Sports Notes and NFL Playoffs
Posted by: Bradley McDonald
The Houston Astros are in need of a center fielder now that Carlos Beltran signed with the Mets for $119 million over 7 years. Supposedly, talks with the Astros broke down over a no-trade clause. I can't figure out why Houston would offer over $100 million and then lose out over a no-trade clause. At least Beltran didn't go to the Yankees (who acquired Randy Johnson the same day). I have an ever-growing suspicion that George Steinbrenner is the anti-christ.
Last night, the New Orleans Hornets varsity basketball team had their two game win streak snapped by the Detroit Pistons. Two games isn't much, you say? Well, it doubled the total win column for the Hornets, who are now 4-30. At least the Hornets make the Saints look like winners.
NFL Playoffs
Indianapolis at New England
This is the game everyone is talking about this week, and rightfully so. Can the defending Super Bowl champions shut down Manning and the Colts' offense? Shut down, no; control, maybe. After last year, I've learned not to doubt Bill Belichick's game-planning mastery. The Colts went into New England on a roll last playoff season, but they left with a 24-14 loss. Of course, this is a different year and the Colts' offense is more potent than ever. I'll take the easy way out and call this one a tie.
Patriots 30 - Colts 30
New York at Pittsburgh
I would say this is the easiest game to call this weekend. The Steelers are better than the Jets at just about every aspect of the game. And to top it off, Jets QB Chad Pennington has the flu.
Steelers 24 - Jets 13
St. Louis at Atlanta
Upset alert! The Falcons are not nearly as good as their record suggests and the Rams' offense is rolling. Mike Vick will get his yards running the ball, but he'll have to be effective in the air for Atlanta to win. I'm going with the Rams, so go ahead and call your bookie and bet the house on Atlanta.
Rams 28 - Falcons 24
Minnesota at Philadelphia
How much will Philly miss Terrell Owens? A good bit, I would think, but they may have enough weapons to get by the Vikings. The key for the Eagles will be ball control. If they don't turn the ball over to the Vikings' powerful offense like Green Bay did last week, they should be OK.
Eagles 24 - Vikings 17
If Minnesota does win, I want to see Randy Moss really moon the crowd and see how upset Joe Buck gets. Last week after scoring a touchdown, Moss acted like he was mooning the crowd and that seemed to offend a lot of people, including Buck, an announcer, who called it a 'disgusting act.' I don't consider a fake mooning disgusting (as long as no part of the derriere is revealed), but I do consider walking off the field before the game is over disgusting (which Moss did the previous week).
The Houston Astros are in need of a center fielder now that Carlos Beltran signed with the Mets for $119 million over 7 years. Supposedly, talks with the Astros broke down over a no-trade clause. I can't figure out why Houston would offer over $100 million and then lose out over a no-trade clause. At least Beltran didn't go to the Yankees (who acquired Randy Johnson the same day). I have an ever-growing suspicion that George Steinbrenner is the anti-christ.
Last night, the New Orleans Hornets varsity basketball team had their two game win streak snapped by the Detroit Pistons. Two games isn't much, you say? Well, it doubled the total win column for the Hornets, who are now 4-30. At least the Hornets make the Saints look like winners.
NFL Playoffs
Indianapolis at New England
This is the game everyone is talking about this week, and rightfully so. Can the defending Super Bowl champions shut down Manning and the Colts' offense? Shut down, no; control, maybe. After last year, I've learned not to doubt Bill Belichick's game-planning mastery. The Colts went into New England on a roll last playoff season, but they left with a 24-14 loss. Of course, this is a different year and the Colts' offense is more potent than ever. I'll take the easy way out and call this one a tie.
Patriots 30 - Colts 30
New York at Pittsburgh
I would say this is the easiest game to call this weekend. The Steelers are better than the Jets at just about every aspect of the game. And to top it off, Jets QB Chad Pennington has the flu.
Steelers 24 - Jets 13
St. Louis at Atlanta
Upset alert! The Falcons are not nearly as good as their record suggests and the Rams' offense is rolling. Mike Vick will get his yards running the ball, but he'll have to be effective in the air for Atlanta to win. I'm going with the Rams, so go ahead and call your bookie and bet the house on Atlanta.
Rams 28 - Falcons 24
Minnesota at Philadelphia
How much will Philly miss Terrell Owens? A good bit, I would think, but they may have enough weapons to get by the Vikings. The key for the Eagles will be ball control. If they don't turn the ball over to the Vikings' powerful offense like Green Bay did last week, they should be OK.
Eagles 24 - Vikings 17
If Minnesota does win, I want to see Randy Moss really moon the crowd and see how upset Joe Buck gets. Last week after scoring a touchdown, Moss acted like he was mooning the crowd and that seemed to offend a lot of people, including Buck, an announcer, who called it a 'disgusting act.' I don't consider a fake mooning disgusting (as long as no part of the derriere is revealed), but I do consider walking off the field before the game is over disgusting (which Moss did the previous week).
