The LA Sports Blog: C-H-A-D

The ArmchairGM Burns

By: Nate Gordon

Generally I am a fairly consistent writer; two times a month minimum in slow times, once a week during busy times, three times a week when highly motivated. On the contrary, however, I’ve been stymied by a real life event that I both never though I’d have to endure at this point in my life, nor would believe the magnitude of it I did experience such a thing. My close friend and neighbor Chad, who I’ve known since I was 10, passed away on September 7 th due to complications of substance abuse. It’s been a troubling, sobering, anomaly of an experience. A diehard Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Broncos fan, I’d often draw motivation to write off of a conversation I had with Chad. The last 6 weeks have been to say the least, an experience, an experience I’ve been unable to write through.

That is until this afternoon. Sitting at my desk, reflecting on the previous weeks sports events my mind wandered into a faux conversation with Chad. I could see and hear his excitement over the Dodgers and his corny jokes about the Raiders. As I thought about this I was quickly drawn into side thoughts about each team, Dodgers and Raiders respectively. What came of it was an analysis of the state of each team currently. I’m going to share the thoughts on the Dodgers with you today, but I’m going to write in the spirit of Chad, so the language and grammar might not sound like my voice, but it’s only because you’re talking to Chad. So without further ado, here is Chad’s take on the Dodgers:

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are NL West champions, and 3 wins shy of their first World Series since I was 2. I’ve been attending Dodgers games since 1990 and there are “5 best of the last 20 years” on this team. I’m certain of that have made this team what it is:

• Manny Ramirez is the best player to play for the Dodgers the last 20 years.

You think this is obvious right? Manny is a lock Hall of Famer having one of his best statistical seasons while wearing Blue. However there is more to this then one may see. You see, I’ve watched tons of great players in a Dodger uniform, but not all of them played to their potential, or were in their primes when they were with the club. Pedro Martinez and Vlad Guerrero, both as farm hands/fringe big leaders were moved to Montreal. I’ve seen Gary Sheffield, Mike Piazza both come through here and put up their respective numbers. But no one has played as hard or as well as Manny.

Now the next caveat purposed would be that Manny won’t be here next year. My answer? So freaking what! If he helps us win a ring, thank you for your services and have a nice day! I don’t see past this season, not when I’ve endured 20 years of losing from a proud and successful organization. If I was a Giants fan I could cope – not as a Dodgers fan.

• Joe Torre is the best Dodgers Manager of the last 20 years:

Now this is unfair because it would technically reach into Lasorda Era. So excluding Tommy Lasorda we’ve been subjected to Davey Johnson, Glen Hoffman, Jim Tracy and Grady Little. So enough said, Joe is the best since Tommy.

Derek Lowe, Dodgers Ace

• Derek Lowe is the best Dodgers Pitcher of the last 20 years:

I’m not going into stats, ERA, sabermatrics or anything like that. I’m going off of what I’ve seen with my own two eyes and no one since “Bulldog” Orel Hershiser has been more consistent than or as talented as Derek Lowe. Lowe, the textbook sinker-baller, has been automatic the last two months and is playing his best baseball since arriving in LA. He’s been the true Ace of the staff on and off the mound and has brought a calm and consistency to that clubhouse by ensuring the position players that at least once ever five days they are getting a quality start from their pitcher.

James Loney, Dodgers First Basemen

• James Loney is our best first round draft pick of the last 20 years.

Loney was a highly regarded High School pitcher but was assumed to be unable to play position baseball. Logan White, Dodgers scouting director, had a different idea. Called a “waste of valuable talent” at the time, the Dodgers selected Loney in 2006 as a first basemen. Two seasons later Loney was starting in Los Angeles as the first basemen, batting over .300 and showing a prowess for defense and power.

Russell Martin, Dodgers All-Star/Silver Slugger Catcher

• Russell Martin is the best Dodgers catcher of the last 20 years:

Russell Martin undid a childhood of Pizza and LoDuca memories in his rookie season alone. This season his continued his solid pitching staff management while putting up consistent numbers at the plate. The kid is gifted with unnatural speed for a catcher and a leadership quality that borders on arrogant. While that attitude has rubbed some veteran teammates the wrong way, it has thrilled fans and emboldened other young teammates. Martin seems poised to be the franchise catcher well into the next decade and I for one will be thrilled to go see him at Chavez Ravine year after year.

So if Chad was still around this is how he would see the current state of Dodgers affairs. Success behind 5 of the best Dodgers of the last 20 years, all at pivotal positions: Catcher, Pitcher, First Base, Left Field and Manager. I’ll never get my friend back, and I’ll never to get share another memory with him like the ones we made. But hopefully, if you have a friend that is special to you like Chad was to me, you’ll cherish the time you have together, because it can be gone tomorrow.

Mr. Burns, AGM Burns Mascot

LA Sports Blog: Good Friday

This was orginally posted 2/1/08 and is being reposted due to an error.

By: Nate Gordon

I'm sitting on my buddy Steve's couch this afternoon watching ESPN after stopping by the rental office to pay the rent, it is the first of the month after all. After the relief of paying for the housing and partaking in some after class activities Steve and I stare into the television and allow the PTI guys to inform us of the days events. The problem was that neither of us were focused on what was actually on the television, Steve was ignoring his girlfriend who was talking to him from the other couch, and I was just staring off thinking about everything that had happened in my life in the last 24 hours. I come out of my day dreaming slightly because I see Lakers on the TV but I can't figure out why; then the words at the bottom of the screen jumped out and inject me with a shot of excitement: "Gasol traded to Lakers". I payed attention just in time to hear Korn-hole say that the deal was for 2 picks, Javaris Crittenton and Kwame Brown and Aaron McKey's contracts.

Futility be damned! No longer shall you haunt the halls of Staples Center! No longer shall you turn sure dunks into missed lay ups, and easy And 1s into missed a lay up plus two missed free throws! Kwame Brown had finally been traded from the Los Angeles Lakers and no longer would the fanbase, and team have to suffer through his uselessness and offensive impotencey that could only be compared to another different impotence. I had to call Jeff (who is home sick with the flu) right away and let him know that the days of Kwame Brown were finished.

"Hello"

"Jeff, the Lakers finally traded Kwame Brown"

"What? Are you serious?"

"Ya man, they traded Kwame, two picks and J. Crittenton for Pau Gasol."

"What!?!?! Dude..."

"What? You don't like it?"

"No dude - J. Crit. is going to be a star man, that was a big mistake"

"But dude, Pau Gasol -"

"Dude, Kwame, whatever, J. Crit is gonna be huge." *click*

I'm thinking to myself the fever has gotten to Jeff's brain, one of the big reasons this blog was started was that Kwame sucked and needed to be traded. We finally got what we wanted and the kid is hung up on J. Crit? *ring*

"Yo Jeff."

"Dude, I'm sorry, the flu must be getting to me, I didn't even realize you said Pau Facking Gasol!"

"Ya dude can you believe it? The Lakers get an All Star big man in his prime to go with Bynum, Lamar, Kobe and D-Fish, this is gonna be huge"

"Ya man Pau can help the Lakers make the Finals"

"And like Steve said to me Jeff, J. Crit would breakthrough before Kobe is done in LA and he will leave for bigger money, this way we get a top notch player for his potential."

That summed it up right there, Lakers management found the right mix of youthful potential, picks and contracts to get the player that could propel the Lakers into the Conference Finals and maybe into the NBA Finals. I would love to see a modern day Lakers vs. Celtics Finals.Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum vs. Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins - what a 7 game series that could turn out to be! There are 6 All Stars in those line ups combined, the ratings would be through the roof. The Finals would finally bring household appeal back to the Playoffs with such an match up. Of course, this is all hypothetical, but one can dream in the hype of the minutes after a blockbuster trade.

The Lakers fanbase pretty much are united in the belief that this trade was a huge step in the right direction for the franchise. Some have gone so far as to say that this is already enough to make Kobe want to commit to the team past 2009. I won't go so far as to say that, but I will say that if he was sitting on the fence when he woke up this morning, he is most likely leaning towards ending his career as a Laker as of right now.

Steve and I agreed that this was a great move and Steve even proclaimed "I'm now going to watch every Lakers game for the rest of my life." He was so happy he even started paying attention to what his girlfriend was saying. I sat back and smiled, finished the after school activities and gathered my things to go home and take care of family business. Even though things were so high in the aftermath of the trade breaking, I was about to be brought back to earth. But then I thought to myself "there is no reason to be brought back down by the upcoming errands, the removal of Kwame Brown from my life was like finally breaking all contact with an ex that was 10% sex and 90% drama and bullshat.

