I had what I thought was a great idea the other day to challenge a buddy of mine who is (gag) a die hard Duck fan, to a manno a manno fantasy competition pitting Oregon State grads in the pros against Oregon grads in the pros to see who would score more points in Fantasy ball. But first I wanted to make sure that my gut feel that the Beavers would dominate was correct. The trick was to figure out an easy way to sort all the Pro's by the school they graduated from. Yahoo didn't work. MSN was also of no help. NFL.com was another bust. But then I stumbled upon ESPN. What a godsend ESPN has been throughout my life. Think about when we were kids and all we could watch was what was shown on the networks - like every friggin game had the Cowboys or the Dolphins playing. I did get to see my beloved Lions on Thanksgiving (against the friggin Cowboys), but other than that you had to wait for the local sports to see what happened. Hell, we didn't even have the internet. But then, in the late 70's, a cable network called ESPN (what the heck does ESPN stand for anyway?) came on. For live sports you got frisbee and ping-pong, but with Sportscenter you got news. All of it. Every game. Anyway - I badly digress. ESPN.com has this great site that allows you to sort the pros in many different ways - like which college they graduated from (or more likely PLAYED for). So I looked up the Beavs and the Ducks and my gut feeling was confirmed - I would kick his ass. He is going to look at his Ducks, but I doubt he will take me up on my offer. But it did get me thinking..................
Every year the whole world spends countless hours arguing over which team is the best team in college. Now for the lucky few that are die-hard fans of one of the colleges that are in the mix for the national championship the endless debates make some sense. But if you are say - a Wisconsin Badger fan, or a Missouri fan, or even a Duck fan you know your team has no chance at winning the elusive crown, so why do all of us wannabees join in? Because deep down what we are really doing is proclaiming our CONFERENCE as the best conference in the country. Really, in the final analysis, the only reason anyone from the Big Ten would EVER root for Michigan, other than Wolverine alums, is because they are playing another conference. This theory isn't bullet proof - because I just can't bring myself to root for the Ducks ever, but you get my point. Which again got me thinking.............
The traditional (or what still somewhat resemble traditional) conferences are now doomed. The damn Big 12 saw to that, and the Pac-10 started a trend that will inevitably lead to super conferences and destroy the world as we know it (sorry that is the BP oil spill). In all seriousness, the death of the traditional conferences will just make college football a little less special. A little less exclusive. It will make every game played in college (with a few exceptions) a little less important. But that is the curse of our times. We cannot let well enough alone, and MUST always tinker and turn and twist and tweak. Even the best looking babes in the world cannot resist trying to improve what god gave them, but again - I badly digress. My point is we must brace ourselves for the coming storm, the change that cannot be stopped. But nothing, not the Jihad, not the oil spill, not the election of that idiot Frankin, not even the upcoming Republican takeover of congress can stop us from looking back and asking - which conference is the best? Which conference has dominated the last decade (or the first decade of our brave new century)? Which conference truly deserves the title of best conference in America. Well I think I have the answer. And a challenge.
The true test of a college or university is the accomplishments of its alumni. The true test of a conference is the accomplishments of its member universities. How does one judge the accomplishments of the alumnists, allumes, errr graduates? If your a doctor, its how many lives you save. If your a scientist its how many theories you prove or disprove. If your a humanities grad, its how well you marry. In the end, its how you handle the challenges of the profession that your education has prepared you for. How much do you contribute to the betterment of mankind using all the skills and knowledge that your beloved school so artfully and proficiently groomed to there full fruition. In other words, its how well you play the game of football in the Pro's. Now we could debate who is the best at each position, which college the best player came from, but this debate, like the debate over which school should be the true national champion will go on forever. But there is a better way. A cleaner way. A way so clear and true that Mu hammed himself would bless the path. Fantasy football. Not college, not amateurs, but true professional athletes proving it on the field of battle. I give you the ultimate fantasy football league - conference versus conference.
The league would be a six team league - PAC 10, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC and everyone else (sorry Big East). The format would be a double round robin with the top four conferences playing in a sudden death playoff format. That would be 10 regular season games, one playoff game and then the national championship game. Games would start in week three of the pro's and end week 15. Would give everyone time to see how their rookies do, adjust for injuries and take out the end of the pro season so you don't have one of your studs sitting out. For this game, USC IS bowl eligible! My conference would be the PAC 10. Teams would be QB, RB, RB, TE, WR, WR, W/R, K, BN, BN, BN, BN. Would love to have a defense, but can't figure out how to do that. Enough of the foreplay. Below is Squiggy's initial version of the All PAC 10 pro fantasy team. It was tough to pick, and I reserve the right to change it but here ya go.
