Da Good Ol’ Boys Weekend Sentinel

From the Editor:

"Thank you for viewing our paper. If you enjoy, please subscribe! Da Good Ol' Boys (Gobs) write content throughout the week on sports, business, pop culture, and anything else they wanna write about. Frankly, they are going to write about whatever, and I'm just here for minor grammatical corrections. Gobs don't really check their work, and most of the time, they don't need to.

Kevin"

Good Ol' Boys Weekend Sentinel
The paper comes out weekly at noon on Saturday. It covers the happenings of the week before and preps us for what to expect this weekend. It doesn’t contain all of the blog posts from the week, but it gives a broad stroke of what the Gobs have been talking about.

Take a look!

End of the Week NFL Picks – Week Three

This is my first set of picks for week three of the NFL Season.  See if you agree or think I am crazy!  Enjoy!

Panthers 27 Jaguars 17
12.00 CBS Charlotte, North Carolina
 
Cam Newton makes more plays then his rookie counterpart Blaine Gabbert and the Panthers record their first win of the season.

Saints 34 Texans 31
12:00 CBS New Orleans, Louisiana
 
The Texans are almost there but they can’t get past a really good team like the Saints.  Drew Brees sets up the game winning field goal and the Saints go to 2-1.
 
Patriots 42 Bills 31
12:00 CBS Orchid Park, New York
 
The Bills are surprising a lot of people, myself included, but that will end this week.  The Pats are playing like they are on a mission to dominate every team in the league.  Tom Brady is a machine and shows it again against Buffalo.
 

Browns 21 Dolphins 17
12:00 CBS Cleveland, Ohio
 
Tony Sparano and the Dolphins need a win but will not find one in Cleveland.  Colt McCoy does just enough and the Miami offense still can’t get on track.
 
Titans 20 Broncos 14
12:00 CBS Nashville, Tennessee
 
The Broncos are a mess and Tennessee is coming off a huge win against the Ravens.  The Titans stay hot and the Tebow chants grow in Denver.
 
Eagles 24 Giants 14
12:00 FOX Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 
I have a funny feeling that Michael Vick plays after his concussion against the Falcons.  Vick plays and has success against an injury depleted Giants secondary.  Eli Manning also turns the ball over way too much and that will continue against the Eagles.
 
Lions 35 Vikings 20
12:00 FOX Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
The Lions are favored on the road against the Vikings.  Doesn’t happen often but there is good reason why they are.  Their offense stays hot and Minnesota and Donovan McNabb are left to keep looking for their first win.
 
49ers 26 Bengals 14
12:00 FOX Cincinnati, Ohio
 
The 49ers let one slip away against the Cowboys.  I like the way the Bengals are playing with all the youth on that team.  The youth will show this week and they will have to endure some more growing pains but the Bengals are on the right track. 

Jets 23 Raiders 7
3:05 CBS Oakland, California
 
The Jets are playing really good football and that will continue in Oakland.  Expect a rusty start because of the cross country flight, but then the Jets will pull away in the second half and cruise to a 3-0 start.
 
Chargers 38 Chiefs 10
3:05 CBS San Diego, California
 
There are few words to describe how bad the Chiefs are.  Horrendous is my favorite word to use.  The Chargers will destroy the Chiefs and Todd Haley’s future in Kansas City may be running out.

Ravens 31 Rams 17
3:05 CBS St. Louis, Missouri
 
The Ravens were shalacked by the Titans last week and I am sure John Harbaugh let his team hear about it all week in practice.  A lot of Ray Rice is expected and also look for a bounce back game from that vaunted Ravens defense.
 
Packers 28 Bears 13

3:15 FOX Chicago, Illinois
 
See Packers vs. Bears Late Week Report for summary of my prediction.
 
Cardinals 35 Seahawks 21
3:15 FOX Seattle, Washington
 
This is the home opener for the Seahawks and they will play hard for a little bit but this game will be all Cardinals.  Kolb to Fitzgerald, get used to hearing that those names because you will hear them all game.
 
Falcons 34 Buccaneers 14
3:15 FOX Tampa, Florida
 
The Falcons have momentum after their come from behind win against the Eagles and will take Tampa Bay out of it early.  Look for the Atlanta defense to make life tough for Josh Freeman and the Falcons to roll over the Bucs.
 
Steelers 20 Colts 10
7:20 NBC Indianapolis, Indiana
 
The Colts offense is like a high school offense with Kerry Collins running the show.  Look for that to continue this week against the Steelers.  Big Ben will be off a little but will still have enough to send the Colts to their first 0-3 start since 1998.
 