So the Lakers rolled into Toronto with a short bench, but who needs Kwame when Kobe Bryant goes for 46 on 19 of 28 shooting, adding 7 boards and 5 assist. With this 40 point game Kobe moved to 3rd on the all time list with 89, passing James Worthy. The Lakers cruised to a 121-101 victory, Sasha Vujacic was huge in his 26 minutes off the bench dropping 22 points with 4 threes. The Lakers shot 55% and got a much needed win after a tough loss the other night against the Pistons. They are now 1-1 in the 9 game road trip, the inclusion of Gasol on Sunday should increase their odds of finishing the road trip strong.

I called this Good Friday not because it was all good for me, but beacuse it was wonderful for so many people. The day was beautiful, the blockbuster move was made and the Lakers short handed played the Raptors off their own court. Upon reflection it was a good Friday for me as well - the dream I lobbied to have realized for so long was finallly reached - and as Newton theorized "for every action there is an equal an opposite reaction".

E-mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com

Ripe for the Picking

By: Jeff Girouard

As Laker nation holds its collective breath for Andrew Bynum and mulls the possible addition of Chris Webber, reality and first place in the Western Conference (the Lakers are currently in sole possession of first) stare them in the face tonight. Phoenix rolls into town, winners of 7 of their last ten, and that glaring hole in the middle of the Laker lineup will certainly be the topic of pre-game chatter.

While Suns fans see this club as ripe for the picking, Laker fans most cope, at least for one game, with the idea that Kwame Brown will be our anchor. He has become a defensive stalwart in the one-on-one game, matching up well with folks like Carlos Boozer and even Yao Ming, but this means very little against one of the best pick and roll center-point guard combinations in the Association. Amare should have a huge game tonight. Also, his offensive prowess (or lack thereof) is considerably inadequate when compared to Bynum’s soft hands and clever footwork. Moreover, Drew’s game makes Amare work on the defensive end and has traditionally gotten him into early foul trouble, especially at Staples. So I suspect Amare should have a huge game tonight.

However, perhaps lost in this panic of the Bynum injury is another key loss: Vald Radmonovic. That’s right, the snowboarding space cadet, will be sorely missed in tonight’s game. Though he was a relative no-show in their first meeting in Los Angeles, his shooting was critical to the Laker’s blowout win in Phoenix way back on November 2nd. Without him as an outside shooting threat look for the Sun’s to pack the middle and focus on limiting LA’s points in the paint. Make no mistake the Sun’s hate to see the Lakers sitting atop the Pacific Division and their vulnerability is sure to induce maximum effort at both ends.

Check back for a full Laker Report sometime this weekend.

L.A. Sports Blog: Laker Report 1/12

By: Jeff Girouard

Filing out of Staples after last night’s thumping of the Milwaukee Bucks, my buddy Ehsan and I were overcome with giddiness. As we made our way to the parking structure, grinning from ear-to-ear, we reenacted the most vicious dunks of the night with our balled up lineup scripts and lamented how the place came positively unglued after a Jordan Farmar three two minutes in to the fourth quarter. We noted the fact that Kwame was the only Laker to get consistently heckled and shared a laugh over a fan’s air-ball in the Jackpot halfcourt shot. (By the way, if by the off-chance you are somehow reading this “Rick from Wherever-the-fuck,” the next time you get a halfcourt shot for $115,000 make sure you draw at least some back board. I’m not one to pile on, but the miss was so horrendous he barely drew paint. That’s right paint. You make the Sports Guy look like Bob Cousy in that “E:60" piece he did a few weeks back. Shame.)

Once we found the car the realities of LA gridlock began to supplant our excitement. A few minutes of silent reflection were broken when I turned to Ehsan and asked confidently, “Too easy?”

“Too easy,” he said.

The final five point margin of victory is not indicative of the passing clinic on display Friday night. I assure you we are not the most arrogant of fans. Indeed, far from it. We were stressing over a 17-point lead third quarter lead in Wednesday’s game against the Hornets, rationalizing that it was a road game and Chris Paul really is that good. The Lakers won by 29.

The Lakers are moving the ball crisply and making cross-court passes to the corners, almost blindly, trusting that a teammate will be there to receive it. Their attack is deliberate. Even Trevor Ariza seems to be finding his way faster than most would have expected. Perhaps Phil is simply doing a masterful job of masking Trevor’s triangle learning curve by using him effectively in baseline cuts and dump-offs giving him clear lanes to slash to the basket. In any event they're making it look easy out there.

But don’t take my word for it, check out these post game comments from Buck’s Coach Larry Krystkowiak:

"A really well oiled machine that moves the ball. They get up and down the floor really fast. I think based on what I've seen they may be the best passing team that's playing right now.”

He even gave a tip of the cap to management, adding “"I think the blend that they've found over there is perfect.”

A few notes from last night’s game...

Mo Williams is worth every penny of that six-year, $51.5 million contract he signed before the season. His aggressiveness is uncanny and he’s playing with profound confidence. Television really fails to capture his quickness. In fact, he was the Buck’s offense for the majority of the game, outscoring Kobe through three quarters of play. Imagine how Miami would look today had he signed. Sad.

Yi is a quality player. He’s got a great stroke, finding nothing but net on most of his jumpers, but he was not assertive enough to be effective in any other facet.

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the month and a half Andrew Bynum is a beast. I’m not certain what was made about the fact that he was drafted 9 slots lower than Bogut in the ‘05 draft on the ESPN telecast, but Friday night’s the match up was a truly one-sided affair. Bynum’s clever moves in the pivot titillated Laker fans all evening and his monster alley-oop jam brought LA fans to their feet. (Which I’m ashamed to admit is a relatively tall task, as most fans are of the “too cool for school” variety.) He even received a smattering of playful “MVP” chants from a handful of overzealous fans, when he shot a pair of free throws in the first half. He continued to impress, shooting a killer 10-13 from the floor. He made it all look too easy.

I hope I don't wake up to a horse head in my bed

By: Jeff Girouard

After avoiding all things sports for the last 14 hours, my anger has subsided. Hoping to find a clearer perspective on just what the hell happened in that Laker loss to the Cavs last night, I've come to some rather unsettling conclusions.

Three days before the start of the season, Rasheed Wallace had these comments regarding last season's Eastern Conference Finals series:"This game ain't basketball anymore, it's entertainment. It's starting to get like the WWF. There ain't no real wrestling anymore either. It's all fake."

I did not take these accusations as lightly as some television pundits, who dismissed his reaction as simply "'Sheed being 'Sheed." It's unfortunate that his reputation, has soiled his credibility. He may be a little extreme in his assessment of the current state of officiating in the NBA, but there are certainly nuggets of truth in that statement.

Has the game really become predictable? Will championships and playoff series continue to be decided from the charity stripe? Look I understand superstars get special treatment, that ratings are important and that invested interests usurp what is actually happening on the floor. I get it I'm a Laker fan. I remember game 6 of the '02 Western Conference finals against the Kings. I remember that phantom call against the T'Wolves in '04. That being said, does our acceptance of these factors really make the NBA fan base anymore naive than, say, pro wrestling fans?

Heres a rundown of the last 3-4 minutes of last night's ballgame:

With 3:16 the Lakers have a 2 point lead 90-88 and 2 fouls to give. Kobe draws a blocking foul trying to take a charge on Larry Hughes in the backcourt. There was little contact on the play and Kobe didn't force Hughes to lose his dribble. The play was probably a no call, but still reasonable. Not 5 seconds later Derek Fisher is called for a ticky-tack blocking call on Daniel Gibson. Again, probably a no call, but just like that, Cleveland is shooting free throws the rest of the game. Fast forward to Lakers last chance to tie or win the game, with the score 92-90. On the long rebound (a completely free basketball) Fisher secures the ball with both hands, but a mid-air collision with Daniel Gibson leads to the game ending loose-ball foul. GAME ENDING LOOSE BALL FOUL??

My initial response to those questionable calls were: a) Sad, but predictable and b) We should get some calls like that in the rematch in Los Angeles. I don't think I was the only one with these immediate reactions, which disturbing. Its really unfortunate that the psyche of the NBA fan has devolved to the point that we must even consider such a subplot. Are we as fans doomed to face a never ending cycle of give and take, when it comes to officiating?

Sad.

Oh yeah and the spread on last night's game... had the Cavs favored by 2 at home.

The LA Sports Blog: What's that all a-boot?

By: Jeff Girouard

After being up by as many as 11 in the first half, the Clippers squandered yet victory, falling 80-77 to the Toronto Raptors. With Elton, Sam, and Shaun Livingston all out with injuries, the Clippers have really struggled to find their way offensively this season. They are certainly still a talented group, but the lack of a dominant personality on the court has turned this team into a bunch of freelancers, a professional pick up team.
I thought the Brand injury might finally afford Corey Maggette the opportunity to maybe, possibly be “the guy” on this squad. However, nagging injuries have kept him from entering that Richard Jefferson, Josh Howard territory. Currently, the Clippers are a team in search of an identity. That frame of mind leads players like Tim Thomas to bank home a three one possession and on the very next play pull up from 30 and launch another long 3 off the back iron, at a critical stage in the second half, no less. No continuity, no balance to the attack

Two stats were killers on Tuesday: free-throw shooting and team turnovers. At home, on a night when perimeter jumpers just aren’t falling (a meager 39% from the floor), you’ve got to get to the line. Chris Bosh finished with 24 and 9 for the Raptors, but struggled from the field (a pedestrian 6-22). Bosh made it to the line 16 times and Toronto as a team shot 12 more free throws than the Clippers, which in a 3 point loss is critical. The other stat that jumps out is the turnover category. Los Angeles didn’t have an overwhelmingly high number of giveaways (15), but the Raptors certainly took care of the ball, as the Clippers forced just 6 turnovers on the evening.

