Lou Holtz=Huge Homer

Recently on ESPN Lou Holtz was on talking about the preseason AP Top 25, he mentioned Florida's challenges and Utah being overrated but one thing stuck out more than any other. Coach Holtz actually said that Notre Dame will play for the National Title. Now i will give Lou Holtz that Notre Dame has an easy schedule, only one of their opponents are in the preseason top 37, which of course is USC. But Notre Dame had a pretty easy schedule last year as well and the finished 7-6 including a bowl victory over traditional powerhouse Hawaii (haha!). Oh and by the way only 1 of those wins was against a winning team and that winning team was Navy, and it was close 27-21. No offense to Navy but Notre Dame should never have to squeak out a victory over Navy, as big of a fan i am of Navy the talent is just not the same, but Navy wants games more than Notre Dame does. I personally think Notre Dame being in the preseason Top 25 is somewhat of a joke. Now back to Coach Holtz i know he has a special place in his heart for Notre Dame, he did win a National Championship there and i get that. But when you become a member of the media unless maybe if you are the play by play announcer for that team you cant show your bias. Ever since Holtz has been on ESPN he has been one of the biggest homers on the entire network. Now if you honestly believe that Notre Dame or Florida or Texas or whoever is the better team OK, but it just seems like in Holtz's case he picks Notre Dame just because. Now lets just say by some miracle Notre Dame does advance to the National Title Game do they really stand a chance against Florida or Texas or Oklahoma, in a word No. Case in point in 2006 Notre Dame went 10-2 was ranked 11th in the Country but when they collided with LSU in the Sugar Bowl it was no contest 41-14. Lou Holtz knows his football I'm not arguing that just in the future a little less bias towards the golden dome would be refreshing.

Surprise, Surprise Favre is Back

Nearly 3 weeks after the Vikings supposedly gave Favre a July 31 deadline to make a decision on a return, Favre and the Vikings agree to a new deal for 1 year totalling $10-12 Million. I can say that i am totally shocked that this happened actually it makes makes sense on his part because he didn't have to go through Training Camp. Personally i don't think that this automatically makes the Vikings the team to beat in the NFC. The reason i say this is because Bret Favre had a complete collapse and maybe for the first time in his career he looked old and like his best days were clearly behind him. To me Bret Favre is becoming one of the most annoying athletes in all of sports. I am starting to strongly dislike Favre, which is saying a lot because 2 or 3 years ago he was one of my favorites. The reason he is coming back is also why i dislike the decision. Ever since the Packers and Favre parted ways Favre has been more determined to stick it to the Packers than anything else, and what better way to stick it to your old team than to play them twice in a season and beat them both times. Favre is coming back for all the wrong reasons, if he really wants to play to win that is totally different but coming back to just beat the Packers is the wrong move. I don't think Favre realises the pressure he is under if he doesn't take the Vikings to the Super Bowl this season will be a complete bust. In my opinion Favre doesn't have it anymore and this could turn into a disaster just like with the Jets a year ago.

Vick back in the NFL

As most of you already know Michael Vick signed a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, which resulted in somewhat of a media circus. You got fans on both sides of this issue, some believe everybody deserves a second chance and others think that someone like Mike Vick doesn't deserve that chance. I am on the side that everybody deserves a second chance. Vick did a horrible disgusting thing that can never be forgiven, but he served his time and paid his debt to society. I am never going to agree for what he did but i always thought we were a forgiving society, and i also think the Eagles fans are overreacting just a little bit. Some fans went as far as saying that they were going to boycott the team and turn in their season tickets. I guarantee the first time Vick scores or makes a run of 40 yards or so the Eagles fans will cheer for him like he has been there for years. I also think Vick has been beaten up way to much in the press and the court of public opinion. How many guys in the NFL or for that matter MLB, NBA or NHL, have in one way or another done something wrong in their personal life. Whether it be taking drugs, abusing women, cheating on their wives you name it most athletes have done it. And for the most part those guys haven't faced half the crap Mike Vick has had to put up with. I want to say this again so people don't think i condone what Vick did, what he did was the most disgusting, horrible act I've heard in a long time, but if Vick is truly sorry and turns into a choir boy and is the perfect teammate and citizen i don't see the problem in letting him play for the NFL.

Hamilton Proves hes Human

I usually like to keep this blog on just sports topics and nothing that these athletes do off the field. But with all the publicity that this story is getting i figured i would chime in with my two cents. Recently on deadspin.com some photos surfaced of Josh Hamilton at a bar doing some body shots with some young ladies. Most other publications are dragging Hamilton through the dirt with these photos. Whether or not you agree with his actions all this proves is that athletes are just as human as we are. Most baseball fans know Hamilton for his battle with drug addiction that actually had him out of baseball for a long time. He made a comeback which culminated with the outstanding Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. Hamilton also wrote a book about his ordeal and explained how he went from being homeless to one of the biggest stars in baseball. If anything to me its just a little disappointing, the only people who deserve an apology from Josh is his wife and kids. But also to me this proves to me that Hamilton is human and humans make mistakes. In a perfect world we would like all of our athletes to be perfect angels and not do anything bad when they are in their personal lives. But realistically we can expect these athletes to act how we would want them to. The only unfortunate part in this story is that his kids and wife can find these pictures anywhere on the Internet and that's not fair to them. Josh Hamilton inspired a lot of people with his courageous story and comeback and i hope just for his sake not for anybody elses that he doesn't go back into drug use and he can learn from this and go back to dazzling us on the field and not creating stories off the field.