QB - Aaron Rodgers GB packer, Cal Bear
RB #1 - MJD, Jacksonville Jags, Cal Bear
RB #2 - Steven Jackson, St Louis Rams, OSU Beav
TE - Tony Gonzales, Atlanta Falcons, Cal Bear
WR #1 - Chad Johnson, Cinn Bengals, OSU Beav
WR #2 - Desean Jackson, GB Packers, Cal Bear
W/R - Jonathan Stewart RB, Car Panthers, UO Duck
K - Nick Folk, NY Jets, Arizona Wildcats
BN #1 - Carson Palmer, QB Cinn Bengals, USC Trojan
BN #2 - Reggie Bush, RB NO Saints, USC Trojan
BN #3 - TJ Houshmanzata WR, Seattle Seahawks, OSU Beav
BN #4 - Jevhid Best RB, Detroit Lions, Cal Bear
Bring on a team that beats that boys, and let me tell you there are alot of players sitting on the waiver wire ready to be picked up. My only prayer is that Nick Folk keeps the starting job for the NY Jets, cause he is the only PAC 10 kicker I could find! Bring it on SEC, Bring it on Big 12, Bring it on Big 10 (that be you Badger), this is the last year the conferences are going to exist as they are today. Lets not blow the chance!!!!!!
PS - all you namby pamby private school boys from Lewis and Clark, you have at least one player that can represent you in the Pros - his name is Boston, but he graduated from Willamette!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
A team for the ages - and you can get it!!
A little pre-draft help for those of you who don't have time for research, or just like the idea of knowing who everyone on your team is by name. Took a small amount of research to come up with this group, but they are all still active, still have talent and better yet - I can almost guarentee that you could draft this entire group without any problems (problems being somebody is dumb enough to pick them ahead of you).
Number 1 pick in the draft - Brett Favre. Brett is in the discussion as one of the best, toughest, most gifted QB's ever to play the game. He is playing on a team with depth, a great running back, talented defense and an expectation to win a superbowl. You have to take him #1 because he will get picked relatively early - stupid early most likely. But the boy's got skills - as they say in my old neighborhood -and showed last year he can still play. The only down side is he is as old as Carter - and kinda looks like it too.
Number 2 pick in the draft - Reggie Bush. This is a tough call, because I do want you to get this team, but I think that Reggie Bush has to be taken as your second pick. Reggie is a dynamic player, with speed and agility that few in the league have ever possesed since Barry Sanders. He can catch, he can run and he can return punts. The problem with Reggie is he only leads the league in one catagory that I can find - ratio of jersey sales to any kind of offensive production. To be honest - he is one of the bigger busts in recent draft history, but still hangs in there as a super star. You have to take Reggie second because I KNOW he will go stupid early, and he can score you points. This year he plays for a big contract, so you will see the best he has to offer. Too bad he is only about the 5th best offensive player on his team........
Number 3 pick in the draft - Chad Johnson (or Ochocinco). You all should know that I love Chad. He is a Beaver. He helped my beloved Oregon State Beavers to a dominate Feista Bowl win against Notre Dame and was really a joy to watch. When Chad has his game going he can talk serious trash and back it up with serious results. I also think he is a truely nice guy - and just loves all the attention. The main problem with Chad is his trash talking has continued, but the backing it up part has kinda faded the last couple of years. He truely misses TJ - who he played with at OSU and for years on the Bengals. He also misses Carson Palmer. Maybe this year TO can help replace TJ and Palmer will return to his glory. Think you will get Chad with your number three pick - but it will be your biggest nail biter in the draft. Might move him up to number 2 if your really worried.