On a related note: Jose Calderon is really, really good. Calderon continues to make me look like an NBA fantasy genius, as his 12 points on a super-efficient 4-6 from the floor, 6 boards and 9 assists (and 0 turnovers) lead the way for the Raptors. And to think I was able to pick this kid up Week 3 off the waiver wire, in a 12 team league.

NBA -Thy Name Is Andrew Bynum

By: Nate Gordon

When the petulant, spoiled and possible sexually impotent son of the owner of your hometown franchise drafts a 17 year old out of the Draft Night bleachers, your bound to have a few restless nights. When you pay $2000 a night for floor level seats, your questioning your investment. When your the star of said franchise, you stop macking on the chick who works the register at the Dolce&Gabana store at South Coast Plaza to say "What the F%$@"??? That spoiled, alleged Enzyte user is jim buss, that kid is Andrew Bynum and that superstar is Kobe Bryant.

However that spring night in 2005 seems like a distant memory, and the shy loppy man-child has grown into a true NBA center, in the mold of his mentor Kareem Abdul-Jabar. His minutes have increased week by week and therefore his conditioning has improved. The love shown by Phil Jackson has allowed young Master Bynum to flourish defensively. He's been averaging 10 rebounds a game and over 2 blocks. Over the last 2 games he's recorded 10 blocks! (6 last game, 4 this game) Bynum recorded over 40 minutes in tonight's 12 point win over the Bulls (103-91) and helped the Lakers improve to 15-9. This was the first time Bynum recorded over 40 minutes in a game in his career. He's producing nightly double doubles and uncanny defensive ability, proven last night in containing Chris Kaman, and his dominance over Chicago's "defensive" big men posting 12 points, 10 rebounds and the aforementioned 4 blocks.

With tonight's win, Andrew has proven himself against Ben Wallace, Marcus Camby, Jermaine O'Neal, Sheed Wallace, Yao Ming, Carlos Boozer and Amare Stodemire. I think it's safe to say that Andrew is among the leagues 2nd tier of Centers and is only going to get better with each passing game. If you haven't taken notice, look out now because LA's "Baby Showtime" is starting to grow into it's own.

e-mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com

LA Sports Blog: Lakers Prevail in Hallway Brawl

By: Jeff Girouard

So in an attempt not to pull a jinx of monumental proportions, I decided to hold off on any predictions about Kobe’s health in a Weekend Laker Report until I got to see him play on Sunday. Well after intense around the clock therapy, Bryant went and dropped 32 on the hapless Clip show in a 113-92 Laker victory. "We did a good job staying on top of it and making sure that it was good enough for me to go out there and play and help the team. I didn't sleep. I was doing therapy for 24 hours, iced it down, had a weight-training session for my legs, kept stretching and doing what I needed to do.”

He didn’t sleep.

Are you kidding? Without naming names, I ask: Would your franchise player go to such lengths in a 36 hour period, just to play the Clippers? The man treats DNP’s like the plague. He had decent elevation of his jumper and seemed pretty active on D. By the second half he was skying for rebounds (8 on the night) and sinking ridiculous and 1's. Critics will question his shot selection until the day he’s enshrined in Springfield, but no one can ever question his toughness.
After a hot start the Clips have struggled as of late. A quarter of the way through the season and Elton Brand’s absence has taken its toll. Even in Brand’s “down season” in 06-07, you could pencil him for 20 and 10 with a couple blocks. Chris Kaman has filled in admirably this year and as the Clipper’s most formidable post option you knew he was going to come out firing Sunday. Chris ended up with 18 points and 16 rebounds in the loss. His 20 year old counterpart grabbed 9 boards and had 14 points on an efficient 7 of 9 shooting. Though statistically Kaman may have gotten the better of him, Drew’s defense including 6 impressive blocks proved to be the difference. His length challenged Kaman from the outset, forcing him to miss 7 of first 8 shots. As a result, the Lakers were able to build an early cushion and never really looked back.
Luke Walton also had a nice game shooting a solid 6 for 6 from the floor. In Friday’s loss his over-dribbling and ill-timed turnovers cost the team down the stretch. He’s also struggled shooting the ball this season so Sunday’s perfect night had to have boosted his confidence a little.
I’d like to acknowledge the play of Sasha Vujacic. Yes, the Sasha Vujacic. He has certainly endured his lot of hecklers and criticism in his short professional career, but believe it or not his play this season has been...gulp... not bad. He’s actually putting up some decent numbers this season. After cleverly flying under the NBA radar for the past few seasons as a shoot first point guard that couldn’t shoot, Sasha has reclaimed his shooting percentages and is starting to see regular playing time. He’s shooting 45% from the field and a respectable 38.5% from the land of three. In the post game interview Sasha revealed the secret to his most recent success.“Whenever he (Coach Phil Jackson) gives me that confidence that I can let it go and play certain minutes... between 15-20. I’m happy and I like to develop.” There you have it folks. Contrary to popular belief, Sasha Vujacic does in fact like to develop...and he wants 20 minutes a game.

The LA Sports Blog - Bowlin', Sackin' and Cadillacin'

By: Nate Gordon

The temperature in Los Angeles is lukewarm according to the thermometer. If you were to stick your toes in this pool you’d say out loud: “Ew, that’s kind of icky.” But that doesn’t keep us Angelinos from frolicking silently in this mildly hot stew.

It’s happened again to Dodger fans as Ned Colletti did his infamous ‘GM Two-Step’. Andruw Jones comes to Los Angeles with the promises of an influx of power and defense being injected into the Dodger line up. His reputation would indicate that the Dodgers got an upgrade from Juan Pierre in Center Field. Jones is 30 and the man boasts so many Gold Gloves he could keep an orphanage warm all winter. Despite major drops in offensive production last season he still had more HRs (26 to 20) and RBIs (94 to 87) then any everyday player on the Dodger roster last season. However, his average (.222) was the lowest in a season in which he plays everyday and Strikeouts (138) where higher then his hits (127) for just the first time since his rookie season. Why am I not only the only person concerned about this, but the only person talking about this??? The Jones signing might improve the Dodgers defense but I expect his offense numbers to continue to tail off and the Colletti ‘GM Two-Step’ will be in full force again.

We jump in the Cadillac and cruise from Dodger Stadium up the 2 Freeway to the 210 where we quickly find ourselves in Pasadena and the Rose Bowl. The University of South Central… er, Southern California has secured their 6th straight Pac-10 Championship and another trip the Tournament of Roses. This time they will take on unlikely Big Ten qualifier Illinois. John David Booty has played increasingly more composed as the weeks since his injury have past; pair that with a USC defense that has matured into one of the most dominating units in the country and you have your Rose Bowl Champion. I like Illinois and I think they have a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball, but all it takes is USC to force a couple of turnovers and this game can get away from the Fighting Illini in a hurry.

The team and usually calls the Rose Bowl home, UCLA have fired Karl Dorrell for not meeting program expectations. Pundits across the nation have defended the job Dorrell did at UCLA. In fact, they have defended him so well he is likely to be the next future-fired-coach of Duke. I understand and appreciate the job that Coach did while he was at UCLA but it simply wasn’t enough. People have looked at me like I’m crazy “he never had a season where he missed a bowl! What more do you want from UCLA football?” I’ll tell you what I want; I want UCLA to be in the national picture right there with USC 7 out of every 10 seasons. When you sit every season and watch USC tear apart mid and top level SEC and ACC teams in non conference play year in and year out and UCLA struggle and lose to the Oklahoma States’ and Utah’s and Fresno States’ of the world it gets annoying and frustrating. While USC is winning multiple Pac-10 championships, UCLA is playing in the Las Vegas bowl and the Sun Bowl. It’s as simple as this: when you share a city that doesn’t have pro football with a national powerhouse in college football – you better get results, or your ass will be in the unemployment line. (I didn’t even mention Dorrell’s 1-5 record against USC.)

