Clarity in a world of chaos

After two years of choking from our beloved Cowboys, (Can you believe that 2nd half performace?  That from what had been all year, a second-half team?) I find myself not really caring about the SuperBowl. Why should we sulk?  After all, Roy &  T.O. Rushed off to hang out with the Lyric's, Claudia's, and Melyssa Ford's of the world (I don't blame them) and Romo probably got a nice back run from Jessica Simpson (Not a bad way to end the season). After all, it's just a game- at the end of the day.  But oh, what a game!

Sure, I'm going to watch the Super Bowl, but mainly as an excuse to wolf down some wings, and laugh at the commercials.  I'm not really a Giants fan, or a Patriots fan.  I like players on both teams- ( Michael Strahan is the only Giant I like), but on the Patriots- I do like Randy Moss, Tom Brady, and Junior Seau. 

But, I'm an NFC man, not an AFC man, so if I have to pick one, I'd rather see the Giants win.  The odds are stacked against them though. On one hand, I'd like to see the Patriots go 19 & 0, on the other, I'd like to see the Giants upset them- thus proving you can sneak into the Playoffs, and still walk away SuperBowl Champions, on any given Sunday.

There's something cool about watching a giant fall, and the Patriots have been head & shoulders above the league all season.  Sometimes the under dog wins.

Glenn beat Roy Jones Jr. (Say what?)
The Miami Dolphons Beat the Super bowl Shufflin' bears (Fluke)
Villanove beat Georgetown (I loved that!!!)
David beat Goliath
Red Sox came back from 0 - 3 to beat the Yankees...
The Heat came back from 0 - 3 to beat the Mavericks- (OK, that wasn't cool...)

So, while we'll have to see if Romo can get a ring, and the girl next year. And, Brett may have to retire with only one ring instead of two- what do you guys & gals feel about the Super Bowl.  Do you care who wins?

 

 

 

Scenario: (Hypothetically, of course...)

 

You're New England's head coach.  You're 15 - 0 going into the last game of the season. 

 

Playoffs are locked, you got a 1st round bye, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

 

Do you play your starters in that meaningless game at a chance to go 16 - 0, or do you rest them for the playoff run?

 

• Why would you play your starters?

   

• Why wouldn't you play your starters?

   

• Would you let your starters play the whole game?

   

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Depending on whom we're playing- I'd start the game with the starting players, and right out the gate, for my first 2 - 3 possessions, I'd go into hurry-up offense.  If I can strike them quickly, and put 14 - 21 points on the board before they have a chance to blink (See 1994-1995 NFC Championship game between 49ers and Cowboys for example), then I'd pull my offensive key players (Brady, Moss, etc..) and save them for the playoffs.

 

If that plan didn't work, and I had to grind out the scores, I'd only play them the first half. 3 quarters at the maximum.

 

What would you do, Coach? 

 

 

 

Everyone else has chimed in, so I'll take my turn now.

What killed the Maverick's chances at a championship is simple.  When you live by the 3-pointer, you will die by the 3-pointer.  

 

Ask the Orlando Magic from 1995.

Ask the Indiana Pacers.  
Ask the Mavericks from last year, and the year they had Van Exel...  

 

When the 3-pointer's were falling, life is good. Smiles and laughter take place on the basketball court.  When the 3-pointer's aren't falling, they don't have a fundamentally sound game to hold them over until they start falling again. 

 

When you look at Champions of the past, (With the exception of the Bulls- who were an anomaly) they had fundamentally sound basketball teams.  The Lakers of the 80's could run you to death, but- if you tried or forced them into a half-court game- they could play there too.  You had a better chance in a half-court game against the Lakers, but your victory wasn't guaranteed.  

 

The Celtics were a half-court team that could run when they needed too.  Same with the Pistons. The key here: They had the ability to transition. The Mavs are somewhere between a run & gun team, and a half court team.  A Jack of both trades, but a master of neither.  That was their undoing.  

