The road to Dallas begins tomorrow. 12 Teams all chasing the Lombardi Trophy.
AFC
New England Patriots- It would be crazy to bet against this Bill Belichick football team. They are playing great offense. Brady has been perfect this season, Special teams are scoring and playing well and their young defense is playing at a championship level. With home field advantage up in Foxbough Mass. They are clearly my favorite to win it all.
Pittsburgh Steelers- Strong threw the air, power running offense and a healthy Troy Pallumalo, smells like a steelers teams poised to make another
Indianapolis Colts- Are on the fence, between being a contender or being a mediocre team that just barley coasted into the playoffs. Riding a 4 game win streak, the Colts are entering this post season a complete underdog, when they are 11 points away from being 14-2. The Colts lost IN Foxborough against the pats by one throw. one drop against dallas. one throw against Philly. and one 61 yard field goal against the Jags. Maybe its bad luck, maybe its not being able to overcome the injurys, maybe Peyton’s lost it since the pic in last years superbowl. Or maybe... Just maybe. They are getting hot and healthy and peaking at the right time..
Kanas City Chiefs- Winning a sloppy divison and being side tracked by Charlie Weis leaving for Florida offence coord job, is there any reason to believe they are a real team?
5.Baltimore Ravens- Joe Flaco, Ray Rice, Ray Lewis, John Harbaugh and co. feel like a team to beat, but can they win on the road against KC, then in NE?
6.New York Jets- Rex Ryan shocked the world last year when upsetting Cincinnati and the Chargers while falling short against Indianapolis in last years playoffs. Their defense isnt as dominate, their offense is off and on. And will need a big day out of RB Ladanian Tomlinson and KR/PR Brad Smith in order to knock off the Colts at home where they are 21-5 ( one loss coming from the Curtis Painter Game against the jets) and 2-0 in the postseason.
NFC
Atlanta Falcons- The Matt Ryan lead offense has done nothing but win games and having Home Field throughout playoffs should really help the young Falcons
Chicago Bears- The monsters of the Midway returned in a big way this season, leading the NFL in defense for the majority of the season. A healthy Urlacher, a excited, confident return man in Devin Hester and a offense that looks like that found their identity are going to have to win a tough 2nd week matchup against a hot Packers team, or the Mike Vick lead Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles- Mike Vick and the philly offense looked untouchable until humbled by the injury depleted, 6-10 Vikings. The question I am wondering is, did the Vikings find the answer or was it just a bad game for the Eagles, we will find out this weekend when they play the young hot Green Bay Packers.
Seattle Seahawks- Going 7-9 and winning the worst division in football has Pete Carroll and his Hawks hosting a playoff game against the injured New Orleans Saints. If there is one thing Pete Carroll is great at, its getting his players ready and motivated for big games.
New Orleans Saints- With injuries and the media telling them they might as well rest their starters and vegas giving them -10 over the Seahawks, i can smell an upset if Seattle jumps out an early start.
Green Bay Packers- Aaron Rogers and the Packers defense are getting healthy and hot for this first time this season at a great time. They will face the Eagles against Mike Vick and the Philly crowd, hopefully they avoid another tragic loss in the postseason like last year against the Cards.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Heart of a Champion
12-25-10
Today as I got the opportunity to relax and hangout with my brother and best friend Curtis Washington due to him getting 2 days off from Ball at USC I began to wonder, what I could say or do, to help describe to him, what kind of drive he will need to make it to the next level of Ball the NBA. We were watching the Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers and my friend Thomas was dogging Lebron by saying " He could never amount to MJ due to the fact, if he won 6 championships he would always be known for "joining" Wades team in order to do so." That opinon help spark this idea in my head, that its not just about Winning Championships, or trying to become the greatest of all time, or even trying to be the best player on your team. It is truly about working everyday, as hard as you can. to become the best YOU can do and never being satisfied, always being hungry to never accept 2nd place. Its about giving everything you got, then spitting blood to give more. its about knowing what gifts you have been blessed with and learning to play the game with the pride and determination that you should yourself in EVERY aspect of your life. MJ wasn't the best because he won 6 championships. He was the best for refusing to lose. He lead by example, giving everything he had night in and night on and still refusing to accept that as his best. He resized that he couldn't accomplish what HE wanted or be the BEST that he could be without team work and taking the same approach with his team as he did within himself. demanding perfection, and nothing less.. Jordan once said.