Number 4 pick in the draft - Terrell Owens. The draft should get easier for you from now on. Terrell Owens will retire from football as one of the best wide recievers ever to play the game. TO will never be in the same conversation as Jerry Rice, but you don't have to go too far back to remember when he could change the game just by going on the field. He always drew the double team and the best defenders, rarely had a solid number 2 to take the pressure off, and still put up great numbers. Now he will be starting opposite Chad, playing for a quarterback that still has a great arm, and will not be seeing the best the defense has to offer - that will still be going Ochocincos direction. One problem will be team chemistry - and here I am not talking about TO splitting the team up because he doesn't get the ball, I am talking about TO and Ocho on the same plane. Can you imagine driving from Seattle to Portland with TO and Chad in the back seat. My god - it would probably make me wish I had my kids in the car instead. TO really could have a good year - forget about his stay in Buffalo, we all knew that was going to be a bust and you will not have any problem getting him in the 4th round.
Number 5 pick in the draft - LaDainian Tomlinson. LT was the dominate rusher in the league for more than a couple of years. If it wasn't for LT, the entire coaching staff of the Chargers would have been fired for picking Rivers over Drew Brees. Rivers ain't bad, but Drew now has the ring to prove he was the much better QB. However the chargers had LT, and LT led them to wins and glory. Then he turned 30. Everybody knows that at 30 both your legs go numb, you lose 5 seconds off your 40 time and every ounce of ability you once possesed suddenly evaporates. The thought of a running back being successful over the age of 30 is about as likely as a QB having his best year ever over the age of 40. Oops - that would be your first pick in the draft. LT will play for the Jets, he will carry the ball, the Jets will still need to baby their QB and rely on the Defense and running the ball to win games. LT has a good shot of breaking the mold here, and with a new start on a team with legitimate expectations to win I think he will turn some heads before the year is over.
Number 6 pick in the Draft - Jeremy Shockey. For one thing this dude is just down right scary looking. Would you want to tackle him? He probably smells bad, which you would think would allow him to get open. Shockey was once considered the best tight end in football. He has great hands, decent speed and can still block. The biggest problem with Shockey is he kinda plays like a puss. Thats probably being a bit harsh, but he seems to get banged up alot and misses games. But that could as much indicate how hard he plays as anything. Shockey is playing for the most prolific offense in football, and will be catching passes from the second best Quarterback in the game. He will score you points, and unless there is a run on Tightends early in the draft, you should get him with the 6th pick.
Number 7 pick in the Draft - Tampa Bay defense. Oh where have you gone John Gruden, the Tampa Bay defense looks to you, wuu-wuu-wuu (whatever). Remember when Tampa had the best defense in the league. Well, the only way that the Bucs are going to win this year is to have an improved defense, because the offense isn't going to get it done. I picked the Tampa defense for a reason, but the reason is not because I think they are any good.
Number 8 pick in the Draft - John Kasay. Kasay is money. Always has been, always will be. He can still kick it over 50 yards and, as far as kickers go, is still in his prime (drafted by the Hawks in '91). I only picked him because he is the oldest kicker I could find. But, unlike the defense, Kasay will probably do you a decent job as kicker. Carolina has always kicked a lot of field goals and I see no reason for this year to be different.
OK - there you go. With a bit of skill in drafting you should be able to get this starting group. Spend the rest of your draft going for younger sleeper picks, but rest easy that you have a seasoned (old) group of grizzly (injured) veterans (could be cut in a second) leading your squad. Most of you losers in this league are financial types, and you tend to look at past history to gain insight into what will happen in the future. Just imagine having this team - Favre, LT, Reggie Bush, Chad Johnson, TO, Shockey, Kasay and the Tampa Bay defense 5 years ago. This is one super team. But, as we all know, past performance is not always indicative of future performance and all investments include risk, blah, blah, blah.
Just give Bing man this team commish.
Squiggy
Number 1 pick in the draft - Brett Favre. Brett is in the discussion as one of the best, toughest, most gifted QB's ever to play the game. He is playing on a team with depth, a great running back, talented defense and an expectation to win a superbowl. You have to take him #1 because he will get picked relatively early - stupid early most likely. But the boy's got skills - as they say in my old neighborhood -and showed last year he can still play. The only down side is he is as old as Carter - and kinda looks like it too.
Number 2 pick in the draft - Reggie Bush. This is a tough call, because I do want you to get this team, but I think that Reggie Bush has to be taken as your second pick. Reggie is a dynamic player, with speed and agility that few in the league have ever possesed since Barry Sanders. He can catch, he can run and he can return punts. The problem with Reggie is he only leads the league in one catagory that I can find - ratio of jersey sales to any kind of offensive production. To be honest - he is one of the bigger busts in recent draft history, but still hangs in there as a super star. You have to take Reggie second because I KNOW he will go stupid early, and he can score you points. This year he plays for a big contract, so you will see the best he has to offer. Too bad he is only about the 5th best offensive player on his team........
