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Not Grinnin' After Pickin'

February 24, 2010

If you're looking for financial forecasts, don't come a knockin' on my door. Want to know what's going to take place in the real estate market? Nobody home, my friend.  You see, when it comes to prognosticating, I am what many refer to as, "pitiful."  Before my daughter embarked on her (hopefully) four-year academic career at LSU, I told her, "Daughter. Be thankful. You are heading to a school that is absolutely peaking athletically! You should have a blast all four years attending games where YOUR team will be a favorite to win the SEC West, the SEC Title and contend nationally (football/baseball in particular)!" 

Fall 2009: 8-5

Fall/Winter 2009-2010: 0-12 start in Men's hoops

Winter/Spring/Summer: Baseball 4-0---lose Anthony Ranaudo for up to three weeks with elbow "discomfort." 

Thank goodness I saved face with my Olympic picks.  The U.S. Men's Curling team IS kicking Stones and stealing Sweeps, right?

Super Coverage: NFC Championship

January 25, 2010

KTBS Three Sports has more on the Saints biggest win in franchise history! First time NFC Champs! We have more on the game and New Orleans' magical season. Stay with us as we follow the Saints march Super Bowl XLIV.

Who Dat?! Saints Heading to the Super Bowl

January 24, 2010

What a game! The Saints really know how to put on a show! A 40-yard field goal in overtime, 31-28 New Orleans wins the NFC Championship - the first time in the franchise history! A team of destiny...  this is what the city needs and deserves as they continue to pick up the pieces after Hurrican Katrina. It was so great to hear the players... see the tears in their eyes as they head to the Super Bowl - something each of them have dreamed of their entire lives! Stay tuned to KTBS for all the post game reaction! The Saints are going to the Super Bowl!!!!!

Saints: More History in the Making?

January 21, 2010

Keep your eye on the prize. One win away from a Superbowl... every New Orleans player can't help but think about just HOW CLOSE they are. Its all so surreal. Drew Brees, their wise leader, reminded the team to remember the process. All the little things that got them this far...

Sitting outside the Superdome right now, I can't help but think about how insane this place will be 72 hours from now if, scratch that - when the Saints win the NFC Championship. People think the Big Easy is crazy during Mardi Gras!

This team is already going down in the history books. The first group in franchise history (yep 43 years!) to start the season off 8-0. And they went above and beyond that mark winning 13 consecutive contests. Sunday also marks the first time the organization has ever hosted an NFC Championship. Can they break another barrier and become the first Saints team to reach the Superbowl?

KTBS On Your Who Dat, Part I

January 21, 2010

The Earthlink crew is in the Big Easy---gearing up for the 6pm sportscast and beyond!!  We rolled straight from East King's Highway to Lobdell (gas and chicken fill up) to the Saints practice facility on Airline Drive in Metairie.  Today, we heard from Sean Payton, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael,Jr. and special teams coach Greg McMahon. After a Q and A session with the coaches, we headed to the locker room and caught up with Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey, Will Smith and Darren Sharper. 

Subjects that are most pertinent, at least to me: Containing Brett Favre (Smith and Sharper) and attacking the Vikings beleaguered secondary (Shockey and Colston).  Pretty interesting answers from the fella's.  Also, Gregg Williams forthrightness and attitude is evident with every single answer the man gives.  Comparing toasted players to traffic cones was one unique way Williams used his football vocabulary on the assembled media.

Today, we are zeroing in on the Saints defense's attitude and aggressiveness and how they will attempt to deal with a 40-year old Quarterback and All Day Adrian Peterson.  Plus, find out what Jeremy Shockey has to say about his injury situation, tonight at six.  Lots of Who Dat coming your way from the KTBS Earthlink Crew!

The Biggest Game In Louisiana Football History?

January 20, 2010

When the New Orleans Saints take on Minnesota Sunday evening for the NFC Championship in the Louisiana Superdome, will the game take it's place as "The Biggest Game In Louisiana Football History?" There are several games in the running---LSU's 2003 and 2007 BCS Championship Games are the first games that come to mind; The Original Bayou Classic Game; and Billy Cannon's 1958 Halloween Game against Ole Miss also come to mind.  But in reality, with the Super Bowl firmly entrenched as "THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST WATCHED EVENT IN AMERICA", doesn't that automatically make the Saints game this weekend the biggest ever inside the Pelican State? Granted, if that IS the case, and the Saints win this Sunday... then, the Vikings game quickly becomes the second biggest game in Louisiana Football history with the impending Super Bowl taking the top spot. 

