jones as the future of MMA; I am taking a different path.
Continue reading “Quinton Rampage Jackson… and other UFC 135 notes”
Cedric Benson files an Unfair Labour Practice complaint against the NFL and NFLPA
The NFLPA apparently reached an agreement with the NFL stating that 8 players, including Benson could be suspended by the NFL for their actions during the lockout. The reasoning of the PA was that the NFL wanted to suspend a number of players who got in legal trouble during the lockout, so they compromised by only allowing repeat offenders to be disciplined.
This means that the NFL will be suspending Benson, and apparently, it’s going to be 3 games.
Benson’s arguments are as follows
1) The Union was decertified at the start of the lockout. There was no union during the lockout. He was not a member of the NFLPA when his actions took place and as such they have no right to negotiate any agreement which respects his rights, due to actions he had during the NFL lockout.
2) He was locked out by the NFL. He was not an employee of any NFL team, and therefore is not subject to the personal conduct policy of the league for any of his actions during the lockout. Legally his issues are between the state and himself. And the league has no right to ask him to adhere to a personal conduct policy at a time when they were not allowing him into NFL facilities to train, not paying him, etc…. He was not technically an employee when he was locked out, so he does not have to adhere to any personal conduct policy of the league at that time.
3) Benson is also complaining that he was not consulted on the NFLPA agreement that allows the league to suspend him and that basically the PA has sold him out to protect the other members without his consent. Obviously, this isn’t the way a Union is supposed to act, and they may be overstepping their authority.
Personally, at first glance, it would appear that that Benson has one hell of a case here, but its really impossible to know based only on media reported details.
Ten Things We Learned In College, Week 4
1. The AP voters couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer: LSU is your new #1
2. Speaking of LSU, Tyrann Mathieu is gonna make some NFL team very happy on draft day eventually. I’m hoping it’s my Giants. Continue reading “Ten Things We Learned In College, Week 4”
NHL Fantasy Strategy: Left Wing Lock
In Hockey, the Left Wing Lock is a defensive strategy designed to prevent 3 on 2 rushes against your team. The left winger drops back acting as a 3rd defenseman playing in a zone formation. In fantasy hockey, it means what it says, lock up your left wings….and do it early. Continue reading “NHL Fantasy Strategy: Left Wing Lock”
Week 3 Picks
CINCY -2.5 over San Fran – San Fran always gets respect because people always expect them to be good. They can’t pass the ball at all and even though they have looked decent through two games this season both games were at home. Now they go on the road against a team they won’t be able to establish the run against.
New England -7 over Buffalo – At 9 points this is a tough pick. But at 7 it is easy to take the Pats. They will give up tons of points to the Bills but I don’t see how Buffalo gets any stops at all.
NEW ORLEANS -4 over Houston – Tough game to pick. But Houston has beat Indy and Miami, I still don’t trust them.
New York Giants +9 over PHILLY – Nine points? Where does this come from? I don’t care how injured the Giants are. That is insane.
Miami +1 over CLEVELAND – At only one point this game is a stay away. But Miami needs a win to save the season.
Denver +6.5 over TENNESSEE – Too many points. Over reaction to week 2 for the Titans.
MINNESOTA +3 over Detroit – I will abandon the Vikings if they can’t pull this one-off. I have trouble picking McNabb but 90% of the public is taking Detroit so I don’t feel as bad. KC fell apart last week when Charles got hurt but before that it was a deceivingly close game.
Jacksonville +3.5 over CAROLINA – I have no idea.
Kansas City +14.5 over SAN DIEGO – Too many points, simple.
New York Jets -3 over OAKLAND – Never fun to take the road favorite but the Jets look like a great team and Oakland isn’t fooling me.
Baltimore -4 over ST LOUIS – Baltimore coming off a loss and St. Louis hasn’t clicked any game this season. Expected this line to be much higher.
Atlanta +1 over TAMPA BAY – Tampa hasn’t shown anything this year. Don’t understand this line at all.
SEATTLE +3.5 over Arizona – I understand Seattle is terrible but they haven’t played a home game yet. They are a different team at home and it is not like Arizona is good.
CHICAGO +3.5 over Green Bay – Chicago always seems to play well after they have a big loss.
INDY +10.5 over Pittsburgh – Too many points again. But I would never put money on Kerry Collins.
Washington +5.5 over DALLAS – Don’t like Dallas to beat any decent team with points.
Weeks 3, 4, and 5
Serie A – Week 3 Review
For those who bet on Serie A matches, Week 3 most likely proved problematic due to the surprising upsets that occurred over the weekend. SSC Napoli pummelled a rather slow AC Milan side 3-1 at the San Paolo with Serie A leading goal-scorer Edison Cavani bagging a hat-trick after Alberto Aquilani had given the Rossoneri the lead in the first half with a splendid header. Continue reading “Weeks 3, 4, and 5”
College Football Picks Week 4
San Diego State @ #22 Michigan: Brady Hoke’s old team vs. Brady Hoke’s new team. Out with the old, in with the new; I’ve got Michigan.
North Carolina @ #25 Georgia Tech: North Carolina is still in some degree of disarray after a season of NCAA violations and a midsummer coaching change. I’m taking the Ramblin’ Wreck From Georgia Tech.
F-Bomb – Favre to the Jets?
Earlier this week Bob Kravitz of Indystar.com suggested Brett Favre should be a target of the troubled Colts. The Colts are in trouble but there is no chance this happens. Why? I don’t know what Favre has in his plans but I do know that he isn’t a fool.
When Favre left Green Bay in 2007 he ended up picking the Jets for his comeback the following season. The Jets made the playoffs that season, but they also played the easiest schedule in the entire league according to advanced statistics. The following season he made his way to Minnesota. Another semi-successful season, but another season playing chumps – the 29th ranked schedule in the league.
I am not taking anything away from Favre, but he put himself in favorable positions. He is too smart to attempt a comeback to save this hopeless team.