Redskins 17 Cowboys 14
7:30 ESPN Arlington, Texas
 
Will Tony Romo play or won’t he?  That is the big question around the Monday night showdown in Big D.  I say he doesn’t play and the Redskins sneak out of Dallas with a close win.

Matt

Brewers Clinch the Division!

Perfect Brewer game tonight.  I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect Brewer game than tonight.  What a great pitching performance by Yovani Gallardo.  Over ten strikeouts!  Almost 8 innings pitched!  What a wonderful performance to see.  And then for K-Rod and Axford to finish the game the way they did.  It was all tied up into the eighth inning.  

In the bottom of the 8^th inning, with Hart to bat, who would have thought he’d hit a double the way he did?  TPlush comes up to the plate.  I was expecting some sort of  ochocinco display,  or as typical as stevo in the sheen roast.  He walks.  What discipline!  Nobody out, game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 8^th inning, Ryan Braun at the plate.  Have you heard this story before?  3-run Home Run.  Geeet up, get outta here!  Gone! 

Axford pitches his 44^th save.  He ties the Brewers record for saves in a season.  40 saves in a row!!  And the Cards lose, so for the first time in 29 years, the Brewers have clinched the division.  Celebrations, champagne, screaming cheers.  With one out in the top of the ninth, the crowd went nuts.  The cheers weren’t for the closer about to make his record tying save.  Not at this moment.  They were cheering at the 3 Run Home Run that I believe Soriano hit in Chicago to put the Cubs ahead of the Cardinals in their equally strong pitchers duel.  1-1 in the 8^th for the Cubs game (before the dinger) as well.  

What a game.  What a season!  Now lets see if I can get TPlush to re-tweet this!

Kevin

The Good ol’ Boys (Gobs) on 5 Important Steps to Fantasy Football

Do you remember your first fantasy football league?  Who your big players were; and who the “champ” of the league was?  Your fond memories of those big players back then might be the high risk (via injury prone, old vets, etc.), starters on your team this year. 

I set my team in five steps.  

1.       (Annually)               I draft them.

      Every year I draft them.  I may purchase a magazine, or look up online rankings.  Before the draft, I input my personal favorites on the queue.  During the draft, I will weigh the best ranked available, against my personal favorites (usually I opt for next best ranked available.)

·         I try to stay ‘til the end, just to make sure nobody has to wait my full turn.

2.       (Weekly)                I pre-set them to their projections (highest points play).

I pre-set them to their projections. (highest points play)

Pretty self explanatory.

3.       (Weekly)                I compare the away teams’ defense (matchups).

I compare the away teams’ defense (matchups).

You can go off either ranking matchups, or your gut on this one.  Defenses are pretty easy to decide whether they will be good.  Inversely difficult defenses you might have to face.

4.       (Daily)                   I use a little judgment on the close calls. (constraint: small margin of point difference).

I use a little judgment on the close calls. ( constraint: small margin of point difference).

Pretty self explanatory.

5.        (Daily)                   I monitor, and make changes if necessary (injuries, weather conditions, gut feelings).

I monitor, and make changes if necessary (injuries, weather conditions, gut feelings)

Pretty self explanatory.

The time of the week on the daily and weekly is up to you.  I know how hectic work and personal life can be. 

Now, do I or don’t I play the Packer’s Defense this week?

Kevin

Operations 102: John Henry really did beat the machine! And he still would today…

Most people my age can’t recall a time before the internet. We were force fed new tech gadgets while watching Saturday morning cartoons, we sent our first email before we sent our first written letter, and Google is a part of our everyday vocabulary while our parents’ encyclopedias continue to be overlooked at our yearly garage sales (notice this article is posed on a blog). Today, society judges a school’s ability to teach the new generation of “Trekkies”… I mean techies, by the number of computers they have in the classroom. It’s no wonder why most of us 20-somethings are able to mercilessly outmatch the computer literacy of our 40 and 50 year old counterparts in the work force, and we wonder why there is an ever-growing need for people with trade skills.

As a result, we college grads choose to flaunt our analytical skills and our past experience in SAP and other AS 400 systems through our various internships. We ache as we watch paper continuously spew from the printer as we preach our sermon to a deaf audience promising a “green” future where trees are our friends. We call the operating systems currently, “archaic”, and yearn for automated processes complete with LCD screens and bar codes. We must have been absent the day our kindergarten teacher read to the class the story of the legendary battle between John Henry and the machine… it is a battle which continues still today.