Back at the start of the month I wrote about the Clippers fast 5-2 start and their favorable schedule, implying that they could play themselves into a position to make a run at a playoff spot. Well after injuries to Corey Maggette and Cuttino Mobley the Clips pissed away their soft schedule and now sit at 8-12, which would make them 3-10 since that article. The Clippers now have 4 road games in a row (@ NJ, Charlotte, Memphis and LAL) then a home game against Toronto before back to back road games at Dallas and San Antonio and a home/away series against Phoenix. Life as a Clipper fan has to be a rough one…

Meanwhile a quick memo to the Lakers front office: Do not… I repeat DO NOT give up Jordan Farmar or Andrew Bynum for anything that is currently on the market including Jason Kidd. Both kids are proving to be blue chippers, especially Farmar and it would be foolish to blow up a team that is playing great team basketball (not usually said about a team featuring Kobe Bryant) and is going 10 deep every night. Usually this means Kobe playing under 40 minutes a night and multiple starters finding themselves in double digits in the points section of the box score. Andrew Bynum is averaging 10.9 pts, 9.7 rebounds, and 2 blocks a game in 26 minutes. The kid already has 10 double-doubles including all 9 of his starts. Farmar averages 20 minutes a night and has yet to start but contributes invaluable ball handling and leadership skills off the bench. Add to that 9.8 pts, and 3 assist a night and he is making a solid contribution. Oh and guess what folks, these two aren’t going to get worse.

On some personal notes, Orange County Angeles fans: We don’t care about Hunter. We don’t care that we didn’t get A-Rod because you didn’t either. Hell guess what Orange County, the only thing that makes us pay any semblance of attention to you at all is the fact you force yourselves upon us with absurd market sharing that the MLB defrauds the Dodgers with. The Angels aren’t located in Los Angeles or Los Angeles County, so why do the Dodgers have to share their market, and in turn their market revenue? It makes no sense to me. I don’t get excited about a team without a tradition or identity. The club was more popular for “Angels in the Outfield” then anything they did on the field prior to 2002. Now you got 1 world championship that’s becoming more and more in the rearview and a couple of stars and now we are suppose to care when I get e-mails like: “We got Hunter and are a lock for a playoffs, how do you like NOT having A-Rod, or Santana?” I like it just fine thank you, because you’re basically irrelevant as a rival. The AL is much better then the NL so naturally the Angels will get over on the Dodgers in interleague (something I don’t care for) so you can dance and hold that over our heads. I’ll allow the multiple championships and pennants, not to mention to reputation of “The Ball club others should strive to be like” keep me warm at night.

On another side note, I’d like to respond to this: “You don’t update your webpage 3 times a day, so how are you a Sports blog? I mean, I want my LA sports news and pictures! And I want it everyday.” Okay, fair enough buddy, I’m not Perez Hilton. I don’t sit around touching myself to gay website all day and make a bunch of useless bullet and link post about every little thing going on in LA Sports. Hell if I update my site more then twice a week it’s something to write home from war about. I guess it’s more of an opinion column or editorial, except it’s not published in a newspaper or magazine publication. You know what? I don’t care, because even unpublished I think I’m one of the top editorial writers that no one is publishing.

Oh and the final note to leave you all on – I was listening to Stephen A. Smith’s radio show while driving to get my check this morning and I got to admit that I agreed with a lot of his rant. He was talking about Author Blank’s “fried chicken and fries” comment regarding Michael Vick’s jail time. Smith articulated: “I’m not ashamed that I love fried chicken, and no one should be. I was depressed for nearly a month when the doctor said I had high cholesterol and couldn’t eat fried foods anymore… Mr. Blank ‘’’should’’’ know better then to use a statement that some have found to be sensitive. But I hardly find his using “Fried Chicken” in this context as insulting. There isn’t anything racial or wrong in Mr. Blanks statements… he spoke ad lib in an on the spot interview and if that’s the worse that comes out of his mouth, I’ll take it.” I’ll take it too Stephen A. When I heard him on air I didn’t think twice about it. I use to have a coach (black man mind you) who would lambaste all the unfit players about their cultural eating habits. He’d let me know that I had to lay off the fried stuff, and suggested to my Latino teammates to push away the tamales. Did we find this offensive or racial? Not at all, these are the things we like to eat and we aren’t ashamed of them, they are what they are. LaDanian Tomlinson reiterated Smith’s feelings while doing his weekly interview on the Steve Mason Show on 710 ESPN Los Angeles: “Nah, I didn’t find the statement offensive, I love fried chicken. If you’re ashamed to love fried chicken, then there is something wrong with you. But Me, you can sign me up for that fried chicken in a quick minute,” I don’t even have to say anything.

So I’ve laid the table for debate and disagreement, but unlike Joe Grande or Petros of 570 KLAC Los Angeles, I don’t make arguments against myself for 15 minutes just to fill a segment. I actually talk about relevant stuff, heads up 570AM management…

E-mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com
LAFanblog.blogspot.com

In The Spirit Of Thanksgiving...

Hey All-

A fellow writer has fallen on some hard times as the holidays have approached. He's a talented guy and I stumbled across this at ArmchairGM.com this morning. If anyone has any possible way to contribute, even if it is re posting this message where someone who could possibly help would see it; that gesture would be greatly apperciated. This is the day where we reflect on what we have to be thankful for, let's give Andrew something to be thankful for today by doing something small in our lives, that my be large in his:

Notice Yesterday we were served with an eviction notice with 48 hours to pay or move out of our apartment. Just in case we can't come up with the money I wanted to let the readers know what happened if there are no more posts forthcoming from Baseball Etcetera.

If we cannot come up with the money by tomorrow we may be forced to move out with only the barest necessities. If there are no more posts I want to thank everyone for reading Baseball Etcetera which started in May of 2004.

May God bless each reader if we are unable to write again. There is still a slim chance of not being evicted but as of today the future looks very bleak.

Thank you for understanding,
Andrew

It is my belief that a purpose of ArmchairGM was to help nurture and cultivate new writers with the hopes and aspirations of one day becoming a professional journalist.
For some of us, including myself, that is not a reality. However, Andrew Godfrey has an ability to concisely articulate the current sports' scene (especially towards baseball) with statistical supporting evidence along with drawing upon a lifetime of experience.

In his time here at ArmchairGM, Andrew has been an invaluable member to our community. He needs our help now. Yes, it is Thanksgiving and perhaps not the most convenient timing for our own personal family celebrations and holiday festivities. But take a moment and just imagine yourself in his position right now facing a 48 hour eviction notice just received the day before Thanksgiving.

We can help.

The following link provides all of Andrew's work here at the 'Chair: http://www.armchairgm.com/Category:Opinions_by_User_Niteowl049

As you can well see, it is quite impressive in quantity and quality. Andrew would be an asset for any sports blog looking for a columnist to provide its readership an accurate recap of the previous day's sporting activities along with insightful commentary.
For those curious about his past, please read the following:

Served in Hawaii and Vietnam with the 25th Administration Company of the 25th Infantry Division from June 1963 till May 1966 as a postal clerk. Retired newspaper production worker having worked 36 years for Alexandria, Louisiana Town Talk. Have been fortunate enough to see Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ted Williams in baseball games in Kansas City back in the 60's.Also have seen Elvis Presley, Beach Boys,Righteous Brothers, Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn,Merle Haggard, Buck Owens,Johnny Cash and seen Julie Newmar, Stefanie Powers and Sue Thompson in person. Enjoy southern gospel music especially the Dove Brothers Quartet. Like listening to old time radio shows from the 30's, 40's and 50's and like easy listening music by Diana Krall and Frank Sinatra. Emails can be sent to Niteowl049@msn.com

When his country called upon him, Andrew gladly served his country. For some of the younger readers here at the ArmchairGM (and Cyberspace in general), that may or may not be fully appreciated. However to some of us older folks, that selfless act of courage and bravery will never be forgotten nor unappreciated. Plain and simple, Mr. Godfrey deserves a shot. If you are reading this message (because many of us here at the 'Chair are hopeful that this message will reach several message boards, sports blogs and websites) and are in a position to make a difference for a person overdue for an opportunity, Andrew is your man.

In the following comment section below, please post why Andrew Godfrey (aka Niteowl049) deserves his moment to shine. Think carefully before you type. Your words will have a dramatic impact upon a reader deciding whether or not to provide Andrew his rightful opportunity. And be fully aware that this is not a trite matter of fulfilling some personal quest. The man is in need of emergency assistance of real life financial difficulties with a consequence of not even having a roof over his head tonight.

Think about it. And do the right thing.

-Tyrone Briggs, (Tyrone is the Jaythejoke.blogspot.com creator and all around cynic and Jay Mariotti bloodhound.)

Don’t Look Now: Clippers 5-2 and ready to explode.