Saints Continue to March to History

January 19, 2010

This Sunday is the FIRST-EVER NFC Championship to be hosted by the Saints in the franchises' 34-year history. It's only New Orleans second time in history to reach the championship game. The last time was in 2006 at Solider Field --- the bears were victorious.

The Saints are one of five teams in the NFL to have NEVER reached the Super Bowl. A win on Sunday would set yet another first for the franchise. With a 13-0 start, yep - you get the picture - the best in franchise history, the Saints are NO LONGER the Aints! This is a magical season... enjoy the ride! KTBS Three Sports will be there as the Saints try bring the Big Easy thier FIRST EVER Super Bowl Title.

Hey, Let's Blog!

January 5, 2010

A few random thoughts on this chilly Tuesday night.  You could overnight a package by the time the FedEX Orange Bowl halftime show wraps up. Kool & The Gang? Really? Derek and the Dominos busy? Georgia Tech is on the verge of stinking up their bowl game for the second straight year---what does this prove? How's this---Paul Johnson's multi-faceted option offense is hard to defend with six days of prep time; however, give a team a month to get ready and the Yellowjackets lose a lot of their sting (see what I did there?).

Arkansas is a much, much better team with Courtney Fortson in the lineup. His energy and driving ability helped create open looks for Rotnei Clarke tonight in a 96-85 loss to #2 Texas.  Clarke is phenomenal---hit some incredible shots tonight to keep the Hogs involved plus he has really improved his ability to create space, giving himself better looks at the hoop.

The Saints send Charles Grant to Injured Reserve with a torn tricep.  Tough loss for the Saints---Grant was hurt in the second half of the Panthers game.  Yes, like Wes Welker, Grant was injured punching the clock in a game that meant nothing to his team.  Sure, #94's loss isn't as significant to the Saints as Tom Brady losing a 120+ catch guy, but Grant had started all 16 games and played really well in spurts. 

The Cowboys, already healthier than most of the 12 playoff teams, received good news today. Starting Right Offensive Tackle, Marc Columbo, returned to practice today. Columbo has been out since mid-November with a broken left leg.  Also, Tashard Choice passed the required neurological tests in place after a player suffers a concussion. Choice was injured last week against Philadelphia. If he's ready to roll by Saturday night, the Cowboys' three-headed monster at tailback will be hard to stop.

Game Day!

January 1, 2010

The moment has arrived---or at least the moment has parked the car and is coming up the sidewalk.  Kickoff is less than three hours away in Orlando and it's... raining.  The heavy stuff should arrive in O-Town at Noon.  Kickoff is at Noon.  Get ready for sloppy conditions throughout the game!  The media, including me, have been hounding on the field conditions all week---we'll see if our Debbie Downer approach to the horrible sod situation is accurate or just aimless worry.

To me, it's interesting when two traditional powers meet in a bowl game with not national title on the line.  How will the fans react during the game? Is there as much vim and vigor? What about the players? Do they show up at the stadium with anywhere near the same energy as a big conference game?  My guess?

Normally.

No.

Close but not the same.

One thing I'll be paying attention to is the LSU Offense with two new assistant coaches on board.  How much will Coach Gonzales' affect the passing game?  Is Gary Crowton going to unleash the hounds today?  See... a ton of questions that will be answered await! There's good enough reason right there to be pumped about the game!

We'll have the highlights and more tonight at 10:00... remember, the game is on KTBS at High Noon.

LSU vs. Penn State Blog I

December 30, 2009

Day one of our coverage of LSU vs. Penn State is almost in the books! We arrived at around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday---and got started at 9:30 a.m. chasing LSU to their practice---but were turned away! No video of the Tigers working out is allowed! Not even a shot of them walking around in their sweat pants... sooo, we head to Freedom High School and catch Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions. Now, yesterday, some of our buddies from south Louisiana were tossed from the PSU practice by JoePa because they were fixated on getting video of him instead of his team.  Today, the 83-year old legend was in a much better mood.  He joked around with some of the Pennsylvania media horde about his days as a fraternity member (He was a DKE) chasing the rich girls from Wellesley, only to see them fall for rich boys at M.I.T. 