What were we supposed to take away from the tale of John Henry? That a man could outlast a machine? No, we all know that’s not true. Perhaps that a machine has no heart and as such can never be trusted? No, that’s not it either… I would never give my W4 to a tax specialist using an abacus (I would probably go to www.taxrelaxer.com instead). So what should we take away from this story?

Now, I can almost be certain that when reading the story of John Henry, our kindergarten teacher didn’t touch on the R&D team that worked day and night drawing up blueprints and running tests to verify the capacity of the evil prospector’s new machine. I bet there was no mention of the maintenance team employed to perform cursory inspection, and the purchasing team they work with to order spare parts, which is why it didn’t seem important to bring up the time wasted on hold for customer support in India either. I hope I am making my point…



Fellow generation whiners – I mean “y-ers” – we all understand the need to deliver financial results to our stakeholders… or do we? Somehow, in our day-to-day tasks do we forget why we are there in the first place – to make $$$? Are we so focused on how we can streamline our processes by installing the Megatron 3000 Inventory Control System that we don’t take into consideration ROI? Or is it that we want to leave our mark? Do we want to lead the charge of some radical break-through so that our boss will have no choice but to take a demotion under our new desk?

Newsflash… very few of us work for companies that have a net-worth than that of the Megatron 3000. If you want to make a change, don’t focus on how you can leverage your computer savvy systems development experience with automated systems; instead, focus on how you make a change with the tools you have right in front of you – your team.



How much overhead costs are associated with developing a manual system? Slim to none… How often do manual systems breakdown due to a virus? Not once since the bubonic plague… How much training do you have to provide for someone to use a pen and to write on a production chart? None, that lesson was before the story of John Henry…

If you want to make a difference – don’t do more with less, do more with what you have. Develop your people to be aware of business results. Walk through the process with them… Ask questions, they most likely have the answers… Include them in the decision making process. I tried googling why our on-time delivery was so bad yesterday… I didn’t find results.

Nate

Packers vs. Bears Late Week Report

The Packers and the Bears are deep in preparation for a huge NFC North match-up on Sunday.  The Packers come into the game with a 2-0 record, after surviving a scary trip to Carolina in week two.  The Bears had a great game and victory in week one against the Falcons but came up short in New Orleans last week.  This game is big for both teams if only for the reason it is Packers v. Bears.  It is the oldest rivalry in the National Football League.  It harkens back to the days of Halas and Lambeau.  Great coaches like Lombardi, Ditka and Holmgren have coached in these games.  We are entering another golden age of the Packers and Bears rivalry with the emergence of Aaron Rodgers and the belief by the Chicago faithful that Jay Cutler will bring another Championship to Chicago.
 
This is the 183rd time the teams will play against each other and both teams come in a little dinged up.  For the Packers; Nick Collins, Frank Zombo, and Mike Neal have all been declared out for this game.  Collins is out for the season with a neck injury and will be place on Injured Reserve next week.  Zombo continues to rehab a scapula injury and is still a couple weeks away.  Mike Neal underwent knee surgery a week ago and will miss “significant time” as Mike McCarthy said last week.  Starting cornerback Tramon Williams and linebacker Vic So’oto both returned to practice in a limited compactly this week.    They are both expected to play on Sunday against the Bears.  Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson were both added to the injury report and did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday with a thigh and foot injury respectively.  Both are expected to practice Friday and play on Sunday.  Look for the Packers to run the ball more in this game and open some big holes against the Bears.  The defense should get a lot of pressure on a make shift offensive line like the Bears have.  Charlie Peprah will get the start for Nick Collins and should provide stability through this injury to Collins.

The Bears have suffered some major blows for early in the year.  They will be without first round draft pick and starting right tackle Gabe Carimi, who dislocated his knee in last week’s loss to the Saints.  They may also be without starting safeties Chris Harris, who missed last week’s game with a hamstring, and Major Wright, who suffered a head/neck injury against the Saints.  Look for the Bears to be more balanced on offense and relay on Matt Forte a lot against the Packers.  Their defense always plays Aaron Rodgers well and I expect that to continue, but can they stop James Starks and Ryan Grant?  If they can then it will be close, but if they can’t it could be a long afternoon for the Bears.

My prediction: I predict the Packers will control the line of scrimmage and control the game.  Cutler will get hit hard and often, and the Packers will leave Chicago on Sunday evening with a victory and a 3-0 record.     

