"What are you screaming for? I haven't even cut you yet."
Since we're about two weeks out from the single most anticipated remake in the history of ever (IMO), I figured I'd kickstart my look out West with a quote from A Nightmare On Elm Street. Now yes, I get that Denver/Utah got started last night and as I type, Da Champs and those young Thundercats are going at it in Los Angeles. Still doesn't mean I can't give you my take on how this, arguably the toughest conference in all of sports (49 win teams need not apply here) could conceivably give us our first champion of the new decade.
The East Brief or Brief East (Playoff Primer 1 of 2)
Another Spring, another postseason which means one thing...
No, not Spring Flings. No, not another season of owners bitching about the Yanks and Sawks. (Glares at Milwaukee owner Joe Schmoe) It's time for the NBA Playoffs. So while Cleveland puts the screws and everything else to Chicago and Vinny (hey, someone had to give Paxson a break, yah?)...I figured I'd take this time out to give my unique POV on all things playoff related. Now, since the East is all but a forgone conclusion, well...I'll do this as to not totally disrespect the conference.
Hey Chan Ho Park, why'd you crap the bed during that April 4 game versus Boston?
Oh, well... that explains why you were so shitty. You were actually feeling shitty. So you say; I smell a goof. Chan Ho may have had diarrhea, but he gives Yankees fans everywhere heartburn every time he steps up onto the rubber.
So my bracket or brackets in the Men's field were an abject failure. (Sans the one where I went Devil's Advocate and picked Duke.) This may have been one year where going to the Women's side of things, may have been a safer bet. Why? Because The Conn-glomerate reigned supreme and sans last night's national title game, not one game was close past the ten minute mark of the first half. I know the majority of the nation thinks anything sports related pertaining to women should have some type of hot oil, wax or bikini involved. But I guess I'm chivalrous and beyond such chauvinistic things. As of last night, UConn's women are sitting on top of the college basketball world with 78 straight wins. Including a less than impressive win last night over the team which handed them their last loss some two years ago in the National Semifinal, Stanford.
If ever there was one rule that all GMs should abide by when dealing players it's this...
NEVER, EVER, under any circumstances deal within your division.
Why? Simple. You never want to run the risk that the player you're dealing can and will come back to haunt you. Why do you think the Packers wouldn't deal Favre to Minnesota? Still, defying conventional wisdom, Philadelphia dealt Donovan McNabb, easily their best QB since the days of Ron Jaworski in terms of getting the Iggys to the promised land or close to it Southeast as it were. To Washington, for a couple of magic beans in this and next year's Draft, work stoppage pending. As a Giants fan, I found myself running the gamut of emotions on this when news broke. First, I was utterly pissed that McNabb was not only leaving Philly, but going to Washington of all places. Then, I was kinda relieved to a point in thinking that this is the same Redskins team that ran a botched play twice in one series against the Giants.
But after hearing Shanahan run down Donovan's oft-forgotten accomplishments, I found myself rather pissed again. Then, when it was mentioned the parallels between when Donovan and Mike met compared to when Elway and Mike met (age 34 for Elway, 33 for McNabb), I returned to being concerned.
If you're Philly, the only upside to this deal is Kevin Kolb shows you that his first two games started last season was just a sampling of what's to come going forward. Then again, there's still the possible/probable payback factor for Donovan which has me greatly concerned about this deal going forward. If you're Washington, you're all smiles. You've got easily the best QB you've had or seen since the days of Doug Williams. I shit you not on that. From a sheer skills standpoint, probably the best QB since Theismann. No other QB that I can recall did more with infinitely less than McNabb did in Philadelphia. I can recall telling an ex-girlfriend of mine that once Donovan got a playmaking receiver to throw to, he'd be in the Super Bowl. Two years after I said it, he got T.O. and got to the Super Bowl. Maybe I should've accounted for the probability that he'd throw three INTs in the first half and blow that game before the halftime show put us all to sleep.
Sports fans with an attitude, SportsBastards is a humorous take on the life-or-death struggle that is sports. It doesn't matter who wins or loses, but if they cover the spread.