One thing we learned today, courtesy of our buddies at WBRZ in Baton Rouge---the Number 18 jersey, handed down from Matt Mauck to Jacob Hester to Richard Dickson, will next be worn by fifth-year senior, Richard Murphy. Very cool tradition started by Mauck.  Murphy will be one of two experienced tailbacks next year for Les Miles, joining Steven Ridley. Ridley's experience will come mostly from Friday's date with the Nittany Lions.

Today was our chance to interview the offensive and defensive coordinators for both teams.  Galen Hall, the Penn State Offensive Coordinator, is the former coach of Florida (pre-Spurrier). He remembered vividly his final game with the Gators in Tiger Stadium... a last second field goal victory over LSU.  Tom Bradley, PSU's defensive coordinator exhibited a quick wit.  He chided his Pennsylvania media pals for not having a tan with the abundant sunshine in Orlando today.  He also said there is no pressure on Joe Paterno.  In response to a question about Urban Meyer's "burnout" from coaching and how did Penn State coaches help Paterno avoid exhaustion---Bradley said there's,
"No pressure on Joe. That's because he puts all the pressure on his coaches and players."  He also quipped the "ploddish" Big Ten boys will need jet packs to keep up with Trindon Holliday.

When LSU's coordinators took the dais, the third question of the session was addressed to first year defensive coordinator, John Chavis.  "The Chief" was asked about his rumored move to Georgia in order to fill the DC vacancy on Mark Richt's staff.  Chavis gave the typical non-answer... 'Not going to talk about it; here to talk about this game and our team; if you have questions about this game or our team, i'll be happy to answer them...'

Lastly, while shooting standups (the part of our stories where the anchor/reporter is on camera), a friendly squirrel took up residence behind me.  I hate squirrels.  My loathing of the furry rodents must have been picked up by the little fella' because he wouldn't leave me alone.  At one point, I promise he huffed and puffed his cheeks out and barked at me.  Flea bitten varmint!

Time to grab some vittles... coming up at 10, a comparison of the quarterbacks as well as a story on John Chavis.  Until then, may the Disney Force be with you!

Carthage and Daingerfield Win Back-to-Back Championships, Longview falls in Championship

December 20, 2009

The UIL football state championships wrapped up yesterday. Three of our area teams competed for titles and two brought home the hardware.

Let's start in Dallas, Texas. Carthage faced Graham in the Class 3-A, Division 2 championship. Graham scored late in the fourth, making it a one-point ball game. Steers head coach Brad McCoy (Colt McCoy's father) decided to go for the two point conversion to win the game and the Bulldog defense made the stop. The Bulldogs went on to win their 2nd ever state championship (back-to-back titles), increasing their win streak to 29 games.

In Wichita Falls, Daingerfield, also looking for back-to-back championships, faced Bushland in Class 2-A, Division 2. The falcons had no answers, the Tigers win big - 62-14 is the final. That was Daingerfields' 5th championship, the first consecutive state titles in school history. Barry Bowman's boys have won 30 games in two seasons, falling only to Gilmer each year. The Buckeyes, of course, the 2009 Class 3-A, Division I state champions.

Longview and Lake Travis met up again in the 4-A, Division I championship in Waco. Last season the Cavaliers beat the Lobos 48-23, this year's score was closer. The Cavaliers (who have won 47 consecutive games, the longest streak in Texas) get the "W", 24-17 is the final. That marks Lake Travis' 3rd consecutive state title.

For more on the Texas Championships, tune in to Sunday Night Overtime on KTBS.

Texas State Championships

December 19, 2009

On the way to Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the campus of SMU for the Texas 3-A, Division II State Championships. Carthage will try to win back to back state titles, facing Graham for the title. Graham is lead by Case McCoy at qb, the younger brother of Colt McCoy. Their father is the head coach, trying to lead the steers to their first-ever state title. With a win, the Bulldogs would improve to 29-0.