By: Nate Gordon

(Los Angeles, Ca) – I stood with you all at the wake, black suit, bow tie, clean hair cut and fresh black Nikes to lay at the memorial. It was August 5 when I wrote this obituary on Elton Brand, and therefore the Clippers 2007-2008 season: “It's difficult to imagine, much less believe, that after all these seasons of almost iron man like service that Elton Brand would succumb to an Achilles injury. Mr. 20-10 as I like to call him, Brand has been a faithful servant to the Clipper fan base for the last several years and before that was the clear superstar on a horrid Chicago Bulls team… It is very possible that Brand will only be a shell of his once dominating presence on the boards and his mid-range jumper and first step will most likely be off. With all those inhibitions stated I can only hope that Brand will come back 100% and I wish him a speedy and full recovery. ” I also mentioned the Willie Mays like break down of Sam Cassell’s body and that Shawn Livingston was still out indefinitely. But did the Clippers listen to me or anyone else writing them off as a top 10 lottery team this season? Not at all, they’ve instead looked towards role players who are finally stepping up as big time performers and have the Clips at 5-2. I submit to you 3 players who if they continue to produce at this level will likely keep the Clippers in the playoff race all the way through April.

Cuttino Mobley: Mobley has been unconscious to start this season shooting 59% from the field and 43% from behind the 3 point line. Averaging 16.6 ppg and 3 assist a night in only 27 minutes of floor time, the man is being efficient also contributing 3.6 boards a night. If Mobley can stay healthy and contribute at this rate all the way through the season he can help tip a few extra wins in their direction.

Chris Kaman: There is solid contribution, and then there is the slack that Kaman is picking up where the Brand Void is. Kaman is a career 9 point, 7 rebound a game guy, he can contribute, but he’s not going to change any games. However Kaman has been an absolute force in the middle for the Clips to start the season. Chris is averaging 18 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks a game. He’s being a dominating presence on both ends of the court and with only 3 fouls a game he’s able to go 37-40 minutes a night. (Only 10 more minutes a night then his career average, so he’s also being efficient with his minutes.)

Tim Thomas: Because of Brand’s injury, Thomas has had an expanded role this season and his numbers improving with his extra minutes, shows that he’s starting to earn his paycheck. The Tony Yayo of Basketball (because he does that stupid crap with his hands) is going for 13 points and 6 rebounds a night, up from his 11 and 5 respective numbers from last season. However this season will ride on if Thomas can improve his numbers into the 15/8 range or if he regresses as the season drags on to lower numbers when the team needs him the most.

Bonus Reason: The Schedule: So far the Clippers are 5-2 currently and are only behind Phoenix in the Pacific Division, tonight they play at the 0-6 Warriors followed by 1-6 Chicago tomorrow night at home. So the Clips can build up to 7-2 before the schedule hits a rough patch of: Denver, at Phoenix, New Orleans, Houston and at Denver. Splitting the Denver games and taking 1 of the 3 others leaves the club at a respectable 9-5 before the schedule gets really sweet, at home vs. below .500 Indiana and Milwaukee before going to 1-8 Seattle and 2-6 Sacramento. Then it’s Miami, New Jersey and Charlotte. Can you remember the last time the Clippers had a realistic chance to start 15-6? Yeah, I don’t either.

Am I saying that the Clippers are for real, or that they will be in the final 4 teams come June? No way, what I am saying is watch out because at some point this team will get Elton Brand back and if they can build on a fast start, the sky is the limit for the other team in Los Angeles.

e-mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com

Why Trade Kobe Whe Other Options Aren't Exhausted?

By: Nate Gordon
Since the NBA Finals the only story in the Association bigger then the referee betting scandal are the trade rumors surrounding one Kobe Bean Bryant aka Black Mamba. Pundits have flip flopped non stop for nearly 5 months telling the world first that Kobe is untradable, then he is the only player every team in the league has to make a move for, and again he isn't worth trading for. This week Chad Ford of ESPN.com explored the idea that Kobe isn't the most desirable or talented player in the league. In the article, Ford uses John Hollinger's PER system, as well as another websites plus/minus stats breakdown to support his point. While I appreciate and respect Chad Ford's opinion, I must purpose a caveat, Kobe Bryant is not only the most desirable player in the league, trading him is both impossible and preposterous and the Lakers are not only at fault, but should of been focusing on getting Kobe help all along.
Kobe Bryant posses the Associations only no-trade clause, the most powerful contract weapon a player can have in their business arsenal. If the pieces aren't in place with another team, Kobe would rather stay in Los Angeles where his family is happy. Would it make any sense for him to uproot his whole life to move into the same situation he is currently in while playing for the Lakers? The Lakers brain trust (if you can all these incompetent men that) led by the Owners son, Jim Buss require any other teams major pieces in a trade for Kobe Bryant. Obviously they don't want to repeat the nightmare that was the Shaq trade (Lamar Odom, Curon Butler and Briant Grant for Shaq, the literal .75 cents on the dollar.) However any trade in which that much talent leaves a team that Kobe goes to in return will be vetoed by the Black Mamba. So what should the Lakers do? What they have done all along, make a public announcement that Kobe is going no where until '09 when he can opt out of his contract, and do everything they can to help Kobe win.
Some people will argue that Kobe is too much of a distraction to keep around, I would strongly disagree. When Kobe re-signed before the '04 season Jerry Buss promised him that he would surround Kobe with enough talent to win another championship. In 2004 the Lakers started Chucky Atkins, Bryant, Butler, Odom and Chris Mhim. You would believe that Atkins and Mhim don't play defense because it is against their faith, Butler needed another year to develop and the bench depth was as frail as the starting depth on the court. In 05 and 06 the Lakers rolled out Smush Parker (the first downgrade a team has suffered after starting Atkins) Bryant, Luke Walton, Odom and Kwame Brown (who they traded Butler for in the off season.) Kwame's hands are smaller then mine, and I'm a foot smaller then him, making him next to useless offensively, the young Andrew Bynum and Ronny Turiaf are young, under developed big men and the questions remained at the Point. Bryant is looking around through 3 seasons and realizing that management have actually regressed, not progressed the squad around him. Frustrated by feelings of losing and betrayal Kobe made his move, he spoke out and demanded that if the team wasn't going to hold up their end of the bargain, then maybe it was time for the relationship to end.
Naturally everyone ignored the feelings of betrayal and lies that the Buss family had fed Bryant 3 years before, focusing on the endgame trade demand. Kobe didn't turn around and start complaining after 1 season, he gave them 3, 3 full seasons to show him that they were committed to the promise they made him and they should no good will in that effort. Kobe spoke up and finally the management began to respond. Instead of letting Derek Fisher go to New York or the Clippers, the Lakers took advantage of Fish's family situation (one we hope is resolved and Tatum Fisher returns to full health) to bring Fisher back home to Staples Center. With the point guard depth and leadership solved you would expect the team to try and fix the issues in the front court; instead they focused on trading Kobe.
The rumors and talking radio shows finally got to Jerry Buss, he was sick of being painted as the bad guy in Los Angeles. He's Dr. Jerry Buss, he's brought countless championships to Los Angeles and he is going to have his ego and ability challenge by 1 player? Hardly. Dr. Buss let his ego get the best of him and decided that the situation was all about Kobe leaving, naturally Dr. Buss again missed the point. So what is the point, and what should the Lakers do instead of this dance of death with the leagues most feared talent? Use what they have to get Kobe the on-court help he desires.
Kwame Brown is in a contract year in which his salary is about 8.8 million dollars. As the trade deadline nears, and with the Lakers crowded in the front court, it would make sense to use Brown's expiring contract and Luke Walton's deal to get Josh Smith from Atlanta, a highly talented defender and team player. Atlanta doesn't want to pay Smith what he will be worth when his contract is up and getting the cap space from Browns contract can be appealing. Smith could seriously upgrade the Lakers at the 3 spot and give Bryant the "Scottie Pippen" he desires. With Odom and Turriaf at the 4 and Bynum's improved play backed up by Mhim at the 5, I see this as an improvement. It may not be an ideal option but it's the first step in the right direction, the direction the Lakers should of headed down in June.

e-mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com for more visit www.ArmchairGM.com search user: LASportsblog or www.RootZoo.com search LASportsblog

Brooklyn Born ~ Joe Torre press Conference, Mattingly and Bowa also in.

By: Nate Gordon

(Los Angeles, CA) - I was disappointed Sunday night when I received news that Joe Torre's Dodger Stadium press conference was set for 10 am PST. There would be no way I could be at the stadium to cover the press conference and get to work on time, wasn't going to happen. Lucky for me ESPNews is covering the press conference so I can bring you a running journal of it. So I'll cut the crap and get to the cream:

10:10- Vin Scully opens the press conference with a few statements about Torre:
"...5 times and All Star, Gold Glove winner, MVP and as we all know as a manager 12 consecutive seasons in the playoffs and 4 World Series. So we firmly believe that his day will come when he goes to that pretty little town in Northern New York, called Cooperstown - that'll happen. He embodies all of the values that define the Dodgers at their best, and as someone that has known him for many many years I can't tell you how happy, delighted I am that he'll finally wear the Dodger uniform. It's only right since the roots of the franchise's roots are also his roots, the borough of churches, the borough of Brooklyn So right now to introduce to you a man who's organization has made this bold move and dedicated it really, to the millions and millions of Dodgers fans out there waiting to win again, the Owner and Chairman of the Dodgers, Mr. Frank McCourt."

