Base10Blog
Monday, January 22, 2007
 
Great Day of Football!
The conference championships are over and the players for the big game are set. The Bears were surprisingly successful against a New Orlean team that should have outclassed them, winning 39-14. What was especially memorable was the late game snowfall at Soldier Field. Football the way it ought to be. As for the AFC contender, the game between the Colts and Pats ended in a barn-burner. Final score 38-34. Interestingly, for the first time, two black coaches will face each other in the Superbowl in the persons of Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy. Base10 will be rooting for Indy. Tony Dungy deserves a Superbowl after being displaced by Jon Gruden in Tampa (with Gruden going on to win the big game that year with basically Dungy's team).

The best day of football, but alas, one of the last. The Superbowl is often a big disappointment as far as the quality of the game--the conference championships are the two games involving the four best teams. Two weeks has the Superbowl, then another for the Pro Bowl and that's it. The long night begins. Sure there's the Draft in April, but football will be only a memory. Soon it's off too watch hockey and NCAA basketball until April and opening day in baseball. Oh the humanity!

In other football news, Bill Parcells has announced his retirement from football (this is only like the fifth time). Football has lost a legend--assuming he stays retired.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
 
Urban Meyer is a Genius!
Base10 didn't write about it yesterday (Blogger was out most of the day--Base10 must eventually switch to the new interface), but on Monday night, the Gators absolutely destroyed the Buckeyes 41-14. If you watched the game, it wasn't even as close as the score suggests. Although the Buckeyes scored first on the opening kickoff return, it was all downhill from there. Florida absolutely deserves to be the National Champ.

Alas, the season is for the most part over for Base10. Yes, there's still the Shrine game in college ball, and the continuation of the NFL playoffs, but what's the point? Base10's attention is already starting to shift to the NHL.

More later. Base10 must head to school for a bit.
Monday, January 08, 2007
 
Oh Well...
The Jets just couldn't get it done yesterday falling to the Pats 37-16. Click here if you have the intenstinal fortitude to look at the recap. The final score is a bit misleading, the Jets did flirt with their archrival even briefly taking the lead just prior to halftime. The Pats however recovered in the fourth quarter. Even then, with a little over 5 minutes left, and down by two scores, they had a fighting chance until Chad Pennington through an interception that was run back for a touchdown. Boo hoo.

We're out. What is there to say? There's plenty to be happy about if your a fan. The quarterback situation is not nearly as dire as was predicted in the beginning of the season. Chadwick can and should be the man under center for the next few years. Hopefully Clemens (or someone else) will develop. The Jet's defense if pretty good, but they could perhaps use an upgrade in the secondary and at linebacker to stop the run. The seem good on special teams and their offensive skill players seem to be a good mix of experience and youth. (Cotchery, in particular, looks like he's going to have a poductive career). I would like to see an upgrade at tight end but even here, there are only two guys named Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. The biggest concern should be running back. The guys they have are doing the best job they're capable of, but I'd like to see an upgrade to a bruising every-down back. Hey, maybe Deuce McCalister will be available! Finally, Jets fans should be content that they gave the keys to the right guy in Greg Mangini and Mike Tanenbaum. Mangini should be the Coach of the Year.

In a final Jets note, Curtis Martin was clearing out his locker and finally admitted that he will not be back next season. I'll have more on this when he officially announces his retirement, but it is a sad day in Jetdom. Truly the gentleman to the end, Martin had great praise for Mangini:
Definitely, [Mangini] should be coach of the year. This is one time in my career that I've really seen, I won't say one time, I've seen it before, this time around with Eric, you talk about making a difference in a team, he made a huge difference in this team. Not to speak against any other coaches, but the Jets got the best coach that was out there. If I owned a team, Eric would be my head coach. I don't know how many coaches they could've got that would have been better, regardless of who was available or not.


In other news, the Giants also lost their playoff game 21-20. They were overcome by the Eagles on a last second field goal. The Giants are definitely not as confident in their future as Jets fans.

Base10 will have more on next weeks division championships as well as some final thoughts on the Jets season later in the week. Right now, he is off to see the NCAAF National Championship game.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
 
The Jets, The Cowboys and a Late Homage to FSU
There were great playoff football games yesterday. Last night's matchup between the Cowboys and Seahawks had the most exciting and bizzarre ending that I've ever seen. In the final moments, the Giants marched down the field and tried a figgie from the one yard line. Romo fumbled the snap and couldn't make the first down. The Seahawks took over on downs and basically ran down the clock, preserving a one-point lead. Final: 21-20. Very strange.