NFL Hall of Fame

So I am sitting at home watching the NFL Network, and the program they have on is the top 10 players not to be inducted into the Hall of Fame which is a pretty good list. Some highlights include Andre Reed, Steve Tasker, Cris Carter, Shannon Sharpe, Jerry Kramer and Ken Stabler just to name a few. And while i was watching it got me to thinking, that some voters are the biggest idiots every. Just some of the reasons they gave for not voting for certain people just didn't make any sense to me. For Instance another name on the list was Ricky Waters, over 10,000 rushing yards over 4,000 receiving yards 91 TDs and because he was a loud mouth and he made one stupid comment many guys will never vote for him. And that comment was when he short armed a pass he could've caught and then asked about it after the game why he didn't extend his arms he said 'for who for what'. Granted it was stupid to say that but you shouldn't keep him out of the Hall because of one comment. Cris Carter is another one that make you scratch your head. One reason a voter gave on the show was that they didn't want to vote 2 WR in they same year, are you kidding me. Who cares if all the inductees that year is one position if they are hall of famers they are hall of famers. Another thing about Cris Carter they said is it should be hard to get in on the first try, basically saying if aren't a player like Unitas, Montana, Elway, etc. you should not get in the first year. Some of these voters need to be smacked in the head to me it seems like they try to make arguments not to put people in the Hall. Also personal vendettas should not be a reason to keep someone out. They should not keep guys out because he was a jerk lots of people are jerks that doesn't mean they aren't Hall of famers. I think you would have less controversies if former players voted for the Hall and not a bunch of writers who probably never picked up a ball in their life. I know eventually most of these guys will get in but the thought process is the thing that should change.

NFL PREVIEW

With the NFL Season just around the corner its time for the predictions.

FIRST THE AFC
AFC NORTH
1. Steelers
2. Ravens*
3. Bengals
4. Browns

This to me is just a two team race the Steelers and Ravens are the class of this division, the Bengals could be better but ill believe it when i see it and the Browns are a complete mess, the Ravens should be a wild card team again.

AFC EAST
1. Patriots
2. Jets*
3. Dolphins
4. Bills

With Tom Brady back i expect the Pats to take control of this division again, with the Jets Rex Ryan has done a lot of talking but you don't win a division by talking. Just because i have the Bills in last doesn't mean they will have a bad year, this division should be the most competitive.

AFC SOUTH
1. Colts
2. Titans
3. Texans
4. Jaguars

A lot of changes in Indy but one constant, Peyton Manning don't know if they will win 12 games again but a division title isn't out of reach. Tennessee will be good but not # 1 seed good, and the Texans will try for winning season # 1 after back to back 8-8 campaigns.

AFC WEST
1. Chargers
2. Chiefs
3. Broncos
4. Raiders

Chargers win this division by default because they have the best team. Chiefs have a better year just for the fact that Matt Cassel is their quarterback. With the Broncos to many changes and the Raiders aren't quite there yet.

AFC CHAMPION: Baltimore Ravens

I know it sounds like i am being a homer but i like all the off season moves they have made and with Mason coming back and another year for Flacco I like their chances.

NFC
NFC NORTH
1. Bears
2. Packers
3. Vikings
4. Lions

The Bears finally have a Quarterback in Jay Cutler which should help them win this division. The Packers don't have enough fire power, with the Vikes to many issues at QB, and i don't think i have to explain why the Lions are last.

NFC EAST
1. Eagles
2. Giants
3. Cowboys
4. Redskins

The Eagle had the most success last year advancing to the NFC Championship Game, don't know how good the Giants can be without Burress, not a big believer in Romo and the Redskins spent a lot of money but most of it on 1 player.

NFC SOUTH
1. Saints
2. Falcons*
3. Panthers*
4. Buccaneers

New Orleans is first here for one reason, well actually 5,069 reasons, Drew Brees. Love the addition of Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta and Carolina is Carolina, Tampa to me is the odd man out in this division.

NFC WEST
1. Cardinals
2. Seahawks
3. 49ers
4. Rams

The Cardinals have all the pieces back from a NFC Championship team, Seattle should be better with Matt Hasselbeck back healthy, depending on what Crabtree decides to do with his season depends of San Frans success, and the only thing you should know about St. Louis they signed Kyle Boller as a back up.

NFC CHAMPION: New Orleans Saints

SUPER BOWL 44: Baltimore Ravens vs. New Orleans Saints

I wont pick a champion mostly because i just don't want to, but i hope my home town Baltimore Ravens avenge the 3 losses to the Steelers a year ago and get to the promised land of professional football.

Melvin Mora did all the disrespecting

Over the weekend Melvin Mora lashed out saying that he has felt disrespected after being out of the lineup 3 of the last 4 games. There are a couple things wrong with what Melvin Mora did. First he is being sat down because he is not performing. Mora is hitting .256 with 3 homers and 27 RBI, in my opinion hes lucky Trembley hasn't sat him down earlier. Mora kept mentioning respect in his rant or lack there of when really Mora was the one who was lacking respect towards the team and the more specifically Dave Trembley. If you have a problem with what is going on you address the situation in private not to the nearest reporter that wants to listen. Also this isnt something you would expect from Melvin Mora, who for the most part as been a quiet player who had just gone about his business. I guess Mora feels he has done enough with the Orioles that no matter how bad he is playing he should get the benefit of the doubt and play no matter what. There are only a select few that have that honor, someone like a Cal Ripken or Derek Jeter and no offense to Melvin but he is not quite on their level. All Dave Trembley has to do make the last couple of months of the season as smooth as possible. Melvin is in the last year of his contract and after his performance this season you could almost guarantee he wont be back. It is just unfortunate that Mora had to taint his last couple months of what has been a pretty good run that Mora has had with the Orioles.