10:15- McCourt comes to the podium and promises the fans Championships won the Dodger way for years to come and all the other stuff owners say. McCourt is a good owner, a competitive Boston Real Estate developer with deep pockets. My fondness towards McCourt just goes to show contrary to some misconceptions I don't dislike everything Boston, and never have. But I can't do anything about people who are busy being insulted. After gushing over Joe for a couple of minutes McCourt finally introduces him.

Joe - "Wow, this has been wild here, the last two weeks have been a whirlwind for my wife Ally and myself. You say goodbye to one prestigious organization and say hello to another prestigious organization. Growing up in Brooklyn as Vinny was talking about, I might as well get this out real quick okay. I grew up with, 4 brothers and sisters, we had the Giants the Dodgers and the Yankees, we were pretty spoiled in the East. I have managed the Yankees and now I get to manage the Dodgers and I was a Giants fan, and I want to apologize for that now, I want to get that out real quick."

Cute Joe. Get it out of the way like anyone really cares that you were a Giants fan as a kid. Your a Yankee and we would hold that against you first, but your also a winner so that is clearly more important. Torre continued:

10:20 - "...This is one of a handful of organizations that you automatically say yes to or are interested in going to, and I'm not just saying that obviously because we are sitting here today in center field where Willie Davies use to catch everything I hit. Although I did hit one out over there (pointing towards left-center) off of (Don) Sutton one time. So it was okay, yeah. But the fact that when I think of the Dodgers I think of pride, I think of efficiency I think of measuring stick. I've been fortunate as a manager over my years to have a number of ex-Dodgers I had Rube Walker... 8 years with Don Zimmer that I wouldn't wish on anybody. But Zimmer and every single one of them would talk about their Dodger days. Jackie (Robinson) and Pee Wee (Resse) and Duke (Synder) and Gil (Hodges) of course Sandy (Kofax) and Don (Drysdale). It was just ingrained what the Los Angeles Dodgers, previously the Brooklyn Dodgers meant to the game of baseball. You always measured yourself by what the Dodgers did because they did everything right. They dealt with a lot of class that you use to look up to."

Joe continues to talk about how special he thinks the organization is. Telling a story about Tommy Lasorda and another about Vin Scully, both which were amusing, we can thank Torre for making them both short. The press conference rolled along pretty standard from there. Torre talked about getting to know his new team and focusing on putting together a championship product.

Then Torre and 10:30 said something important.

10:30 - "We do have two coaches already in the fold. Larry Bowa and Don Mattingly who follow me from New York We're gonna work hard folks, we're gonna work hard... it's great being here thank you."

Torre then put on the Hat and #6 Dodger jersey that looks slightly awkward at the moment, but will be more then comfortable in short order. Colletti of course appears on the scene for the photo opp. It was a good press conference, a fairly short press conference and the Torre Era has officially begun in Los Angeles.

E-Mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com for more L.A. Sports Blog: www.Armchairgm.com search user: LASportsblog

Little Resigns, Torre In. A-Rod, Shilling to Follow?

By: Nate Gordon

(Los Angeles, CA - AGM Exclusive) The rumors had raged across Los Angeles even quicker then last weeks wildfires. They spread so fast in fact that, before Joe Torre had boarded the jet heading for Tampa with Brian Cashman, we in the local media started wondering if the Dodgers commitment to Grady Little would be reconsidered if Joe was available. I went so far as to write this last week: 'The sports equivalent to watching your best friend date your sister and pretend like it's no big deal is being a Dodger fan watching Ned Colletti pretending like Grady Little as our manager is no big deal. Granted I will have to concede that the '07 Dodger collapse can hardly rest on the shoulder of Little alone, but his managing style had a lot to do with it. Grady is a laid back, roll with the punches type of guy, not too much upsets his 'apple cart' and he does little to upset the ship as it sails.' We were all disgusted by the Dodgers losing 11 of their last 14, while Jeff Kent whined and cried and pissed and threw a 6 week fit, destroying locker room chemistry. A change was needed in the Dodger clubhouse and with Joe Torre unemployed and the Dodgers his childhood team, it seemed obvious that they would fire Little and go after Joe. But Grady wasn't pleased with his situation in the organization, with the whispers of Torre's arrival in Los Angeles lurking over his shoulder, Grady took a few moments to reflect on the previous season. Injuries and malcontent veterans on his roster were wearing on him in the second half of the season. Even if the Dodgers stood true to their word and these rumors were just that, rumors, Grady would be on the hot seat all season. An early season skid would see his job all but terminated. Grady saw no need for all that stress and hardship in his life, realized he could negotiate a severance package and resigned. It was the classy thing to do, it was the right thing to do and as always, Grady has found a way to not upset the ship as it sails.

While listening to 'The Big Show with Steve Mason and John Ireland' on 710AM ESPN Radio Los Angeles yesterday, they piped into the Ned Colletti/Grady Little conference call at 4:00 pm PST. Grady stated himself that he was resigning and that the decision was mutual. Ned Colletti had this to say: '"It's a difficult thing for many of us, Grady's a man I'm very fond of and I have grown very close to him these last few years." Grady also contributed: "It's something that had to happen at this time, it's better for this organization. I got so much respect for this organization... it's something me and my family have talked about, we've included Ned in our conversations and it's the decision we made." When asked what he plans to do in the future Grady simply stated "I'm going to play with my grand kids, a lot." I wouldn't be surprised if Little ends up in the Dodger front office in the future.

Colletti was as ambiguous as your buddy who hooks up with the ugly frat girl and doesn't want you to know about it when talking about hiring the Dodgers next manager. A fellow writer from the Orange County Register (I couldn't hear their names over the radio, not like it's important, he's from Orange County) grilled Colletti over hiring Torre. Ned only had this to say: "We haven't hired anybody. We'll talk about it at a later date." That later date apparently was today, as Torre and the Dodgers are currently in negotiations.

I also wrote last week: '''That 3rd base question is a big one, with the Dodger looking for someone with both All Star defense and power. The answer that makes the most sense when not talking about money is Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod would receive all the attention and endorsements he could ever ask for by coming to the Entertainment Capitol of the World.
However will Frank McCourt be willing to shell out the $27-30 million a year that would be required over the next 7-10 years to put A-Rod in Dodger Blue?''' With Torre all but signed on to be the Dodgers skipper, it would seem obvious that Donny Ballgame would come along to be the bench coach (Don's Son Preston Mattingly is in the Dodger Farm system as well). Both men have very good relationships with A-Rod which should give McCourt even more incentive to fork over the monetary compensation that he and Scott Boras demand.

Today Curt Shilling was also associated with the Dodgers as one of the teams he would be willing to play for next season. With 3 World Series rings already on his hand, would Shilling be willing to take less money to come out to Los Angeles to play for Torre, along side A-Rod for a legitimate shot at a 4th championship? It's fun to talk about and kick around, a Dodger offseason with that much impact would rival what Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics did this summer.

It's been 50 years since the Dodgers left Brooklyn for Los Angeles, Walter O'Malley gave us a gift, it's time for Joe to come home, 3000 miles away.

E-mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com

The Pride and Shame in Being a Fan and a Writer

The LA Sports blog is undergoing some changes, some growth and some development… no it’s not puberty, although I sometimes wonder if Jeff shaves, if I had to guess I’d say no. Also no, we are not all appeasing Matt Berson and converting to Judaism, no matter how many of their holidays we use as excuses for time off. If those loaded words I began with don’t mean crap to you without a bit of context let me fill you in. The other two writers on staff are doing big things in our local university area. Matt created the “Rec-Sports Newsletter” last year with our friend Farva and the publication has exploded. From a 2 page bi-monthly pilot newsletter it has grown into a UC Santa Barbara supported and privately sponsored university publication. Matt and Farva hired our other LA Sports Blog writer Jeff to join the squad; I can’t blame either of them because it is a paid writing position. This might lead you to ask “what about you Nate, why aren’t you on the staff”? That’s a good question; I’m not currently enrolled at UCSB that’s why. So Matt and Jeff will do special pieces for the LASB from time to time but for the most part they will do their Rec-Sports Newsletter which can be accessed at www.recsportsnews.com

It’s been a depressing week to cover LA Sports, with USC and UCLA coming off losses the only peace can be found in the fact that the Orange County Angels have been eliminated from the playoffs, good riddance. Oh and for goodness sake

The Lakers have started pre-season workouts and exhibitions in Hawaii, while the Clippers have set up shop here in Santa Barbara. We had plans to send a reporter to cover the Clippers camp at Santa Barbara City College, however those plans were reconsidered after we sent Farva to interview Mike Brown, Cleveland Cavs head coach for Rec-Sports and his best question was “Is LeBron James really any good”? We apparently aspire to be Jim Gray around here.