Packers 28 Bears 13

Matt

Good Ol' Boys (GoB) Talk on Redemption

 

On the 5th hole.  Down by three strokes and you’ve just hit a water ball.  Some people take a mulligan and some people will let them.  I won’t take a water ball, I take the penalty.  It’s still a competition between Dan and Nate, but for me, it’s just turned into a round of redemption.  I’m not playing myself.  I’ve just given myself an opportunity to play the best game of redemption of my life. 

I’m down $200 gambling.  Call it a night.  Most people would.  Some people wouldn’t, and those that wouldn’t you have to be a little worried about.  Most people don’t rely so well on their gambling ability.  Take out $200 more, take a seat at the poker table, and turn this night, into a night; of redemption.

It’s a little bit after midnight, and you try to keep up with the fellas.  It’s not about you, it’s about the fellas.  Well the fellas are about 60 pounds heavier than you and you haven’t been goin’ easy on yourself.  The dance floor looks real good, and at this stage in the night, it really, really shouldn’t. 

Go to bed, you are obviously done for the night.  Or are you?  Put down your whiskey and coke, and pick up a red bull vodka.  You’ve just turned this night, from a night of loss, into the golden opportunity of redemption,

and nobody can take that away from you.

Kevin

My Ten Pack of College Football Picks for Week Four

North Carolina St. vs. Cincinnati Thursday, September 22 7:00

In a battle of 2-1 teams I think that Cincinnati’s running game is going to be the key. The Bear Cats can also score points and are averaging 51.3 points per game. The game is in Cincinnati and I expect them to make one or two more plays then the Wolfpack. Cincinnati 38 NC State 28

#15 Florida vs. Kentucky Saturday, September 24 7:00

Florida is on a roll, coming off a huge win against rival Tennessee. Going on the road in the SEC is tough and Florida will be challenged early against Kentucky but will prove to strong after half time. Expect a romp in Lexington. #15 Florida 44 Kentucky 14

#23 USC vs. Arizona St. Saturday, September 24 9:15

Arizona St. will come out with something to prove after letting one slip away against Illinois the week before but expect USC to weather the storm and make a big play late to seal the victory. Watch for both quarterbacks to have big days as well. #23 USC 27 Arizona St. 21

Colorado vs. Ohio St. Saturday, September 24 2:30

Ohio St got embarrassed last week at Miami and will look to take out their frustration on a Colorado team that got back on track last week against Colorado St. Because this game is at the Horseshoe in Columbus I am going with the Buckeyes but look for it to be closer than most think. Ohio St. 30 Colorado 24

#7 Oklahoma St. vs. #8 Texas A&M Saturday, September 24 2:30

This is the only game of the weekend to feature two top ten teams and it will be a dandy in College Station. Back and forth the two will go in an afternoon full of high scoring. The Aggies will pull it out in the end and defeat the Cowboys. #8 Texas A&M 45 Oklahoma St. 42

Western Michigan vs. #24 Illinois Saturday, September 24 2:30

Western Michigan is a good football team and Illinois is walking into a trap. Coming off an emotional win against Arizona St. and a week before the Big Ten schedule opens against Northwestern, the Illini will lost a tough one to the Broncos. Western Michigan 28 Illinois 24

#2 LSU vs. #16 West Virgina Saturday, September 24 7:00

On paper this game looks like it could be good but I expect a blowout. LSU is a great team and playing in Morgantown won’t faze them. Look for LSU to dominate from the start. #2 LSU 38 #16 West Virgina 14

#11 Florida St. vs. #21 Clemson Saturday, September 24 2:30

Florida St. feels they let one slip away against Oklahoma and will look to takes its vengeance out on the Tigers. Clemson got a huge win against Auburn last week and it due for a letdown against the Seminoles. #11 Florida St. 35 #21 Clemson 25

#14 Arkansas vs. #3 Alabama Saturday, September 24 2:30

Last year’s matchup between the Razorbacks and the Tide was great, with Alabama escaping with a 3 point win. This year will not be as close. The Tide will ride the home crowd and some unexpected Arkansas turnovers to an easy victory. #3 Alabama 28 #14 Arkansas 10

San Diego St. vs. #22 Michigan Saturday, September 24 11:00

Name this one the Brady Hoke Bowl. Hoke is going up against his former team and they know exactly how to play him. It will be back and forth at the Big House but Denard Robinson makes too many plays with his feet and Michigan survives a big scare from the Aztecs. #22 Michigan 38 San Diego St. 31

Matt

War is for the Dogs.

