Tuesday, December 22, 2009

We Are All Suckers For Hope

Why do we do it to ourselves? Why do we allow sports to ruin our lives?

I have spent the first 16 years of my life watching the Mets blow game after game, and the Jets hang in games just long enough to lose them in the end. Yet like so many sports fans I continue to torture myself.

If you have a bad car that never works, you get a new one. If you have a big nose, you get a nose job. A bad wife? No problem, you get a divorce.

But why are sports different? Why do we feel such deep loyalty to teams that don’t even know we exist?

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Listen to Chatterblog On Sunday 12/13/09

Click Here to listen to the show

UPDATE (12/13 - 12:34 PM): If you missed the show you can listen to it on demand at link above, it was a good show. The actual interview with Mike Hill began at around 20 minutes into the show.

Come join us as we chat with one of ESPN's brightest young anchors, Mike Hill. Hill joined ESPN in July 2004 as an ESPNEWS anchor. Hill hosts a variety of the network’s programs including The Blitz and The Hotlist. We will talk to him all about his experiences of working at ESPN and what it is like to be an anchor. You do not want to miss this.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Heisman Hunch

Look, all of the candidates could legitimately win the Heisman tonight but my gut is telling me that Colt McCoy will win. It is a combination of leading his team this year to the national championship game and because of his overall play at his time with Texas. I don't really care who wins, all of the candidates have intriguing stories but I just wanted to post my prediction in case I am right. This is Colt's night.


Also don't forget to set your Tivo's tonight for ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary on "The U." (University of Miami football) It looks really interesting and I suggest that you all watch it or record it tonight at 9PM est. after the Heisman presentation, on ESPN.

Update (12/13 - 12:16AM):
I was wrong, but good for Mark Ingram. What an emotional and remarkable moment for Ingram and his family. That is why we love sports. Raw emotions at its best. Great moment.

College Coaching Carousel In Need Of Change

- I don't even blame Brian Kelly. How can you? It is the system. The system that the college football hiring process starts before bowl games even take place. It is easy to question Kelly about leaving Cincinnati before their BCS bowl game, but if he waited until after he may never have received an offer from Notre Dame in the first place. I am sure most coaches do not want to abandon their programs that they have built in their biggest game of the season but with coaches when your "hot" your "hot" and you need to take the best opportunity for yourself that exists. Because if you do not take that opportunity when your "hot" you may never get that same opportunity again.

Monday, December 7, 2009

It's All About Me: A Week In Review - Darrelle Revis, Tiger Woods, the BCS and more!

So as you all know I write articles for this blog whenever I feel something is worth talking about. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with but so far I think I've been doing pretty well. This is the first of hopefully a new weekly segment called: "It's All About Me," (Named after my first rap album, lol) in which I will just speak my mind about all the big issues going on in the world of sports and beyond. Here we go...

-For those of you who haven't been watching my Jets play this season thats fine, but your missing a superstar in the making. It's official, Darrelle Revis IS the best corner in the league right now. I have never seen a CB blanket opponents the way he has this season especially against the best WR's in the league. He is an absolute beast and in my opinion is the most dominant defensive player in the league right now. I think he should be right in the discussion for Defensiveve Player of the Year. Darren Sharper has been good, but not as dominant on a game by game basis. Jared Allen has good numbers but he has 7 sacks in 2 games against the Packers alone. To me this shows inconsistency: Where was he in the other games? Plus he plays with probably the best defensive line in the league so it is easier for him to get sacks. I am not denying he is great, but right now Revis is better. The most annoying part is that Revis is being disrespected - He isn't even number one in voting for AFC corner backs - C'mon son! Check out the wideouts he has faced and how they did against him HERE, scroll down a bit for the raw numbers. The stats don't lie.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Fascination of Twitter

About six months ago I saw all of these celebrities on twitter so i figured, what the heck, I'll get one. After "tweeting," a few times I got bored of it and didn't really understand what the point of it was. However, since starting this blog, my brother Zac (Sticky) suggested that I get back into twitter to help promote my blog articles and also to use it for finding sports information. I did listen to him and I began following my twitter closely, still though I wasn't convinced. After a few weeks of tweeting, I can now say I am on my twitter grind. I love it.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Jets vs. Panthers


Off to the Meadowlands today for Jets Panthers football. Although I picked the Jets, in reality I don't see them stopping the Panthers two man running attack. (BTW, both Stewart, and Williams are on my fantasy team). Sanchez needs to protect the ball, which may be hard. It will be interesting to see how he handles a slightly cold and windy atmosphere as well. I want to see the Jets pressure Delhome and bring safeties up in the box. Challenge him and hope he throws some interceptions. In the end I assume I will go home disappointed like usual.

Prediction:
Jets: 13 - Panthers:24


J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Chatterblog This Saturday, 11/28 at 11AM!

Come join in as we talk to author and beat writer Ralph Vacchiano. Ralph Vacchiano has been the Giants' beat writer at the Daily News since 2001. He began covering the NFL in 1991 after graduating from Syracuse University. He is also the author of Eli Manning: The Making of a Quarterback, and writes for a Giants blog, "The Blue Stream," on the Daily News' web site. In addition he regularly appears on ESPN Radio and SNY. If you want to know the inside scoop of the NFL, and of the New York Giants then this is a can't miss episode.

Click Here to listen to the show (at 11AMest)

What is a Good Seat at a Football Game?