Two more of our local teams are playing in the championship. Daingerfield will play Bushland for the Class 2-A, Division II title. The Tigers have won four state championships in football including last season. 2008 ended a 23 year drought. Head Coach Barry Bowman is looking to claim the school's first-ever back to back titles. A win would garnish the tigers 30 wins in two seasons. They've only lost one game each season to Gilmer, the state champions in Class 3-A, Division I. That game is in Wichita Falls. We'll have highlights tonight at ten on KTBS Three.

Longview is in the Class 4-A, Division I state title again this year, and facing the same opponent to boot. The Lobos are hoping to change the end result in 2009. Last season, they were beaten 48-23 by Lake Travis. Longview hasn't won state in 72 years.... the Cavaliers haven't lost a game in 46 contests, and going for their 3rd consecutive title.

Stay tuned to KTBS all day long for updates and of course watch our sportscasts live from Texas .... we just passed some Lobo fans on I-20, and the weather is perfect for one more day of high school football.

Saints - Cowboys I

December 19, 2009

What time is it? ALMOST Game-Time! Actually, we are still seven + hours away from kickoff in the Dome, but at least the visualization of the actual game is comprehensible. We just rolled through Gonzales (Ascension Parish in the house!) steaming toward the Crescent City.  I imagine we will see the most active tailgating, electric pre-game buzz of any Saints game in history upon our arrival.  Yes, I said it---this game has a "buzzier vibe" than even the Eagles playoff game in 2006.  Going. To. Be. Insane. Follow along with us on Twitter (FletcherKTBS)... until later today....

3 Texas Teams in the State Championship Again in '09

December 17, 2009

Longview, Carthage and Daingerfield will play for a state title, for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs and the Tigers are looking for back-to-back state titles. The Lobos are looking to avenge their loss to Lake Travis.... a repeat match-up... the Cavaliers have won 46 games in a row.

KTBS Three Sports will be at Ford Stadium on the campus of SMU for the Carthage-Graham game. We'll also have highlights of our other two area games. Stay tuned to ktbs.com and twitter (SpoonKTBS) for updates throughout the day.

Big Weekend For Saints; Bigger For Cowboys

December 3, 2009

Will the Saints suffer a letdown Sunday afternoon in the nation's capitol? Or will the unbeaten NFC South leaders show up in Washington, D.C. and handle the Redskins the way they have the majority of their other eleven victims? A short week following the Monday Nighter means a few more fella's head into the game with bumps on top of bumps and bruised bruises. However, a couple of guys that missed the Patriots game should be able to go on Sunday. Reggie Bush and Jabari Greer were limited in practice today but Sean Payton said afterward he expects both to play against the Redskins.

The Cowboys control their fate in the NFC East. Beat the Giants in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon and they eliminate (for all practical purposes) Big Blue from the division race.  A loss on the road coupled with a Philly win in Atlanta would make life miserable for the 'Boys and Wade Phillips. They would be tied with the Eagles in that scenario with the Giants lurking a game back.  Even worse? The Giants would have swept the Cowboys, giving New York a "game in hand".

Something tells me the Saints will handle the Redskins and I, for some reason, believe Tony Romo and Co. will continue their December slide with a loss on the road.

Saints Offense Brees'ing Along

December 1, 2009

Number 9 was a perfect 10 Monday night against New England. Saints quarterback, Drew Brees had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 after completing 18 of 23 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns.  What is even more impressive is that the five td tosses were to five different receivers, including one named Donald Dinkins.  Yeah.  The “other” Donald.  The one whose scoring celebration including a not so impressive Dinkin Dunk-slash-layup over the cross bar.  That’s about the only time the ball was in the air with no place to go when the Saints had possession.

While the convoluted quarterback passer rating leaves one wondering how perfection can be achieved if there were five incomplete passes, no formula was needed to gauge Brees masterful performance in the second quarter.  The numbers are mind-numbing: 7-7-173 Yards, with 3 Touchdowns.  In one quarter.  It’s the first time a Bill Belichick coached team gave up more than two touchdown tosses in one quarter in  the Patriot guru’s career.  For the game, the Saints averaged over a, quoting Brees, “Ridiculous,” ten yards per play.

After a performance that thrust Brees back atop the MVP race, the best acquisition in Saints history said his team still hasn’t clicked on all cylinders.  Without a hint of sarcasm, Brees said he truly believes his team can and will play better this season. Pity the Redskins, Falcons, Cowboys, Bucs and/or Panthers if that is the case.