Number 3 pick in the draft - Chad Johnson (or Ochocinco). You all should know that I love Chad. He is a Beaver. He helped my beloved Oregon State Beavers to a dominate Feista Bowl win against Notre Dame and was really a joy to watch. When Chad has his game going he can talk serious trash and back it up with serious results. I also think he is a truely nice guy - and just loves all the attention. The main problem with Chad is his trash talking has continued, but the backing it up part has kinda faded the last couple of years. He truely misses TJ - who he played with at OSU and for years on the Bengals. He also misses Carson Palmer. Maybe this year TO can help replace TJ and Palmer will return to his glory. Think you will get Chad with your number three pick - but it will be your biggest nail biter in the draft. Might move him up to number 2 if your really worried.
Number 4 pick in the draft - Terrell Owens. The draft should get easier for you from now on. Terrell Owens will retire from football as one of the best wide recievers ever to play the game. TO will never be in the same conversation as Jerry Rice, but you don't have to go too far back to remember when he could change the game just by going on the field. He always drew the double team and the best defenders, rarely had a solid number 2 to take the pressure off, and still put up great numbers. Now he will be starting opposite Chad, playing for a quarterback that still has a great arm, and will not be seeing the best the defense has to offer - that will still be going Ochocincos direction. One problem will be team chemistry - and here I am not talking about TO splitting the team up because he doesn't get the ball, I am talking about TO and Ocho on the same plane. Can you imagine driving from Seattle to Portland with TO and Chad in the back seat. My god - it would probably make me wish I had my kids in the car instead. TO really could have a good year - forget about his stay in Buffalo, we all knew that was going to be a bust and you will not have any problem getting him in the 4th round.
Number 5 pick in the draft - LaDainian Tomlinson. LT was the dominate rusher in the league for more than a couple of years. If it wasn't for LT, the entire coaching staff of the Chargers would have been fired for picking Rivers over Drew Brees. Rivers ain't bad, but Drew now has the ring to prove he was the much better QB. However the chargers had LT, and LT led them to wins and glory. Then he turned 30. Everybody knows that at 30 both your legs go numb, you lose 5 seconds off your 40 time and every ounce of ability you once possesed suddenly evaporates. The thought of a running back being successful over the age of 30 is about as likely as a QB having his best year ever over the age of 40. Oops - that would be your first pick in the draft. LT will play for the Jets, he will carry the ball, the Jets will still need to baby their QB and rely on the Defense and running the ball to win games. LT has a good shot of breaking the mold here, and with a new start on a team with legitimate expectations to win I think he will turn some heads before the year is over.
Number 6 pick in the Draft - Jeremy Shockey. For one thing this dude is just down right scary looking. Would you want to tackle him? He probably smells bad, which you would think would allow him to get open. Shockey was once considered the best tight end in football. He has great hands, decent speed and can still block. The biggest problem with Shockey is he kinda plays like a puss. Thats probably being a bit harsh, but he seems to get banged up alot and misses games. But that could as much indicate how hard he plays as anything. Shockey is playing for the most prolific offense in football, and will be catching passes from the second best Quarterback in the game. He will score you points, and unless there is a run on Tightends early in the draft, you should get him with the 6th pick.
Number 7 pick in the Draft - Tampa Bay defense. Oh where have you gone John Gruden, the Tampa Bay defense looks to you, wuu-wuu-wuu (whatever). Remember when Tampa had the best defense in the league. Well, the only way that the Bucs are going to win this year is to have an improved defense, because the offense isn't going to get it done. I picked the Tampa defense for a reason, but the reason is not because I think they are any good.
Number 8 pick in the Draft - John Kasay. Kasay is money. Always has been, always will be. He can still kick it over 50 yards and, as far as kickers go, is still in his prime (drafted by the Hawks in '91). I only picked him because he is the oldest kicker I could find. But, unlike the defense, Kasay will probably do you a decent job as kicker. Carolina has always kicked a lot of field goals and I see no reason for this year to be different.