'There are plenty of teams in every sport that have great players and
never win titles. Most of the time, those players aren't willing to
sacrifice for the greater good of the team. The funny thing is, in
the end, their unwillingness to sacrifice only makes individual
goals more difficult to achieve. One thing I believe to the fullest
is that if you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades
will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and
intelligence win championships.”
He discovered, that he couldn't be the best by just doing what he could with his God given talent but he had to take it to the next level. Sacrifice what ever he had left to accomplish being the best that HE could ever do. Lebron isn't as good as Michael Jordan not because of lack of talent, or personal determination, the mistake was he wanted to be as good as MJ to live up that expectation. That is settling for 2nd place, to try and be as good as someone else, is irrelevant.
To have the Heart of the Champion takes more then having the talent or desire. Its being the best that you can on and off the court whether people are watching or not. Giving it all every free throw , every warm up, every practice and every game. Dreams are Just dreams until YOU do something to change it. The most important thing is when you look back at your life, instead of saying maybe I could have, or I should have, you get to look back and say I gave everything I had. Maybe it was enough maybe it wasnt. But NEVER leave anything back, live in the now. But Most importantly, Never underestimate
The heart of a champion.
'I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” -Michael Jordan
Today as I got the opportunity to relax and hangout with my brother and best friend Curtis Washington due to him getting 2 days off from Ball at USC
'There are plenty of teams in every sport that have great players and
never win titles. Most of the time, those players aren't willing to
sacrifice for the greater good of the team. The funny thing is, in
the end, their unwillingness to sacrifice only makes individual
goals more difficult to achieve. One thing I believe to the fullest
is that if you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades
will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and
intelligence win championships.”
He discovered, that he couldn't be the best by just doing what he could with his God given talent but he had to take it to the next level. Sacrifice what ever he had left to accomplish being the best that HE could ever do. Lebron isn't as good as Michael Jordan not because of lack of talent, or personal determination, the mistake was he wanted to be as good as MJ to live up that expectation. That is settling for 2nd place, to try and be as good as someone else, is irrelevant.
To have the Heart of the Champion takes more then having the talent or desire. Its being the best that you can on and off the court whether people are watching or not. Giving it all every free throw , every warm up, every practice and every game. Dreams are Just dreams until YOU do something to change it. The most important thing is when you look back at your life, instead of saying maybe I could have, or I should have, you get to look back and say I gave everything I had. Maybe it was enough maybe it wasnt. But NEVER leave anything back, live in the now. But Most importantly, Never underestimate
The heart of a champion.
'I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” -Michael Jordan
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
NCAA Expansion WHY?
In response to recent conversations about NCAA Div 1 basketball Tournament Expansion from 64 teams to 96 I figured I need to voice my opinion on the matter.
Did anyone watch this years tournament? Was it not one of the most entertaining with the most OT games and the national championship coming down to the last shot with a Horizon League. school vs a Power house from the \ The Argument is well if a Mid Major school like Butler can make the National Championship then why couldn't some 2 and 3rd place finishers in other conferences also compete against the top competition. Let me shoot this down with two facts.
First Round(power vs Auto bids)
Duke 73 - Arkansas-Pine-Bluff- 44
Kansas 90 - Lehigh 74
Syracuse 79 - Vermont 56
Kentucky 100 - East Tennessee State 71
In all of those games, the power school could have ran the score even higher.. Having the smaller schools against power houses isn't a solution it will just cause me to wait to fill my bracket out when it gets to 64 teams again.
My other reason against the gives the Cinderella more of a chance is the fact that when it comes down to it, do you think that its going to be the smaller schools getting the automatic bid or lesser power conference schools with money getting in. Illinois, Virginia Tech, Michigan, South Carolina from power conferences like the ACC Big Ten and SEC or the little schools Cleavland State, Princeton,TCU, or Utah (Horizon League, Ivy League, and Mountain West conference.) The truth is, all it would accomplish is more money for the power conference teams.