The important thing about this is that the Lakers look pretty good with the return of D. Fish being the catalyst for a much improved ball-handling unit. Javaris Crittenton looks like a player who has been in the triangle his whole life. This shouldn’t be surprising because he and Dwight Howard won a state championship in high school running the triangle through Howard, led by Crittenton. What is surprising is how good Crittenton is at making plays on his own, taking on defenders and penetrating thus vastly increasing his options with the rock. Kwame still has tiny hands but the return of Chris Mhim will reduce the minutes we put at-risk having Brown or the depressingly soft Andrew Bynum (he’s a MAN and a professional athlete, I’ll call him soft.) It’s not so much Bynum’s personality that is soft, it is unwillingness to lay claim to the key on both ends of the floor, establishing himself as the dominating presence on the floor. Can this change? Yes, but this season is a make or break season and we will see if he is making significant process in the first 20 games.

Circling back to USC I boycotted watching them this week as I was so disgusted by last week’s mediocre effort against the Cardinal that I didn’t want to be subjected to the Mark Sanchez show, a QB who’s only play of note before this game since graduating from Mission Viejo High School is being accused of sexual assaulting a girl. The charges didn’t hold up, but Sanchez did as he did just enough to help #10 USC defeat Arizona 20-13, led by Sanchez’s game winning 4th Quarter TD pass to Fred Davis.

I can’t believe I just wrote the preceding paragraph about USC. The team that has since ’02 produced Palmer, Lineart, Fargas, Cassell, Bush, White, Mike Williams, Lufa Tatupu and TP42 himself is struggling to beat Arizona in the middle of October with a back-up quarterback that looks painfully average for a top tier D-1 program. Matt Cassel sat behind Palmer and Lineart, never able to call the Trojan offense his own, yet he was still so talented that he was drafted by New England in the 6th round. I don’t think Sanchez, or John David Booty for that matter would go in the 6th round of the World League draft.

That’s enough, I can’t bash anymore, I don’t think I can do much better then saying Booty and Sanchez wouldn’t make the world league, even Kevin Kiely played in the World League, although he pretty much stunk the joint up himself, at least he has Emmys in broadcast journalism. (This is like the Pulitzer equivalent to winning for best writing by a writer who doesn’t really do writing. That’s not fair, that should only be said about TV “Journalist” where Kevin has done a lot of hard-hitting stuff on the radio. So although the awards are justified and deserved, they hold little weight.

Is there anything you’d like to see more of, or changed about LASB let us know, we love your feedback when we get it, expect for those AGM guys… nah just playing. I assume by the low number of votes I get for my pieces that either A. The guys there don’t like my writing or B. They aren’t interested in LA Sports.

Here they come…. The Random Rants:

-The writer who compared the passionate and big-hearted Mike Hart to that of the heartless and money chasing A-Rod was displaying is lack of common knowledge. Moreover comparing a PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER who plays like Cal Ripkin but has the heart of JD Drew to a COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER who plays like DeShaun Foster and has the heart of Beowolf ready to lead his troops into war is like comparing an autistic music artist to Picaso, they are judged completely differently. And I think A-Rod might be slightly autistic, just a hunch.

-Yea that was a Beowolf reference, what’s more appalling to me is that there is a Beowolf moving coming out soon. Are we lacking so much creativity and work ethic in this nation that we are reaching that far into the Shakespeare play list? Seriously, Beowolf, what’s next King Henry VIII?

-People who were complaining about USC dropping to #10 in the polls are people who don’t watch USC or haven’t watched them in the last 5 years. When looking at the last 5 years of USC teams that were ranked #1-5, all of them are head and shoulders better then this team. Hell if you look at the teams ranked #1-5 this year I’d say they are all currently better teams top to bottom then USC, but then again what do I know, I just watch them every week. (Expect for this last one when I boycotted)

I’m over it, enjoy until next time.
E-mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com

The Worse Day In LA Football History

By: Nate Gordon

As a Los Angeles writer I sit in awe, absolute amazement. I'm going to have to hear the ATH guys, 15 article on AGM and every sports talk show in LA talk about "The Play" and the coaching genius of Jim Harbaugh. The thought of the Cardinal being in position to win at the Colosseum in the 4th quarter is nauseating enough, I don't need people telling me about a play that Haurbagh should of never been in a position to call. Fact of the matter is, unlike the Chicago Bears, the Trojans aren't who we thought they were. They don't have the championship drive that the teams earlier in the decade had. I don't see a Palamalu/Palmer combo of leaders who are all-Americans and have that heart of a winner. Neither do I see a Bush/Lineart combo of explosiveness. This Trojan team is a team of really good players who have no identity and they have yet to give us one. This team fluctuates from half to half, some Saturdays quarter to quarter. Still on the schedule are trips to Oregon and California before a season finale at the home against UCLA. Those are three losable games and while I trust Pete Carroll to get the ship straight for a 10-1 season and trip to the Rose Bowl; the possibility of 7-4 has to be addressed individually, how do you react as a fan when your team starts at #1 and ends 5-4 in the Pac-10.

While that upset shook South Central, the Bruins were experiencing their very own nightmare up the 710 at the Rose Bowl. Notre Dame and Jimmy Clauson of Thousand Oaks, an LA suburb came in and kicked the crap out of UCLA 20-6. What the hell am I suppose to do now? I was given a 2 team teaser by Gavin Smith for 5000 bucks with a 20 point spread to the LA teams in each game. I might as well jump off the Hollywood sign if I'm the generic compulsive Los Angeles sports gambler. However, I'm not and no one in their minds would of given me a 2 team teaser with SC and UCLA this week so I'm just a really pissed off fan. The Dodgers choked outta the NL race, SC are a bunch of lost players, Karl Dorrell can't coach out of a paper bag, and the

Angels are alive and kicking in the playoffs. I hate Orange County, that may be beyond the point but do I care? I'm really cynical enough before all this crap.

Oakland is one play from being 3-1 this year, Denver is 2 plays from 0-4, San Diego is 1-3 and Kansas City is one NFL Apparel Children's Fashion show from Herm Edwards resorting to doing a terrible job preparing the team and their season going to shit. Daunte Culpepper doesn't have his accuracy back yet but he is making plays and that's what's important. I keep hearing people ask the question in their blogs: How will Dom Rhoads complement Justin Fargas in the running game? Excuse me, let me clear my throat and proceed to smack and down body slam these fools. Justin had a great half last week, a career half as a matter of fact, but it was against an run defense so shameful JJ Arrington could of busted off 125 and a TD. Justin is an exciting kid in spurts but he can't carry the load and we've seen this before, mainly because he's prone to fumble. LaMont Jordan has used the bye week to properly prepare his back for the long haul and Fargas and Rhoads should split carries to spell LaMont and keep him healthy.

Alright it's time for Random Thoughts: These are thoughts about things going on in the world because I'm cynical of most crap out there and I know that my thoughts commonly spark conversation. That conversation usually has an opposing viewpoint; I set to crush viewpoints while promotion conversation - the contradiction continues.

-In some suburban LA cities, the city counsels want to impose laws that ban smoking everywhere within the city limits, including your own home. I remember the teachers in my public schools growing up preaching pro-nanny state lectures to the class and now city counsels want to do the same thing and I have this to say to them: Get out of my life. It isn't governments duty to rule how we live our lives. If you want to smoke within your own home or in an open air area then by my guest, it's your life. Government should never impose law on our personal choices.

-I'm sure all of you have heard of the Jena 6, well now there is a black girl here in Palmdale, CA. who got out of control during a high school food fight and was restrained by a white campus security guard. Al Sharpton rolled into town with his crap a couple of days ago and said that "This girl was only guilty of 'Going To School While Black'" and that the security guards actions were 'worse then the actions of the Jena 6'". Does this guy listen to what he says? I'm sure he doesn't, Al Sharpton is practically menstrual comedy and a parody of our Civil Rights activist of yesteryear. How is a security guard restraining a girl who is flailing and screaming in the middle of a cafeteria food fight worse then 6 kids beating up another, regardless of race or social status. When you add race into it how is hate crime retaliation not as bad as a security guard doing his job when the girl was clearly a threat to other students well being? This is a joke, I almost don't want to touch the 'Going to School While Black' thing. What the hell Al, that is so embarrassing for you to say. He doesn't even know what happened, he got a phone call saying a little black girl was hurt while being 'assaulted' by a big white security guard and he comes and and does his little speech and checks all the mini-race cards off the list. A 'while black' accusation, an exaggerated injury, a big white man at the center of the alleged problem who acted upon his alleged 'racial hate'. It all makes me sick, shame on you Al Sharpton, your not a voice of my people, your merely a washed up Apollo acted who runs for camera time.

Okay, I think 2 random thoughts will do it, I'll blog again this week because I've been lacking due to laptop issues. Think about this until next time:

Going into Saturday: Notre Dame and Stanford combined record 1-10. UCLA and USC combined record: 10-1.