Saints Defense Plays Big Role In Win Over Pats

December 1, 2009

Fourteen plays, 80 yards and seven points.  New England’s initial drive against the Saints Monday night in the Louisiana Superdome certainly was impressive.  Three possessions later, the Patriots humbled the New Orleans defense yet again with a touchdown producing, eleven play outing.  Everything else the Pat’s tried in front of a national television audience fell flatter than Jay Leno’s monologue. 

The Saints quilting bee-style defense proved to be sufficient in terms of covering New England weapons, Randy Moss and Wes Welker.  The patchwork quilt of a defense, threaded together with the recent signings of Chris McAllister and former Saint, Mike McKenzie to shore up the banged up secondary, held Tom Brady and Co. at bay the rest of the way, enabling the Saints to run away and hide from the NFL’s premier franchise.  McKenzie, in particular, had a spectacular re-introduction in a black and gold uniform. After spending the first ten games of the season watching his former team on tv, from the sideline or a luxury booth, McKenzie splashed onto the scene with a key interception early that led to the Saints go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter.  The visibly giddy cornerback also broke up a fourth down conversion attempt by swatting away a Brady-to-Moss attempt when the game was still in it’s toddler phase.

The Saints didn’t punish Tom Brady with their braun (only one sack), but with their brains.  An intelligent game plan kept Brady off balance enough to prevent a big night from the Pats QB.   Before giving way to back up Bobby Hoyer, Brady and the New England offense was held to a 4-of-11 third-down conversion rate, plus the dimpled one was picked off an additional time by Darren Sharper.

Drew Brees statistically mesmerizing performance will receive and deserve any and all accolades coming his way.  However, the Saints blanketing defensive effort helped short-sheet the Patriots and put to bed any notion this Saints team isn’t ready to take on all comers.

Thanksgiving Day Truly Is A Treat

November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving! What a day! Three NFL Games! Texas at Texas A&M! The only thing that can slow me down on Turkey Day is dropping the remote control in the giblet gravy.  Sure, our football watching mettle will be tested early with the Lions (more than likely minus Matthew Stafford)hosting Green Bay in the annual Motor City Thanksgiving Day game.  The Cowboys should have no trouble disposing of the Raiders---may have to guard the team Turkey and Dressing dinner, though. JaMarcus will be looking for something to do now that he's lost his starting job to Bruce Gradkowski. 

Sure, those aren't the "sexy" games this week in the NFL. But it's still football. On a Holiday! We will be treated with a pair of dandy matchups at about the time we decide to re-heat the leftover dressing and casseroles.  The Giants and Broncos are fighting for their playoff lives in Denver and Texas battles A&M in a BCS Quarterfinal Game Of Sorts for the Horns. Win this one, as they should, and it's on to the BCS Semi-Finals, a.k.a., the Big XII Championship against Nebraska.  Win THAT one, and Texas will be playing for a football shaped piece of crystal in early January.

From 11am until 11pm it's football. Football. FOOTBALL. Turkey. That is, if I can talk the sports-wife out of dragging me to see "New Moon" for the second time.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!

Les Miles Press Conference Live On Air

November 23, 2009

Hey guys, we are carrying the Les Miles press conference today (scheduled to begin at Noon... probably will start a little later) on the KTBS 24-Hour News Channel as well as www.ktbs.com.  Find out what the head coach has to say about the debacle in Oxford this past weekend.

Where Oh, Where Will Tigers Play?

November 23, 2009

Now that LSU is out of the BCS mix and the Capital One Bowl's plans, where will LSU spend their post-season?  ESPN's "experts" point the Tigers in the direction of Tampa for the Outback Bowl and a date with Wisconsin, or in Jerry's Palace in Arlington for a Cotton Bowl date with Nebraska. Sports Illustrated also Cotton's to the idea of a Big D New Year's. Stewart Mandel, SI's senior writer covering college football, thinks LSU will meet Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.

Little Ol' me believes the winner of the LSU-Arkansas game this Saturday will get a Cotton Bowl invitation. A Razorback team on a hot streak, NOT getting invited to Jerry Jones place for a second time this season? Right.  If LSU knocks off the Razorbacks, I see the Tigers playing in the Cotton Bowl with Arkansas heading to the Liberty Bowl.  But that's just me.