Imagine a time where the entire world was at war with each other. That is what life was like in the late 1930s and 1940s. Germany had invaded Poland and was at war with Great Britain. The fighting in Europe raged on for two years and then hit the United States with the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. America was thrust into the middle of the worldwide conflict. Many young men volunteered to fight for their country and to do their civic duty. Many women went to work in the factories, building ammunition, tanks and weapons. All of this you have probably already heard before but here is something you might not know. During World War II the United States Army had war dogs. These war dogs were trained in combat for their use as scouts, sentries and trackers. The dogs represented the struggle of the entire planet and not just the human population of the war.

The most decorated American War Dog was Chips. He was a German Shepherd-Collie-Siberian Husky mix and had a wonderful nose for action and danger. He was the property of Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York and was donated to the war effort by Wren. Like any American solider, Chips was sent to training, War Dog Training in Front Royal, Virginia. He passed all his tests and exams and was shipped out overseas. He served in the 3rd Infantry Division under Pvt. John P. Rowell, his handler. Through his war journey Chips fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. Chips was extremely brave in his success of warning the troops of impending ambushes and attacks from the Axis armies. He ran with a cable wire attached to his collar, dodging gun fire to establish a communication line the base. Chips ran and jumped into a pillbox that was filled with Italian troops and they were all taken prisoner by Chips and Rowell. Chips ended his service in 1945 and was reunited with Wren back in Pleasantville.

Chips is a national hero. He was awarded the Silver Star for Valor and a Purple Heart for his wounds. These awards would soon be taken from him because it was believed by some that they demeaned all the men who had been awarded them in the past and in the future. After World War II, war dogs were considered military equipment and no longer soldiers. Chips helped to win World War II and I think it is time he gets some recognition.
 
 

 
Matt

Good Ol' Boys (GoB) on Gambling

What should you do when the dealer shows a 6 and you have a 12?  Double down?  Hit?  Stay?  Odds say to stay every time.  Might win, might lose.  Odds say you’ll win more than you lose.  But what the hell, everyone knows the game is stacked to the house.  The house always wins.  You know that going into the casino.  I will do whatever I’m feeling like.  When you have that good, lucky feeling, you can do no wrong.  Don’t let the “cheat sheet” card given to you by the casino that tells you the right way to play dictate your move.  That doesn’t smell right does it?  Hell I would double.  Right now I would.  Who knows what I’ll do tomorrow. 

At casinos they teach you how to play craps.  They tell you never bet the field.  Would you have guessed that there’s a 44% the field hits?  A one-time bet where you can double your money.  Yeah, 44% isn’t in your favor, but when you’re looking for entertainment, your smile will be much wider when your field bet hits!  

The only time I will ever play my odds to a fault is when playing poker.  The casino doesn’t get the odds at a poker table.  It get’s the rake.  You are playing the odds against a fellow poker player, and if you play your cards right, you only put yourself in situations where your odds of winning are 90% and a lot of the times you are staring down at the nuts.

Look, I’m not making a career gambling here.  I am looking for the thrill.  The entertainment.  The rush.  I won’t get that rush when I play the way the dealer tells me.  Math will have me a broke man at the end of the night.  A couple of lucky rolls, a couple of lucky hits and doubles, and some basic A-B-C poker.   Doesn’t happen every time, but just remember, according to your significant other, you always win.

