The Orange and the Green

Freshman will be reporting to the University of Miami tomorrow in preparation for the 2010 season. It is my personal favorite time of the year when college football gets underway--although honestly during the season I'm harder to talk too than a girl who just had her period.

Optimism is abound at the U where starting Quarterback Jacory Harris is back from hand surgery (which I'm gunna say led to his poorer play at the end of the season), the 'Canes have a loaded backfield even without injured starter Graig Cooper as Damien Berry, Mike James, and the man known as "The Truth" Lamar Miller. You combine these weapons with arguably the most talented WR corps in the country featuring Leonard Hankerson (sure fire 1st-2nd rd pick), Travis Benjamin (maybe the fastest player in college football), and LaRon Byrd (so good that Michael Irvin gave him permission to wear his #47) and Jacory could have a fun time spreading the ball around this season.

What I want to focus on is Lamar Miller. You haven't heard of him yet...but you will. You don't lead Miami-Dade county 6A football in rushing yards and become an average football player at the next level. See: Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James. Miller is 6'0 210 lbs that ran a 10.72 in the 100 meter--to give you some perspective, former Hurricane great Devin Hester's best time? 10.87. That size and that speed spells one thing for defenses...DEATH.

The only question that faces these no longer young Hurricanes is consistency. Last season they would pound Georgia Tech (33-7 and it wasn't even that close) and beat Top 10 Oklahoma. Then that same team would come out flat in a huge game against Virginia Tech, and look more interested in staying warm than playing Wisconsin in the bowl game.

With HUGE trips to Ohio State and Pittsburgh in September there is no time for further growth, no more time for excuses. In addition the Ohio State game is huge to the fanbase that is dying for revenge after the fiasco in 2003. Hopefully, the refs won't be from the world cup this time. It's put up or shut up not just for these talented youngsters but for Randy Shannon as well. Will the 'Canes be a consistent contender under Shannon? We find out this season.

BCS or bust in Coral Gables.

Youtube of the Day (Season Preview)

How Long Can They Hold On?

I was admittedly critical of the Red Sox at the start of the year, bashing Theo's theory of run prevention (and even that hasn't worked out for him) but this time has really proven me wrong. The offense has been shockingly better than expected despite guys like Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew and Mike Cameron missing more games than, well, J.D. Drew.

The key has been the pitching coming around, even (knock on wood) dice-k. No Josh Beckett? No problem so far. Buchholz becoming a bonified ace has softened the blow as has Jon Lester looking like Sandy Koufax.

But how long can this team keep it up? With a starting outfield of Daniel Nava, Darnell McDonald, and Bill Hall, one must wonder are we watching the Boston Pawsox?! Now Pedroia hits the DL leading to a call-up of another Paw Sox Angel Sanchez. Then yesterday Buchholz feels a "pop" in his knee as he's running to second base (damn interleague play).

The Sox are being KILLED by the injury bug right now and are still just 2 games out of first place. They own the best record in baseball since April 20th. But with this make shift roster how can they hold on much longer? The players and manager Terry Francona deserve all the credit in the world, it seems like a different guy every night, Beltre, Youka, Papi, even Daniel Nava. The Sox have raised their level of play despite being short-handed and missing so many guys you would think they were the L.A. Clippers.

However, over the course of a 162 game season, where the injury bug seems to continue to get worse...how much longer can the run really last?

Bravo

This is a little late, forgive me, been away for a while. The Lakers have now won their 16th NBA title putting them just one behind the Celtics. While watching this series, choosing which one to pull for was about as hard as deciding whether i'd rather die by drowning or by bleeding to death...they both make me cringe.

In the end I would say I did pull for the Lakers, only so I didn't have to listen to Boston fans for another season (while I am a Redsox fan I will wholeheartedly admit the fan base is like the vuvuzelas at the world cup). But as the series came to a conclusion and the Lakers made just enough plays to win, one main theme that emerged in my head was how much credit the Celtics deserved.

This was a team that was left for dead after a terrible second half where Doc made the decision to limit their minutes and save them for the playoffs and what a brilliant decision that was. Had the Celtics won the title you can make an argument they would have been one of the most improbable champions ever. In truth, this was a series of two champions the Celtics of '08 and the Lakers of '09 for the most part. The prize for the winner was walking away with bragging rights and declaring themselves the real best team of the last three seasons.

There was a lot of talk about Kobe being thrown into the same category as Jordan but forget it. By no means did Kobe lay an egg like he did in '08, but he was not Jordan, he was not the reason the Lakers won. The reason they won is because they had slightly more energy than Boston; they were younger. How else can you explain the huge shifts that these games had from one to the other? Legs and airplanes.

It was ironic that the hero of this postseason was not Kobe, but Ron Artest that made the difference with his defense of Pierce and Pau Gasol suddenly growing some nads.

What the Celtics did prove is that they were true champions, while this season it is only Eastern Conference Champs, one might wonder what could have been had KG not been hurt last season. They may have been looking at a possible three-peat, all three over the Lakers. But instead now it's L.A. that will pursue it's three peat, and maybe Phil Jackson pursuing his fourth career three-peat (wow). But it's truly the slimmest of margins that this is so, and while the Lakers get the parade, banner, and ring--we would be remissed to not truly appreciate what Boston did...they just simple ran out of gas.