LSU Press Conference Live On KTBS.COM

November 23, 2009

KTBS.com (www.ktbs.com) will be carrying the Les Miles press conference live, via LSU's website (www.lsusports.net/live) from the LSU Athletic Department today at noon.  You can hear what the head coach has to say two days after the debacle in Oxford, Mississippi. The audio availibility is free... to WATCH the press conference, you need to be a "Geaux Zone" Subscriber.

Them Doggone Refs!!

November 8, 2009

You know it's bad when Bernie Madoff feels sorry for a collection of folks.  Yes, it appears someone, or more correctly---a group of someones, is more loathed and despised by a faction of the country more than the bilker of millions.  Ask college football fans from Fayetteville to Nashville to Athens to Gainesville to now, Baton Rouge their opinion of SEC Referee's.  Just make sure you have your Kevlar on and a canister of pepper spray nearby.

Last night in Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium, Moe, Larry, Curly, Jethroj Bodine, Maxwell Smart, Paula Abdul and Jim Kramer wore the striped shirts, the whistles, the nifty white knickers, black adidas... everything associated with being an official.  LSU fans will tell you, the crew also had that intangible characteristic that makes an officiating crew an SEC Crew.  A rock-solid, easy to grip screwdriver.

With Alabama trying to salt away the game, leading 21-15 with nearly seven minutes to play, Tide quarterback Greg McElroy rolled right. He cocked his throwing arm. He fired a bullet toward Julio Jones near the Tigers sideline.  A funny thing happened to that piercing pigskin---LSU cornerback, Patrick Petrson interrupted it's scheduled flight, picking off the pass before hurtling into the awaiting arms of his joyous teammates. 

Wait. Just. One. Dog-nabbed minute. Here comes Jethro from ten yards downfield. Paula is sprinting over from upfield.  They collaborate.  Except they would use a simpler term, like... meet.  Quick discussion... and... "incomplete" is the signal.  Really? Looked to me, from my angle down the sideline just beyond the LSU end zone, that Peterson placed both feet inbounds and had control of the ball before going out of bounds. To the replay booth the call would go.  A photog buddy, Bobby-O of WGNO started pushing buttons on his camera.  Next thing we know, we are huddling around Bobby O's color LCD display we has stopped the video at the instant Peterson made the catch. Lo and behold, this simple assemblage of men---commonly referred to as "photogs"---was able to surmise that Peterson had posssession of the ball and both feet inbounds.  This was so clear to me that I started to make the trek to the other end of the field in anticipation of LSU's newfound possession.  Surely, this wouldn't take long, since we were able to deduce the outcome in a matter of seconds.  Unfortunately for the Tigers and their fans, it DIDN'T take long enough. The replay official, who obviously stayed someplace other than a Holiday Inn Express the night before, deduced his cronies down on the field were absolutely, positively correct.

And with that decision, LSU's shot at coming back to win was gone.  As Les Miles said afterward, the Tigers would still have had 69 yards to navigate in order to produce a go-ahead touchdown---but he and his team would have welcomed that chance. 

After the game, while editing the pieces we fed back to KTBS (thanks to our friends at WWL-TV), my shot of the play also clearly indicated Peterson made a catch, had both feet inbounds and regained possession while going out of bounds.  Peterson and defensive teammate Kelvin Sheppard echoed similar sentiments in the cramped interview room 30 minutes after the game... 'couldn't turn back time,' and 'what's done is done.'

Isn't it a shame, for several SEC teams this season, that Father Time would have made a better back judge than the gents trotted out each and every Saturday by the conference?

#27 for the Bronx Bombers

November 5, 2009

The Yankees win another World Series last night, winning game six against the Phillies.... first of all I think it's a shame when the World Series is clinched before game seven - I don't care who's playing. The Yankees hadn't won the title in what? 9 years? Something like that... and the Phillies won last year, I don't really care for either team (the Braves and the Rangers are sitting at home watching on the tv just like me) but I really got heated when A-Rod was being interviewed. Every single interview it was like, "Poor Alex, he's been through so much this year.... and he overcame it all to win the World Series." He took performance enhancing drugs! Not poor Alex! He choose to do it and it's cheating. Then he lied to our faces about it... and now, not even a year later he's still making millions and is blown up to be this baseball God and everyone is choosing to forget he's a cheater. If I hear poor A-Rod one more time I'm boycotting baseball. It's ridiculous - it sends all these kids the message that if you cheat, you'll get a slap on the wrist, but it will pay off inthe long run! Am I the only person that is bothered by this?