Kevin

Matt’s Week Two NFL Power Rankings

Week two of the NFL season is in the books and the teams are still positioning themselves.  There have been some pleasant surprises (Lions, Bills, and Redskins all 2-0) and some disappointing surprises (Chiefs, Colts, and Rams all 0-2).  Let’s see how the teams stack up from 32 to 1.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) - There is not much to say about the Chiefs right now.  They stink.  Being outscored 89 to 10 in two games is pitiful.  It doesn’t get any easier for the Chiefs, having to travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers this Sunday.  Todd Haley better watch himself because more losses like the first two will result in a visit to the Unemployment Office.
31. Indianapolis Colts (0-2) – Who knew Peyton Manning played offense, defense and special teams.  Can’t stop the run, can’t stop the pass and can’t get anything going offensively.  Kerry Collins looks every bit of 38 years old and the so called playmakers (Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Dallas Clark, Dwight Freeny, and Robert Mathis) are not making any plays.  Manning better return fast or there won’t be a season left to save with a huge game coming up this weekend with the Steelers.
30. Minnesota Vikings (0-2) – Blowing a 17 point lead against the Buccaneers in the second half is not the only problem the Vikings have.  They have a major problem at the quarterback position for a second straight year.  Donovan McNabb was brought in to push the ball downfield and relay on Adrian Peterson to set up the pass.  Well one of those things is true with Adrian Peterson started the season fast and strong but the other is far from true.  In two games McNabb has 267 yards passing and 1 touchdown.  The offense as a whole is ranked 27 in the league in total yards and second to last in passing yards per game.  They better watch themselves because they have a hungry Lions team going to Minneapolis this weekend to try and keep the Vikes down.
29. Seattle Seahawks (0-2) – The Seahawks just look like a lost team that doesn’t have an identity on offense or defense.  Just when you think they will be a running team with Marshawn Lynch they start chucking the ball around with Tavaris Jackson.  Are they a pressure or coverage defense?  They have a lack of playmakers and that is magnified by their quarterback Jackson.  They have three very losable games ahead with Arizona, Atlanta and at the New York Giants.  The Seahawks are a far cry from the division champs of a year ago.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) – The Jags have only scored 19 points so far this season.  That is not going win many games in the National Football League.  Now add to the mix a rookie quarterback making his first start this weekend and you could see an all-time low offense in Jacksonville.  Blaine Gabbert may be the future in Jacksonville but he should not be the present yet either.
27. Cleveland Browns (1-1) – In order to win more games like they did in Indianapolis last week they have to keep giving the ball to Peyton Hillis.  Colt McCoy has shown sparks but is still too inconsistent at this point.
26. Denver Broncos (1-1) – With all the cries for Tim Tebow, it was lost that the Broncos won last week against the Bengals.  Kyle Orton remains the starter going to Tennessee but this game is big.  Orton needs to silence some of his critics this weekend.

25. Carolina Panthers (0-2) – They had a chance to knock off the defending champs in their home opener but couldn’t get it done.  They are a young team, but a young team that is getting better.  Cam Newton looks like the real deal but he just doesn’t have enough playmakers on the outside.
24. Miami Dolphins (0-2) – Miami has played tough in their first two games against the Patriots and the Texans respectively but that got them the same results, losing.  When they get in the red zone they have to come out with any points and yes I am talking to you Dan Carpenter, make your kicks!

23. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) - I was really impressed with the way they went to Denver and battled.  They almost got the win and that will spur this young team forward with three of the next four games at home in Cincinnati.
22. San Francisco 49ners (1-1) – People are double guessing Coach Jim Harbaugh and his decision to leave points on the board and not take a first down penalty that could have closed out the game against the Cowboys last week.  Harbaugh will learn in time that when given the choice of three points or putting your offense back on the field in the fourth quarter, you always go with your offense.  Lesson learned Coach?
21. St. Louis Rams (0-2) – The Rams are hanging by a thread and need to figure out their Red Zone offense.  You have to score touchdowns to win in this league and they are having a hard time with that concept.  They don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves because they have Baltimore and Washington coming in.
20. New York Giants (1-1) – I am still not impressed by the Giants.  They were outplayed on Monday night by the Rams but made the plays when it counted and got turnovers.  They still have no identity on offense and Eli Manning should scare every Giant fan when you goes back to throw.  Injuries are really starting to pile up with the loss of Dominique Hixon to a torn ACL.
19. Oakland Raiders (1-1) – If they could have pulled out that victory in Buffalo, Oakland would be much higher on our list but they couldn’t seal the deal.  This team is on the up but they have to learn to beat a team outside of the AFC West.
18. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) – They like the Raiders were very close to being up in the top 15 if they could have held on in Washington.  Kevin Kolb has been really good in his first couple games in Arizona and they offense is on track.  The defense still needs a little work and I would like to see them get more pressure on the quarterback.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) – The Bucs are very lucky to be 1-1 and should very well be 0-2 if the Vikings could hold a lead.  I still see youth as the main thing that will hold this team back.  Big game with Atlanta this week will be a good test to see how the Bucs will fare this year.
16. Buffalo Bills (2-0) – In the first two games the Bills have played the JV Chiefs and the cross country traveling Raiders.  This weekend’s game against the Patriots will be a true test to see where the Bills are.  Ryan Fitzpaterick looks like the real deal at quarterback though.
15. Washington Redskins (2-0) – Call me crazy but I love the way Rex Grossmen is playing.  He has confidence and that in turn has his teammates confident.  Their defense has 3-4 personal in place and are running around and making plays.  Dare I say Washington is for real?
14. Tennessee Titans (1-1) – The Titans had a stinker in week one but had a marvelous performance against the Ravens in week two.  What is the true team?  I still like Chris Johnson to find himself and I love the way Matthew Hasslebeck is playing right now.
13. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) – There are some concerns in Big D and it has to do with their defense.  They are giving up a lot of yards and points.  Tony Romo showed you great toughness in getting that win last week in San Francisco.  Can they keep it up with injuries piling up on Romo, Felix Jones and Miles Austin?
12. Detroit Lions (2-0) – Fans in Detroit have every right to be excited about the Lions.  Their offense is firing on all cylinders and their defense are world betters.  Take into account they have played the Bucs and Chiefs.  
11. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) – Atlanta has got to shore up their offensive line because Matt Ryan is under way too much pressure.  They got the huge win against Philly and let’s see if it starts something.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) – Temper your excitement Steelers fans.  Yes you pitched a shutout last week; remember it was against the Seahawks.  It will take a couple more games like that to get the taste of the Ravens game out of your mouth.
9. San Diego Chargers (1-1) – For most of their game against the Pats, the Chargers looks like an elite team.  They kept the game within one score but turnovers killed them.  You can’t turn the ball over against the Patriots and the Chargers found that out the hard way.
8. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) – Not going to lie but that was not a good loss to Tennessee.  After completely dominating the Steeler, to follow that up with a stinker against the Titans is unacceptable.  Expect Coach John Harbaugh to communicate that to his team and the Ravens to get back on track.
7. Chicago Bears (1-1) – The Bears went down to New Orleans and kept with the Saints for the first three quarters.  Jay Cutler still gets hit too much and if their defense doesn’t take the ball away they are easy to play.  The game against the Packers this weekend will tell a lot about the Bears and the kind of team they are going to be this season.
6. Houston Texans (2-0) – Houston is playing great football right now.  Their defense under Wade Phillips looks nothing like the defense that got shredded last season.  The ultimate thing is that they are winning without Arian Foster, when he gets healthy this team will just get better.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) – The Eagles may have suffered a huge blow if Michael Vick can’t play this week against the Giants because of a concussion.  The Eagles looked shaky at times in Atlanta and brilliant at other times.  What team are you going to get, with or without Vick?
4. New York Jets (2-0) – The Jets had an easy win over the Jags but it will get a lot tougher with AFC East games coming up.  It doesn’t help that center Nick Mangold will be out for a while with a high ankle sprain.
3. New Orleans Saints (1-1) – The Saints played well against both the Packers and the Bears.  Dree Bress looks dialed in and the defense got back to form against the Bears.  They need to run the ball more to be balanced but that will come with time.
2. New England Patriots (2-0) – The Pats are the gold standard in the AFC.  They just keep trotting people out there on offense and scoring points.  Tom Brady looks unstoppable and could very well break the single season passing yards record.
1. Green Bay Packers (2-0) – They got a scare in Carolina but won and that is the name of the game.  Aaron Rodgers has to get comfortable and the offensive line needs to pass protect better.  The defense needs to tackle better and work on no giving up the big play.  They are still the champs though and it is hard to argue against the champs.

The Future of College Football: Super-Conferences

College football is a game that is steeped in tradition and history. There are few left that remember a time when college football was more popular then professional football. A time where you had eight teams in a conference and you played everyone in your conference once a year. A time where the Big 10 had ten teams and the Big 12 had twelve teams. That has all changed now and the primary reason is money. There is more money if you have more teams in a conference. The magic number is twelve. If your conference has twelve teams then you can split that up and implement two divisions within a single conference. When you have two divisions, then the winner of each division will play in a conference championship game, which is another game and another way to make more money. We are in a volatile time for college football and there are two teams that hold the key to order or chaos. Oklahoma and Texas.

The Big 12 is a power conference in college football. Many of the teams in the conference have lush histories and traditions. Major rivalries fuel this conference from Oklahoma vs. Texas to Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma St. to Texas Tech vs. Texas and the list goes on and on. The Big 12 could be in their final days of existence because of the departure of Texas A&M to the SEC two weeks ago. The conference already lost two schools, Colorado to the Pac 12 and Nebraska to the Big 10, last season and with the loss of A&M, leaves the conference at seven teams after this season. In today’s college football it is impossible to survive with seven teams and the Big 12 would most likely fold.

Oklahoma and Texas are the two schools that could try to hold the Big 12 together and convince other schools to join the Big 12. Oklahoma is willing to move to the Pac 12 because they are upset that Texas was able to create their own television network that will help recruiting immensely and provide millions and millions of dollars to the university in advertising dollars. Oklahoma St. and Texas Tech would also bolt for the Pac 12 leaving the Big 12 in shambles. Texas is considering moving to the Pac 12 also but may have to give up their Longhorn Network channel in the process. Again this all comes down to money, the money that Texas would get with a network, the money that Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., and Texas Tech would get in an expanded Pac 12 and the money that the NCAA can make on the further exploitation of their student athletes.