We need this one tonight.....Bad

I'm not suggesting what-soever that we need this game to win the series, but it will make it ten times easier if we get a win tonight. I would not look forward to two games in LA with being down two games.
We've been grinding out wins when weve had to. It hasn't looked all that pretty. With how many turnovers we had in game 2, Ray's shooting kept us in it. And I wont even mention Shrek and Donkey from game 4.
It's pretty simple on what needs to happen in game 5. The big 3 really need to show up and contribute more than they have. Artest has been playing rediculous defense against Paul, but I'm lookin for the Truth to be shootin off of screens tonight. Ray's been a little cold as of late, and KG hasn't exactly been himself. The whole team has been scrappy enough to win without these guys doin their normal thing out there. If they pick it up, the whole team will rally even more behind them.
Speaking of LA, Manny's coming home on Friday. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. One day at a time. Better safe than sorry. Thats what Moms always says.

How much do you agree with me? Scale 1-10. 1 being I agree with you pretty good. 10 being holy hell I agree with you.

You're scared of the claw

King Kong aint got shit on Me

I am the Christ of Max Dirt Bike. Finished the game in under four minutes. And I was throwin down on some back flips. Imagine if I brought focus to the table? What kind of damage could I really do? Let me know if your in my ballpark for this game and Ill bring you some heat.

http://www.addictinggames.com/maxdirtbike.html

No Taxation Without Representation!

It's the day of days for USA soccer. As of right now we are about an hour away from one of the most anticipated games in US soccer that I can ever remember. It may not be quiet as anticipated as events like MLB Opening Day, or as much of a holiday as the Super Bowl has become to America, but the fact is that futbol is the most popular sport in the world; just not in America.

Why is that?

We Americans like our winners. What has this US team won? Really, nothing. Our olympic sports like Basketball, Hockey, and Baseball (formerly olympic sport) have all won gold medals and they are sports intrinsic to America. Soccer on the other hand hasn't made it past the Quarterfinals in it's history and hasn't even sniffed a World Cup final.

A funny thing happened in the 2009 Confederation's Cup. The United States made a final! The nation seemed to get behind their team (in a tournament far less prominent than the World Cup) after they defeated the number one ranked team in the world, Spain. The US even offered more shock when they grabbed a 2-0 lead in the final against #2 Brazil...before the soccer power woke up and beat the US 3-2.

This has proven that the US can compete on the top level if they play as they are capable of. In the 2006 World Cup, under high expectations, the United States choked, not advancing past the group stage and scoring only one goal. Although, there was still a bright spot in tying eventual champion Italy 1-1, proving, again that they can compete with the best.

We don't know how this US team will respond to the increased pressure of Americans (gulp) expecting them to compete or at the very least breakthrough the group stage, but what we do know is that the potential is there not just for team growth, but for growth in fans. I, myself have watched every US soccer game I can, however never have I felt this excitement for a match (it may just be cause of playing the 'ole chaps from across the pond) and others are feeling it as well.

"I am absolutely stoked," said US Soccer fan Willie Martin. "The World Cup is my favorite event."

"This win today could be the greatest win for a national US team since 1980 (hockey team), it is a long shot but it would be one of the biggest shockers ever," said fellow blogger Dennis LeClair.

While we still have some to win over...

"I'm so pumped I couldn't sleep last night...nah, actually I hope the US wins but I won't be watching," said "American Sports Fan" Chris Janke.

All I know is this is a national event, and it deserves that attention. If this team goes on a run it could change the way soccer is perceived here in the United States and grab some bandwagoners along the way. Let's hope today's result is similar to the Revolutionary War.

Go Red, White, and Blue!

Live Blog: Lakers-Celtics

Check your balls tonight

I clean up shit at work so the radio is a must. Evidently, the level of optimism isn't too high with Boston sportswriters. This is the time of year where testicles are thoroughly checked. The NBA doctor cups your balls, and tells you to cough night in and night out. As a fan, especially a Boston fan, its important to make sure your berries have dropped to the correct positon below the twig.
Its scary to know how shitty we played in game two. I dont know how, but banner 18 is coming to Boston. Theres just way too much grit to go around on the green team. So later tonight, bring your "optimism" to wherever your watching the game.
FYI, I'll be at the whip throwing down dollar drafts for every three ball Ray drops. If you don't want to join me, Dennis can hook you up with some Extenze in aisle 22.
Three posts in a row? Im like Papi in '04.
Sleep tight sluts

Thank you Raymond

Ray brought it tonight. Big time. Between the foul trouble and turnovers, Jesus brought buckets. Big buckets. Buckets with those buckets then buckets on top of those buckets. Lakers need bandaids for those wounds tonight. Kobe, Dennis has your back in aisle 10.

Gasol did back up his mouth a little, or I should say KG did it for him. Im not gonna throw out any numbers but KG didn't have the cleanest game of his career. No doubt he'll bring it in Bean Town.

Rondo. Nothing needs to be said.

Keep it simple for you late night readers out there. Big night on Tuesday.

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