Another reason that the NCAA is exploring this is to give us more Cinderellas but I would love to take this time to point out that Butler was ranked 11th Pre-Season and has been in the NCAA tournament 5 of the 10 years and sweet 16 in 3 of those seasons. There are a mid major team that has earned the right to be placed into the tournament and have been consistently good this past decade. Its teams like George Mason in 05-06 season, who deserve the Cinderella title while teams like Gonzaga,Butler, and Xavier who are consistently in the Sweet 16 or better that should be considered in with the big dogs, and I think they will be from now on.
If the NCAA follows through with this nonsense, those teams may have never got the chance to earn their sports as contenders and mentioned with some of the best teams. They earned it by winning when it mattered EVERY Div 1 school has that same opportunity, its capturing it and making a tournament run that makes the field of 64 the most exciting thing in sports for fans and players. I personally will not be setting my schedule around the tournament in the field of 96 nor should anyone else, it would run into mid April which is just utterly ridiculous. There is absolutely no reason to fix what isn't broken except to fill the pockets with a bigger budget to presidents of power conferences.
-Jake McCleerey
Did anyone watch this years tournament? Was it not one of the most entertaining with the most OT games and the national championship coming down to the last shot with a Horizon League. school vs a Power house from the \ The Argument is well if a Mid Major school like Butler can make the National Championship then why couldn't some 2 and 3rd place finishers in other conferences also compete against the top competition. Let me shoot this down with two facts.
First Round(power vs Auto bids)
Duke 73 - Arkansas-Pine-Bluff- 44
Kansas 90 - Lehigh 74
Syracuse 79 - Vermont 56
Kentucky 100 - East Tennessee State 71
In all of those games, the power school could have ran the score even higher.. Having the smaller schools against power houses isn't a solution it will just cause me to wait to fill my bracket out when it gets to 64 teams again.
My other reason against the gives the Cinderella more of a chance is the fact that when it comes down to it, do you think that its going to be the smaller schools getting the automatic bid or lesser power conference schools with money getting in. Illinois, Virginia Tech, Michigan, South Carolina from power conferences like the ACC Big Ten and SEC or the little schools Cleavland State, Princeton,TCU, or Utah (Horizon League, Ivy League, and Mountain West conference.) The truth is, all it would accomplish is more money for the power conference teams.
Another reason that the NCAA is exploring this is to give us more Cinderellas but I would love to take this time to point out that Butler was ranked 11th Pre-Season and has been in the NCAA tournament 5 of the 10 years and sweet 16 in 3 of those seasons. There are a mid major team that has earned the right to be placed into the tournament and have been consistently good this past decade. Its teams like George Mason in 05-06 season, who deserve the Cinderella title while teams like Gonzaga,Butler, and Xavier who are consistently in the Sweet 16 or better that should be considered in with the big dogs, and I think they will be from now on.
If the NCAA follows through with this nonsense, those teams may have never got the chance to earn their sports as contenders and mentioned with some of the best teams. They earned it by winning when it mattered EVERY Div 1 school has that same opportunity, its capturing it and making a tournament run that makes the field of 64 the most exciting thing in sports for fans and players. I personally will not be setting my schedule around the tournament in the field of 96 nor should anyone else, it would run into mid April which is just utterly ridiculous. There is absolutely no reason to fix what isn't broken except to fill the pockets with a bigger budget to presidents of power conferences.
-Jake McCleerey
Monday, January 4, 2010
My Top 10 Sports Moments of the Decade!