I wish we could go back to the days of 8 team conferences and keep traditional rivalries but that time is over. The corporate machine that is college athletics is rolling and knocking down anyone who stands in its way. The future of college football is in Super Conferences and it will happen sooner rather than later. The ACC has just agreed to add Syracuse and the University of Pittsburgh as its thirteenth and fourteenth schools. Oklahoma and Texas are the lynchpins for the Big 12 and the Pac 12. Who will they decide to go with? It is only a matter of time before that decision is made.
 
Matt

Television Returns from its Summer Hibernation.

Dust off your remotes and check the DVR settings it is time for another new season of our favorite shows!  It feels like such a long time for some of our favorite characters.  Every May you get that happy, but sad feeling: happiness because of some sense of resolution for your characters and wonderful cliffhanger episodes, sadness because you know you will have to wait until September to get new and exciting episodes and story lines.  The long summer is over and what better way to catch up on your favorite shows and discover some new gems, then Matt’s Welcome Back Television Special!

How I Met Your Mother

The last we saw of the gang was at Barney’s wedding where Ted was the best man.  Ted and Zoey had broken up and Marshall and Lilly were finally pregnant and ready to have a baby.  Robin still has feelings for Barney and that is shown when Barney and Nora rekindle their relationship.  This wedding is what season 7 of the show revolves around.  Some of the burning questions to watch for this season on How I Met Your Mother are, who is Barney getting married too?  Will Marshall and Lilly actually have the baby?  Does Ted finally meet the mother of his unborn children?  We shall watch with anticipation.

 

How I Met Your Mother         CBS         Monday, September 19 8 pm EST/7 pm CST

Two and a Half Men

Did you guys hear about Charlie Sheen?  Ok, ok I know everyone has.  This is the first season of “Men” without Sheen and his replacement is no newcomer to television.  Enter stage right, Ashton Kutcher.  Kutcher, who was a veteran on That 70’s Show, is now a major character who decides to buy Charlie’s old house.  He also allows Alan and Jake to continue to live with him because he is lonely.  Some of the burning questions to watch for this season of Two and a Half Men are, how will Ashton Kutcher go with the cast and story lines?  Will killing off Charlie turn out good or bad?  Will that kid grow up and finally move out?  This will be a make or break year for “Men”.

Two and a Half Men            CBS        Monday, September 19 9 pm EST/8 CST

 

Glee

Glee is one of those shows with great stories and an even better cast.  The entire ensemble cast brings their A game every episode.  All of the gang is back and ready to enter senior year at McKinnley High.  The glee club finished last season without a national championship and are hungry to finally win one this upcoming season. Finn and Rachel are back together and it is safe to say that nobody knows how that and this season is going to end.  Jane Lynch and Matthew Morrison are set to return next year but expect a major cast shake up with the departures of the entire glee club.  Some of the burning questions to watch for this season of glee are, will Finn and Rachel remain together through the entire year?  How will Kurt and Blaine far in their relationship?  Will Sue ever respect the glee kids and Mr. Schuester?  Will the glee club finally win the ultimate prize?  This is a season of growth on glee, and I can’t wait to see what the writers have in store!

Glee                    FOX        Tuesday, September 20 8 pm EST/7 pm CST

 (oldie pic but goodie)

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Say it isn’t so NBC.  No more Detective Elliot Stabler on SVU anymore.  Yes it is true.  This will be the first of its 12 season run to not feature Christopher Meloni as Dect. Stabler.  Mariska Hargitay (Det. Benson), Richard Belzer (Det. Munch), and Ice-T (Det. Tutuola) are all back and ready to bring justice to the perps on the streets of New York.  New to the cast is Kelli Giddish (Chase) and Danny Pino (Cold Case) as two new detectives who work in SVU.  This season will see multiple detective pairings and plenty of new cases.  Some of the burning questions to watch for this season of SVU are, how will the departure of Det. Stabler affect the characters and the overall effect of the show on the audience?  Will Det. Benson find a relationship?  How will the new cast and characters gel with the others?  I look forward to solving many more cases with the Detectives at SVU.

Law and Order: SVU            NBC    Wednesday, September 21 10 pm EST/ 9 pm CST

This is just a small sample of what I am most looking forward to this season.  What are your thoughts?  What shows are you most looking forward to?  Write them in the comments section below or tweet us @DaGoodOlBoys on twitter.  Hope to hear from all of you soon.  Enjoy your new seasons!

Matt