This is an argument I often have with people revolving location of seating at a football game. Usually an uneducated fan would assume that the closer you are is better. In theory - it makes sense - the closer to the field, the closer you are to the action. Certainly it has its benefits, you get to hear some of the hits; you can voyeur player chatter; you are able to see the players more clearly and most importantly, really get in to the on field action of the game. In most sports I would agree that sitting close is the best. In baseball and basketball the best place you can sit is front row. But in football it is different. Football is a sport in which the field is so wide and their is so much going on, that being close up can possibly obstruct your vision of seeing the field as a whole. It is parallel to sitting in the front row of a movie theater. Last week I was invited by my good buddy, Brian Kaufman, to a Giants game in which we sat 5 rows up in the end zone. While admittedly it was cool to be so close and see the action, when the ball was going the other way into the opposite end zone, I found my self struggling to see what was going on. In new stadiums such as Cowboys Stadium and the new Meadowlands Stadium, they have some of the most expensive seats on field level right behind the bench. Sure its cool, but call me crazy, when I go to a game I like to actually watch the game, not the behinds of bench players. My seats in Giants Stadium are in section 329, (upper deck, 20 yard line), in row 11. Now I know they aren't the best seats, but my Dad and I do get a great chance to see all of the movement and action of the game as a whole. We can see substitutions, wide receiver match ups, audibles, and all the action no matter which side of the field the action is on. Look, I wouldn't say my seats are the best. but being that I'm someone who likes to look at a game from a strategical view, looking at match ups and such, I like to be up a little bit, preferably in the mezzanine area somewhere around mid-field. The end zone seats are awesome and unique, but I wouldn't want my season tickets to be there. Where would you want to sit?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

NY Baseball Battle

Check out this Pro Yankee/Pro Met fan debate that I had with my friend Rommel Gramonte. These articles will appear in the December issue of the OHS newspaper, The Current. I know its a little late, but I think it is interesting. Sorry Yankee fans, I had to do it.


Pro Mets:

Congratulations to the New York Yankees for outspending the entire major league this year by over 65 million dollars. Oh yeah, and for winning the World Series. As a Mets fan, I hate many things about the Yankees. I hate their astronomical payroll and overall philosophy, of “buying” championships, especially during a recession. I hate Alex Rodriguez, who is a good for nothing, attention-loving, baby making, steroid using bum. I hate their new stadium, full of overpriced corporate restaurants. But most of all I hate their fans, who somehow feel they are entitled.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Live from Giants Stadium

Coming to you live from Giants Stadium sitting in section 102 with my dude Brian Kaufman. Giants vs. Falcons. Beautiful day for football. LETS GO!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Check This Out

This was Mark Sanchez after last weeks loss to the Jags. He read his post game comments right off a sheet. It was just weird. Click here to watch the video.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Listen to Chatterblog Tomorrow

Listen to Chatterblog tomorrow at 11:00 AM est. We have a lot to get to including NFL Quick Picks, MLB free agency, NCAA Football, and more. It should be a great show so tune in. Click on the title of this post next to the little green arrow to listen. Feel free to call in as well at (347)237-4015. Also if you miss this episode or any others you can always listen to them on demand at the site. Enjoy.

Is A.I. The Answer?


There are many ways to look into whether or not Allen Iverson is a guy who is worth signing. As it appears right now, the likely suitor for the 34 year old, future Hall of Famer, is my New York Knicks. Now I am not a big Knicks fan because they are just too awful to root for, but the Iverson situation has me thinking in two different ways.

Option One: Why Not Sign Him?

The fact is clear that the Knicks are not going to be relevant until July, 1st, 2010 when Lebron James becomes a free agent. Signing A.I. could get some hype in the Garden and sell tickets. The only time the Garden is exciting now is when super stars from visiting teams face the Knicks. Although A.I. is an aging player who is at the end of his career, I believe he still can provide some excitement. The Knicks are currently 2-9 so why not go after Allen Iverson? How much worse can it get - and for one year - who knows - is an 8th seed out of the question?

Option Two: What's the Point?

The Knicks are going no where and are an embarrassment to all of New York. Anyone with half a brain could understand that the Knicks are in a rebuilding year. They aren't just fixing up a window either, they are rebuilding an entire house. The Knicks need to see what they have in their younger guards such as rookie Tony Douglas, and second year man Danilo Gallinari. Allen Iverson would just take up playing time from these younger guys. Also, not to say A.I. is a bad guy, but he could have a bad impact on an already shaky locker room. We saw what happend with an aging star in New York when Stephon Marbury came here. Another situation like that and all of a sudden the Knicks might be looked at as a team that can't handle its superstars. Could that be looked at as a deterrent to Lebron? That is the last thing the Knicks would want. At best A.I. sells a few tickets, at worse he ruins their young players, destroys their "practices," (yes, practice), and embarrasses the entire organization.

My Take:

I love Allen Iverson. I think he may be one of the top five players of my lifetime, but for the Knicks, the benefits don't out way the negatives. Knicks: Don't sign him, get Lebron. Reports today say that the Knicks agree with my thinking and will not go after A.I. That being said I would love to see him play somewhere this year, hopefully for a contender. What do you think? (Comments please!)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Check out our poll on the right of your screen, and be sure to vote. Also, let me know what you all think about Allen Iverson. Is he worth the risk for a team? How will the practices be different? And if you were wondering, Yes, I'm talking about practice!