 

When LA of the late 90's / early 2000 had Shaq & Kobe, they had an unstoppable inside game, and a great outside game. When they had a good supporting cast, the Lakers were unstoppable. They could run and they could play half-court. Kobe’s still in LA, but they have no inside game until Kobe drives the lane.  Kobe’s highlight reel looks good, but the Lakers won’t win another championship like that.  

 

For the last 4-5 years, the Mavericks have been on the precipice of greatness.  They were better this year than they were last year, but again- their foundation isn't as strong as it needs to be. They need to call Olshan and get that foundation looked at- it may need a few piers. 

Looking at the little bit of the series I saw, it was like they had the cruise control set on 55 MPH, but the speed limit was 70 MPH in round one.   

 

Dirk needs to get it in his head that at 7'0", rebounds are expected, not just a perimeter game. At seven feet, under-the-goal play is expected, and implied.  While I can't lay this all on Dirk, he is the leader of that team, until, and unless Jason Terry steps up, and takes it. Any team needs a leader, one leader- not 5 guys having fun. (Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Avery Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, and now, LeBron James). You need one leader; leadership by committee only works on paper. Someone has to have the heart to coral the guys, kick them in the butt, and get them to play.  

 

1.) Rebounds 

 

2.) Play big under the basket.  

 

3.) Heart  

 

Get those things Mavs, you have everything else. 

 

Good run, better luck next year fellas.

 

 

 

I'm not a huge boxing fan, but this is a must see fight.  I might not be able to wait for the re-broadcast on HBO.

Usually, when I watch a fight, I'll have a favorite.  Roy Jones Jr, George Foreman, Holyfield, Mayweather, Whittaker, Dela Hoya, Pre-Crazy Tyson, etc...  This time, two of my favorites are fighting... Each other!!!

Wow, this is going to be a great fight...

I loved watching DeLa Hoya "pimp" Fernando Vargas (The last time I saw him fight). (I can't stand Vargas).  But Mayweather is a great fighter.  If I were a betting man, I'd bet on Mayweather, but although he looks thin, and appears to not be in "boxer shape" DeLa Hoya is deceptively strong, and not to be dismissed.  Take him for granted, and next thing you know, you're looking at the ceiling- and hearing 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...

What do you guys & gals think?  DeLa Hoya or Mayweather?

I heard John Madden utter those words way back in 1985 when the Chicago Bears Predicted, and eventually earned a Super Bowl championship by going 15 - 1 on the season, then spanking their playoff opponents, and eventually the New England Patriots (If memory serves).

It came true that year. The Bears were not offensive powerhouses with Jim McMahon and Steve Fuller at the helm, but they could score 14-21 points per game. What made the Bears killers back then was- the defense could score 14-21 points too.

From 1985 - 2005, John Madden was right, Defense won championships. Giants, 49ers, 49ers, Cowboys, 49er’s, Cowboys, oh yeah, and the 49ers. (Can you tell I like the 49ers and the Cowboys?) Sacreligious, I know- but we all have our crosses to bear.

John’s statement was accurate two weeks ago when Chicago managed to defeat New Orleans. A team with a far more potent offense, and a Defense that was just as good...

But, not this week. Conventional wisdom handed down from John Madden did not pan out this week. Indianapolis, a team that seemed a bit jumpy after allowing the first kick-off of the game to result in "6", buckled down, in the rain, and in a situation which normally favors the defense (wet, slippery field), managed to hand the top defense in the league, a butt whipping.

Defense might win Championships, and "The Best Offense might be a Good Defense"- but today, the best offense was the best team, and the Colts and Peyton Manning are being fitted for rings as I type this...

Way to go Peyton! Elway-like rounds of overdue congratulations are in order; but rememeber this. You have the ring, but- you did get your butt handed to you when you came to Dallas.

I don't want you to forget that!

Until August, enjoy!