1. The 2007-2008 Boston Celtics win NBA championship.
-What started with one of the most dominate off-seasons in NBA history, the Boston Celtics managed to put together one of the greatest, most determined teams in the History of the sport. They brought in veteran PF Kevin Garnett who's resume was only missing a championship ring and SG Ray Allen, a vet looking to end his astonishing career with a championship. The team did not disappoint, winning 41 of their first 50 and finishing the regular season 66-16. But a team consisting of 3 extremely motivated fascinating veterans in Paul Pierce KG and Ray Allen were not concerned with that, they had one goal and it showed on the court. During the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs winning in 7 games the Hawks, the Celtics showed their dominance but couldn't seem to come together on the road losing all 3. Which took the Celtics to play King James and Co. Boston came out as they had all year in Boston, winning the first too, but continued to struggle on the road, the series went to game 7 in Boston. Where in my mind the true team came out. Paul Pierce came out and challenged LBJ and scored 41 to lift the Celtics to the conference finals. After beating the Pistons the lights were on it was time to shine. Lakers vs Celtics, a rivalry reuined. a media heaven, Kobe vs the Vets. Boston came out as they had in all the previous series...A win in Boston. and with a 2-0 lead Boston showed how determined they really were, but once again they struggled on the road losing to LA in game 3. but with an amazing performance in game 4 down 14-35 they came to back to beat the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Celtics suffered a game 5loss to LA and the series was coming back to Boston, up 3-2 in the series and a 35-49 lead at the 1/2 chants of BEAT LA, BEAT LA echoed at the Garden even with the game 5 loss, everyone knew.....even the Lakers knew....That the series would be ending in Boston.
2.
-What started with one of the most dominate off-seasons in NBA history, the Boston Celtics managed to put together one of the greatest, most determined teams in the History of the sport. They brought in veteran PF Kevin Garnett who's resume was only missing a championship ring and SG Ray Allen, a vet looking to end his astonishing career with a championship. The team did not disappoint, winning 41 of their first 50 and finishing the regular season 66-16. But a team consisting of 3 extremely motivated fascinating veterans in Paul Pierce KG and Ray Allen were not concerned with that, they had one goal and it showed on the court. During the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs winning in 7 games the Hawks, the Celtics showed their dominance but couldn't seem to come together on the road losing all 3. Which took the Celtics to play King James and Co. Boston came out as they had all year in Boston, winning the first too, but continued to struggle on the road, the series went to game 7 in Boston. Where in my mind the true team came out. Paul Pierce came out and challenged LBJ and scored 41 to lift the Celtics to the conference finals. After beating the Pistons the lights were on it was time to shine. Lakers vs Celtics, a rivalry reuined. a media heaven, Kobe vs the Vets. Boston came out as they had in all the previous series...A win in Boston. and with a 2-0 lead Boston showed how determined they really were, but once again they struggled on the road losing to LA in game 3. but with an amazing performance in game 4 down 14-35 they came to back to beat the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Celtics suffered a game 5loss to LA and the series was coming back to Boston, up 3-2 in the series and a 35-49 lead at the 1/2 chants of BEAT LA, BEAT LA echoed at the Garden even with the game 5 loss, everyone knew.....even the Lakers knew....That the series would be ending in Boston.
2.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Colts fans! is it time to panic? or time to put our faith in Peyton Manning.
This off season has brought an unusual feeling to the city of Indianapolis, Coaching moves, hall of famers jumping ship, this season is going to be the biggest test of the last decade to our QB, our Coaches , our Franchise, and our fans.
On January 12th our future HOF coach Tony Dungy announced that his time coaching in the NFL was complete and that he was going to be leaving us. We bounced back with the immediate announcement of Jim Caldwell.
In February, we lost future HOF WR Marvin Harrison due to salary cap issues, its sad but he just wasn't worth the 11 million left on his contract.
In April we drafedt RB Donald Brown in the 1st round, the leading NCAA rusher of 2008. We also were able to get 2 big and strong DT's whom I have extreme confidence in. I think that over the years that Bill Polian. deserves the benefit of the doubt during draft day, and the decison making of any personal changes.
In my opinion its not going to be a time for panic nor to just pass this off as no big deal, the biggest changes wont show until someone is calling the plays into Peyton with a unfamiliar, and a unproven resume when it comes down to that 4th and 1 against the Patriots in January. Things will never be the same in Indy, but I'm a firm believer that this is going to be a great and one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history.
On January 12th our future HOF coach Tony Dungy announced that his time coaching in the NFL was complete and that he was going to be leaving us. We bounced back with the immediate announcement of Jim Caldwell.