How about Brandon Spikes? The Florida player who was caught on film trying to poke a Georgia players eyes through his facemask? Unbelievable - kids ESPN has cameras EVERYWHERE... if you're going to do that make sure you're on the bottom of the pile and out of view! What's even more incredulous is Urban Meyer's punishment - 1/2 a game suspension?! Really? Florida is playing Vandy this Saturday, not Texas or Alabama - 1/2 a game, c'mon. Urban went back and changed it to a whole game when the rest of the world reacted the way I did! Unbelieveable - what is this world coming to?

I Cut Through The BCS Mess

November 1, 2009

Okay... time to get down to the nitty-gritty regarding the BCS.  Florida is the overwhelming number one team in the current BCS standings released today (Sunday, November 1st).  Texas is second, followed by Alabama, Iowa, Cincinnati, TCU, Boise State, Oregon and LSU to make up the top 9 teams.  BCS "experts" generally agree LSU and Oregon are the only two "one-loss" teams with a chance to advance far enough in the standings to play for all the marbles.

The Tim Fletcher Research Group (me) spent a little time this evening going over the Nice Nine.  Here are the things that stick out to me:

• Florida has it EASY the rest of the way
• Boise State and TCU have no business in the conversation based on their opponents' records and the strength of their remaining schedule
• Iowa and Oregon are the only teams to be featured among the top four in opponents records thus far and their upcoming opponents records. That's why the computer's love the Hawkeyes and the Ducks
• Iowa, Alabama and LSU have the most to gain over the final stretch based on the records of their upcoming opponents. 

Here are my "FINDINGS"... let me know what you think in the comments...

BCS        Team                     SS          Remaining

1.            Florida                  .579        .412

2.            Texas                    .538        .548

3.            Alabama              .492        .654

4.            Iowa                      .582        .630

5.            Cincinnati            .508        .594

6.            TCU                        .492        .469

7.            Boise State         .411        .476

8.            Oregon                 .569        .613

9.            LSU                        .493        .625

Toughest Schedule Thus Far:

1.            Iowa                      .582

2.            Florida                  .579

3.            Oregon                 .569

4.            Texas                    .538

5.            Cincinnati            .508

6.            LSU                        .493

T7.          Alabama              .492

T7.          TCU                        .492

9.            Boise State         .411

Toughest Remaining Schedule

1.            Alabama              .654

2.            Iowa                      .630

3.            LSU                        .625

4.            Oregon                 .613

5.            Cincinnati            .594

6.            Texas                    .548

7.            Boise State         .476       

8.            TCU                        .469

9.            Florida                  .412

Too Much, Too Soon For Saints?

October 28, 2009

Everywhere you look, it's Saints This, Saints That.  A 6-0 start will bring attention.  An undefeated season at this stage with a fourteen points per game point differential and the highest octane offense in the league leading the charge attracts a national spotlight. 

The last time the Saints were in this position, it had more to do with helping a city heal following the wrath of Hurricane Katrina more than the team's success.  The first season with Drew Brees running the show was a thrill ride for the hearty crew of Saints fans... but this go-round? Good grief.  It's almost impossible to find something out of order in Payton's Place.  Defense? Much improved, an asset as opposed to a liability. Special teams? Frank Beamer still is the king of Special Teams but the Saints are faring quite well in all aspects of the kicking game.  Offense? Child, please.  When Reggie Bush accepts and apparently, relishes, his status as a role player---then you have a well-oiled machine with no squeaky wheels.

So. Everything is just peachy, right? Yeah... it is. And that's worrisome.  There is such a thing of too much, too soon.  The attention.  The adulation.  The PRESSURE. Will it take its' toll on this team as it has so many others who have made it this far into a season without a blemish?  Time will tell---but even the most optimistic Saints fan completely expects something dire to happen soon. Such is the life.