With the emergence of talent around Parcells in this last season, I really hate to see Bill leave now. The question becomes, where can Jerry find a coach who can mold a young group of men into a championship team?

I wouldn't suggest shuffling in the college ranks. Stoops might come to the mouthes of many, but not many college coaches successfully transistion to the pro-level. At least, not with a veteran talent pool...

But, when I reflect on Dallas History, and what a coach did with another group of young bucks, and how he molded them into a dominate force in the NFL, I can think of no one better suited for this team, and this level of talent, than Jimmy Johnson.

Hopefully Owner-Jerry, and Jimmy could put whatever happened aside and rekindle that spark from the 90's with Romo, Glenn, and Jones, like he did with Aikman, Smith, and Irving...

I know this is fantasy coaching hopes on my part. But, I think someone like Jimmy has the fire to make it happen.

Well, I usually don't get offended by this kind of stuff, I'm not really offended now, but it still amazes me that an athlete can command insane amounts of money like this, to kick a freakign soccer ball. (Or hit a baseball as in Alex Rodriques' case), meanwhile teachers in our community have to deal with undisciplined kids, rude parents, and so forth & so one, for a fraction of that money. Do we have our priorities straight?

Then not only that, but they're on TV every second, as if what they say can really make a difference in how they play, for millions...

Anyone else tired of this?

If you love to play, it's not about the money...

I'm going to call the rest of the season. You guys might think I'm crazy, but with the personnel we have, (TO, Witten, Glenn, Bledsoe, and more...) we certainly have a shot. There's only one truly Dominant team in the NFL, and that's Indianapolis, so- they have a chance...

Here it is: 11 & 5 (Especially if that kicker doesn't take any more "mental vacations".)

Unless the Cowboy's hit their peak (And they have the tools in place to do it) This is how I see the rest of the season going. If they can find a way to gel, they may do even better. But, the defense has to stay strong, especially in the secondary, not giving up the big plays, and the offense has to put at least 24 - 28 points on the board, per game.

Houston: W
NY Giants: W (Sure, they beat Philly, but- we should have (could have) too). Big play or Special teams will make the difference between a "W" and an "L".
Carolina: W- (Against the 23rd ranked offense, and 18th ranked Defense, Dallas should have a chance.
Washington: W
Arizona: W
Indianapolis: L (Unless Peyton Manning gets injured or kidnapped)
Tampa Bay: W
NY Giants: W
New Orleans: W (If they play Dallas like they played Atlanta 2-3 weeks ago, they just might surpsrise me, and give Dallas an "L"
Atlanta: L (With a healthy Vick giving the line fits, and a lackluster secondary, Dallas is in trouble)
Philadelphia: L 50 / 50. They'll be at home, but I think Philly has Dallas intimidated. I'm gonna call this a "L" for mental reasons on the Cowboys part.
Detroit: W

Overall: 11-5

You can always tell people who don't know much about the game of football. As soon as a team loses, they look straight to the QB. Were they watching the same game as me? While it's true that Drew was the best player on Philly's team yesterday, with 3 INT's, and a fumble, not to mention the short passes, what about the other 21 players on the offensive and defensive side of the ball?

Did anyone notice the big plays the defense gave up?Did anyone bring jelly to go with the toast McNabb kept making out of our secondary? Did anyone notice the offensive line's inability to protect Drew and pick up the blitz? Did anyone notice how ineffective the quick short pass and draw plays were against the blitz? All of that wasn't Drew's fault, and each one helped Philly win that game.

I'm no Drew Bledsoe fan, but- I believe in calling them like I see them, and this loss is not entirely Bledsoe's fault. Neither Roger Staubach, Danny White, Troy Aokman, Randall Cunningham, or even Joe Montana in their prime, could have helped the Cowboys yesterday, not with the poor performance of the Cowboy's line...

If we're going to point fingers, lets start with those 5 - 7 big fellas that line up in front of the QB.