In February, we lost future HOF WR Marvin Harrison due to salary cap issues, its sad but he just wasn't worth the 11 million left on his contract.
In April we drafedt RB Donald Brown in the 1st round, the leading NCAA rusher of 2008. We also were able to get 2 big and strong DT's whom I have extreme confidence in. I think that over the years that Bill Polian. deserves the benefit of the doubt during draft day, and the decison making of any personal changes.
In my opinion its not going to be a time for panic nor to just pass this off as no big deal, the biggest changes wont show until someone is calling the plays into Peyton with a unfamiliar, and a unproven resume when it comes down to that 4th and 1 against the Patriots in January. Things will never be the same in Indy, but I'm a firm believer that this is going to be a great and one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Life on my own isn't all gravy.
I moved out of the house on Sunday with the highest of hopes and great ideas. On that Monday I filled out some online applications, watched some ESPN a pretty easy night. At around 10:30 John Baker comes up to me and says Tom called, he left your lights on go and give him a jump so I start my adventure trying to get around West Lafayette not knowing where I was going about 20 minutes after driving around I ended up at the Movie Theater (where Thomas works) only to find out he didn't need me. So i drive back around, once again lost as all can be takes me about 20 minutes to get back. Well when I wake up the next morning, I notice my car wasn't in the drive way, so my thought was just automatically o-my-god. Thomas and I drove out there to try and get it to work. Thomas thought it was the alternator, but I refused to believe that. After messing around with it for 30 minutes we are getting ready to call it quits, I say lets just try my cables for shits and giggles. It started. So Thomas and I then went to lunch with John, then Thomas and I went to register for classes and all of that jazz. Then we went job searching, we went to probably close to 15-20 places. As we were leaving the mall I realised my wallet was no longer in my pocket, which just made no sense to me. I have had the same wallet since I was 11, and I have never in my life, actually lost something for more then an hour. The worst part was the fact that I had ever single dollar I brought up with me, my drivers license, and my checks. I now live up north with not a dime, a laptop that cannot for some mysterious reason connect to the Internet. Fortunately for me I have pretty much the greatest friends. I'll get through this, but damn does it suck.
JAM
JAM
Monday, June 1, 2009
NBA Finals Preview
With all the hype of Lebron vs Kobe, we ended up with the red hot Magic taking on the experienced LA Lakers.
In Orlando the fans couldn't be more excited, They were the underdogs, who came out and crushed the unbeaten force called the Cleavland Cavilers, but on the other hand Laker fans will be disappointed with anything but another banner in LA.
But whats on the line for Kobe is more then anything else in this upcoming series. Kobe wants to be named with names like Russel, Chamberlain, Johnson, Kareem, Jordan, and Shaq. But with back to back finals losses, his name will be forever tainted and the one who couldn't get it done without 4 time NBA champion Shaquelle O'Neal.
But even with all these subplots the game comes down to coaching and whomever has the better players, and in both situations, the edge goes to the Lakers. With Phil Jackson at the helm, I don't see a situation in which the Magic win a game in LA plus ALL 3 in Orlando. Am I counting the magic out? heavens no, as Superman has shown, he will not go down until you make him. but my prediction, Lakers in 6.
JAM
In Orlando the fans couldn't be more excited, They were the underdogs, who came out and crushed the unbeaten force called the Cleavland Cavilers, but on the other hand Laker fans will be disappointed with anything but another banner in LA.
But whats on the line for Kobe is more then anything else in this upcoming series. Kobe wants to be named with names like Russel, Chamberlain, Johnson, Kareem, Jordan, and Shaq. But with back to back finals losses, his name will be forever tainted and the one who couldn't get it done without 4 time NBA champion Shaquelle O'Neal.
But even with all these subplots the game comes down to coaching and whomever has the better players, and in both situations, the edge goes to the Lakers. With Phil Jackson at the helm, I don't see a situation in which the Magic win a game in LA plus ALL 3 in Orlando. Am I counting the magic out? heavens no, as Superman has shown, he will not go down until you make him. but my prediction, Lakers in 6.
JAM
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