OK - there you go. With a bit of skill in drafting you should be able to get this starting group. Spend the rest of your draft going for younger sleeper picks, but rest easy that you have a seasoned (old) group of grizzly (injured) veterans (could be cut in a second) leading your squad. Most of you losers in this league are financial types, and you tend to look at past history to gain insight into what will happen in the future. Just imagine having this team - Favre, LT, Reggie Bush, Chad Johnson, TO, Shockey, Kasay and the Tampa Bay defense 5 years ago. This is one super team. But, as we all know, past performance is not always indicative of future performance and all investments include risk, blah, blah, blah.
Just give Bing man this team commish.
Squiggy
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Let the games begin
Ok Girls. This year we are going to try a blog instead of that old technology of e-mail. Hopefully this will make it much easier for people to view, comment and otherwise taunt each other during the season. It should also help those who at times get worried that too many e-mails about Fantasy Football might, god forbid, look bad at the office. Whether your the boss, the owner or an employee - too many non work related e-mails (even about something as important as Futball) are never good.
Anyway - I am a complete idiot on how these blog things work (like - what the hell does blog mean?? Where did this word come from?? Is it even legal??), but will try to improve it as time goes on. I am going to send out the link to everyone - would appreciate a comment on the blog that lets me know you are able to view. Don't even ask me how to post a comment. I just know it can be done, be a man and figure it out, or ask your kid to help you.
This is a boring post, but I wanted to get it started before the draft so I have some time to work out any bugs. The fun will start soon enough.
On a football note - and prior to the draft - I will give you two nuggets of my profound understanding of this uniquely American game called Football. There are two players in the NFL that have big chips on thier shoulders. These guys are both Studs and will be drafted early regardless - but because they have so much to prove I think I would move them up on my list. Favre? Nah- he threw that pick at the end of the New Orleans game, but he also proved he would sell his soul to win another ring. The QB that goes to bed every night wishing he could take it back is Peyton. Think about it - he doesn't throw a pick while driving his team to a tieing TD late in ANY game let alone the SuperBowl. He drives the colts down the feild for a TD ninety nine times out of a hundred. To bad for Manning that the one in a hundred happened in the Super bowl and it turned into a pick six. This bad boy will be even more focuesd now - and that is a scary thing. The other guy with something to prove is Adrian. It was his fumbles that kept New Orleans in the game, and AP ain't suppose to be the kind of guy who folds under pressure - he makes other guys fold under pressure. Plus - people talk as though he isn't the best running back in football. I think he will make it his mission to show the world he is better than anyone else, and the Vikings are going to do whatever it takes to protect Favre for the playoffs. The best way to do that is to give the ball to AP - alot.
Nothing real insightful in the above, and most of you will be letting the computer make your picks for you anyway. Good luck and I look forward to kickin all your skinny butts this year.
Squiggy
Anyway - I am a complete idiot on how these blog things work (like - what the hell does blog mean?? Where did this word come from?? Is it even legal??), but will try to improve it as time goes on. I am going to send out the link to everyone - would appreciate a comment on the blog that lets me know you are able to view. Don't even ask me how to post a comment. I just know it can be done, be a man and figure it out, or ask your kid to help you.
This is a boring post, but I wanted to get it started before the draft so I have some time to work out any bugs. The fun will start soon enough.
On a football note - and prior to the draft - I will give you two nuggets of my profound understanding of this uniquely American game called Football. There are two players in the NFL that have big chips on thier shoulders. These guys are both Studs and will be drafted early regardless - but because they have so much to prove I think I would move them up on my list. Favre? Nah- he threw that pick at the end of the New Orleans game, but he also proved he would sell his soul to win another ring. The QB that goes to bed every night wishing he could take it back is Peyton. Think about it - he doesn't throw a pick while driving his team to a tieing TD late in ANY game let alone the SuperBowl. He drives the colts down the feild for a TD ninety nine times out of a hundred. To bad for Manning that the one in a hundred happened in the Super bowl and it turned into a pick six. This bad boy will be even more focuesd now - and that is a scary thing. The other guy with something to prove is Adrian. It was his fumbles that kept New Orleans in the game, and AP ain't suppose to be the kind of guy who folds under pressure - he makes other guys fold under pressure. Plus - people talk as though he isn't the best running back in football. I think he will make it his mission to show the world he is better than anyone else, and the Vikings are going to do whatever it takes to protect Favre for the playoffs. The best way to do that is to give the ball to AP - alot.
Nothing real insightful in the above, and most of you will be letting the computer make your picks for you anyway. Good luck and I look forward to kickin all your skinny butts this year.
Squiggy
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