In earlier action, the Colts were surprisingly able to stuff the run against the Chiefs yesterday. Indy won 23-8, but it was actually much closer than that until the end. In a touching moment, when Herm Edwards and Tony Dungy met at midfield after the game. Being best friends, Edwards exhorted Dungy that "You better win this thing!" A true example of good sportsmanship.

A game unlikely to have a hug-and-kisses moment is the Jets and the Pats. Base10 can't wait. Click here for a preview.

Finally, in an effort to appease the Base10 cousin, who claims that Base10 didn't sufficiently compliment Florida St. on their Emerald Bowl victory over UCLA. Well, 'Noles, consider yourselves complimented. Click here for a recap.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
 
Midweek Football Comments
The Irish were crushed by LSU in the Sugar Bowl last night 41-14. Perhaps Charlie Weiss isn't all that after all. They have nothing to be ashamed of, certainly, but such a display is not what you would expect of a team that wants to be taken seriously as a national championship contender next year.

In other shocking news, Nick Saban, the soon to be erstwhile coach of the Miami Dolphins is heading on over to Alabama to coach the Crimson Tide. This comes, of course, after Saban repeatedly professed that he had no interest in the job and was staying in Miami. Of course in NFL speak that means I'll take the job if you offer more money.

Finally, in a moe that Base10 was glad to see, Chad Pennington was awarded the "Comeback Player of the Year Award" by the AP. You go, Chadwick!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
 
The Jets, This Coming Sunday
The Jets are set to play the Pats at Foxboro on Sunday at 1PM. The NYC media has chosen for today's theme: The Belichick--Mangini Feud. Check out the articles here and here. (Shoot, in the latter article Wallace Mathews described it as "Oedipal.") The controversy? Belichick supposedly urged Mangini not to go to the Jets as head coach. After Manging took the job, Belichick has repeatedly snubbed him. The most notable occassion was the last game at Foxoboro where the Jets won. It would usually be the case that a reunion of mentor-student coaches would result in a huggfest at the end of the game, regardless of the result. Not the case here. Belichick reportedly gave him a milisecond cold-fish handshake. Top this off with the fact that Belichick refuses to use Mangini's name at press conferences. This has even ticked off some of the players. Mangini for his part has mostly taken the high road--not that he isn't pissed off, who wouldn't be?--but rather because he would rather bear the brunt of the playoff distraction rather than having it on the team. It even yields a little motivational push. C'mon, let's win one for Eric. Mangini, at least to my kowledge, has never said a bad word about Belichick.

It is kind of petty. Belichick has become the modern day Bill Walsh launching the careers of many of the best coaches of our generation. (See Charlie Weiss and Nick Saban and Romeo Crenell and, of course, Mangini). He should be proud that it happened. In keeping up this little bit of nonsense, Belichick may be overplaying his hand if he's trying to use this as a motivational tool.

In other news about the game, star CB Rodney Harrison will likely be out due to an MCL injury sustained on Sunday. Harrison may miss the rest of the season as well. While I wish a speedy recovery for Mr. Harrision, the Pat's loss is our gain.

For his part, Steve Serby predicts that the Jets will beat the Pats but tank to the Ravens in the next round, the Giants will tank to the Eagles in the first round and the Cowboys will win the Superbowl. While I hope the first part is correct, I have serious doubts about the last part.
 
Gerald Ford
Base10 has been catching the news coverage sporadically of the Gerald Ford funeral. State funerals are always impressive affairs and this one is no exception. And of course, any event where the media can take a pot shot at President Bush will naturally be loved by them, too.

But enough complaining, it's a day to remember Gerald Ford.
 
And Base10 Fell Asleep!
Morning sports reports indicate that the Boise State beat Oklahoma last night in a wild finish. Unfortunately Base10 flew into the arms of Morpheus (the Greek god, not the Keanu Reeves character from The Matrix) at the begining of the fourth quarter. Final score: 43-42 in OT. Judging by the report, it looked like this was the most exciting game of the year--at least the part Base10 missed!

In other news, underdog USC crushed Michigan 32-18 effectively ending any "talk" about whether Michigan really belonged in the National Chamionship game. Speculation is, of course, swirling around whether Pete Carroll will flee USC for a job in the pro ranks. With the firing of Denny Green and Jim Mora, and the possible vacancy in Nick Saban's spot in Miami and possibly even Pittsburgh, there are a number of opportunities. Base10 always felt Carroll got the shaft in the NFL. He was a good coach who once got fired from the Jets to make room for Rich Kotite (what were we thinking?). He went on to win two National Championships and be a perenial BCS contender with USC and Kotite went on to--well I don't know what he went on to, really.

Tonight's BCS matchup pits Louisville and Wake Forest. Base10 has Louisville laying 9.5 points. In his pool, Base10 is now 16 of 27 against the spread. Not shabby, but likely out of the running for first place.

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