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It's Called Fall For Falling On Your Face

By: Nate Gordon

Those good 'ol Bums. Once falling on their face at Ebbets field now imploding this fall in Chavez Ravine and on a TV or Radio near you. While I gotta sit by and listen to the band wagoners awake for another Orange County/ Golden State Angels playoff run, me and the rest of Los Angeles are stuck without October baseball. The Dodger pitching staff has been lackluster the last 2 months and the bats have been far from consistent. This shit hit the fan and the the whole second half of the season was summed up by Jeff Kent's remarks on 710ESPN with Kevin Kiley (D'Marco Left the show for opportunities in the NFL and good luck to him. Kevin isn't liked enough to be a sure thing in the time slot so they didn't name the show after him, I find this funny.) Jeff stated "...some of the younger guys didn't approach this last Rockies series like professionals and it showed... now we are out of the race..." The Dodgers were cleaned out by the Rockies and the D'Backs and are all but eliminated from playoff contention. Like they always say Dodger Fans, Wait 'Til next Year.

In other baseball news Milton Bradley tore his ACL while being tackled by his manager who was trying to restrain him during an argument with the 1st base umpire. I almost am lost for words about this, after watching the video several times it seems like the 1st base Ump says something pretty offensive because the 1st base coach for SD goes to get in the Umps face instead of turning to restrain Bradley. Things got escalated and as the skipper tried to hold Bradley from going after the umpire Milton's knee gave out and he collapsed onto the field. This whole story is something that could only come out of the 'Dennis Rodman/Carl Everett/J.R. Rider/Milton Bradley/Albert Belle/Kyle Turley/John Rocker File'. You never hear about Ken Griffey getting picked on by an ump to get his blood boiling, then having his manager so worried about Jr. going after the ump that he tries to hold him back resulting in an injury. You don't even hear about this happening to Sheffield, only someone like Bradley could be this ridiculous. The question is now how is Bradley's career affected and how might he be compensated for this freak accident?

Switching sports quicker then Smush Parker can turn the ball over I got a thought or two about Lovie Smith and the Bears situation. All the NFL experts and pundits have been writing in their articles and blogs and saying on TV that Lovie has to bench Rex. In every one of these 'original' pieces they mention how loyal Lovie is and how he needs to quit his loyalty and make a switch at quarterback. I'm going the other way with this, Lovie Smith is a loyal man by nature, it's part of his personality. If Lovie feels that his team is better off with Grossman at quarterback then I support his decision to keep 'Sexy Rexy' under center. Smith has to bring his locker room together and unite them behind Rex otherwise he might have some trouble, but don't change who you are as a coach to appease the pundits, stick true to yourself Coach.

How do I spell vindication? K-I-F-F-I-N. After last Sunday's debacle in Denver i went to Gillis's place to collect on a debt of 20 dollars owed by one Steve Dodge thanks to a 5 1/2 point spread bet I took in the Raiders/Broncos game. I was met with Dodge's 'all hail Shanahan' cack riding for an hour and not one dollar from his Hebrew hands. Despite my argument that Kiffin makes sound adjustments and had engineered back-to-back comebacks Dodge brought up the damned timeout and debunked my 'Kiffin is a good coach' argument. I thought this was stupid that a good move by Shanahan would mean that Kiffin was a bad coach, but most things in Steve's world make little to no sense. Either way Kiffin pulled the same move on the Browns this week that Shanahan pulled last week and when I called Steve to talk trash and feel vindicated I found his phone going straight to voice mail, that a boy Steve, showing those true Blue and Orange colors.

A quick final note on the Raiders, their next 4 weeks are @ 0-3 Miami, BYE, @1-2 San Diego and H vs. 1-2 Kansas City. The Raiders could be 3-3 after 7 weeks, in '06 they were 1-6 and in '05 they were 2-5. Also I love how aggressive the secondary players are but Michael Huff has to read the play fake better because he left the DBs without inside help on 2 occasions in which Derek Anderson couldn't convert.

All stats in the next section are from NFL.com

My top 5 Quarterbacks through 3 weeks -

AFC:
1.Tom Brady
The numbers and SC highlights say it all.

2.Carson Palmer
9 TDs and 300+ YPG/AVG.

3.Peyton Manning
1 INT 66% comp + 873 yds

4.Matt Schaub
76% comp and HOU: is 2-1

5.Ben Rothlesberger
TD/INT ratio 6:1 29 comp for 1st down.

NFC:
1.Bret Farve
His teams 3-0 and his TD/INT ratio is 6:2

2.Tony Romo
TR: TD/INT: 8:2 and 15 plays +20 yards

3.Jon Kitna
980 yds and 68% comp

4.Donovan McNabb
158.3 QB Rating in week 3... that's perfect

5.Jeff Garcia
66% comp 0 INT and TB is 2-1.


My top 5 Running Backs through 3 weeks-

AFC:
1.Lamont Jordan
5.1 yds/carry 18 runs for a 1st + 116 yd/gm

2.Willie Parker
leads NFL in yards (368) and has 5.0 avg.

3.Jamal Lewis
5.8 yds a carry and 307 yds, mostly against CIN.

4.Travis Henry
302 yds. 5.0 yds/carry and 9 kids

5.Joseph Addai
271 yds, 15 rushes for 1st and 4 TDs

NFC:
1.Brian Westbrook
5.7 yds/carry and 1/3 of his carries go for a 1st down.

2.Shaun Alexander
91 yds/gm, 2 TDs and 275 yds.

3.Marion Barber III
256 yds, 6.4 avg, 4TDs

4.Adrian Peterson
AllDay had 16 rushes for 1st downs and 271 yds.

5.Edgerrin James
2 TDs and 277 yds.

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My Eye's On The NFL... And It's Writers

This is absurd, not just a little absurd, but completely and utterly ridiculous even by my low and half-baked standards. Basically i look forward to reading two things on Tuesday's: 1. The UEFA Champions League Previews on SI.com and 2. Gregg Easterbrook's Tuesday Morning Quarterback. People have their varying thoughts on Easterbrook and the rest of the Page 2 staff at ESPN, a section once reserved for the opinions of award-winning writer Hunter S. Thompson, now a bastardized shell of it's original self that features such writing heavy hitters as Bill Simmons and DJ Gallo. I'm not saying I have a problem with either Simmons or Gallo because I enjoy reading them from time to time but you can't hold them and Scoop Jackson in the same light you would Mr. Thompson. Anyway here we are on Tuesday afternoon and I finally have a subject to move me away from writing a 2000 word sequel to OJ's "I Did It, Here's How It Happened" regarding Mike Shanahan.

Gregg Easterbrook set out to put us through one of his weekly 4000 articles regarding everything NFL from the previous weekend, this weekend he failed so bad I almost wanted to stop reading his work altogether. I have previously loved reading Easterbrook's common sense take on how the NFL should run and how coaches call games, partly because his ideas give validity to how I coach and play in NCAA Football and Madden '08. But this week he decided to stick it to me and the rest of his readers with a 1600 word rant on the auto industry and fuel economy... I'll take a page out of Easterbrook's book and repeat myself because I don't believe you have the mental capacity to go back in the paragraph and read what I just wrote 50 words ago; this week he decided to stick it to me and the rest of his readers with a 1600 work rant on the auto industry and FUEL ECONOMY! The Browns beat the Bengals... the Browns beat anyone, moreover they won a 51-45 shootout in which DEREK ANDERSON threw for 5 touchdowns and Easterbrook waste 1600 words in a football article on fuel economy. I don't even understand why he bothered to include it in the article, it had no football lead-in or anything, it's just dropped into the middle of the article. 1600 words on fuel economy between 400 words on the NE/SD game and only 100 words on the Raiders/Broncos debacle at the end of their game that lead to the NFL again basically telling Oakland "sorry, we know the rule is horrible and has no place in the book, but we're too incompetent to do anything about it and we we're also hoping you would be the victim before we are forced to change the rule." I won't get any further into the DEN/OAK game expect to say that Oakland is not only the best 0-2 team in the NFL, from their performance in Denver on Sunday, they look like the only 0-2 team who might still have an outside shot at the playoffs. A couple of 0-2 teams each year find a way to turn it around and make the playoffs, why not Oakland? It all comes down to this Gregg, I think your a level-headed and intelligent American with plenty of good ideas in your head, spending almost half of your weekly football article to make a political statement against the American Auto Industry wasn't one of those good ideas, and now the only thing I look forward to reading on Tuesdays is the UEFA Champions League Preview.

While I'm on the idea of ESPN's Page 2 Jemele Hill has done something that had to be done, she just did a poor job of doing it. Hill took on the task of writing the "reserve judgement on OJ's latest arrest" article and for lack of a better word, murdered it. Jemele spends the entire article asking the reader to go easy on her for what she's writing and reminding everyone that she isn't supporting or defending Orenthal James instead of doing her job by presenting the reasons for why we should reserve our judgement. She even goes on to list off different things that look like Orenthal James might be getting rail-roaded by Las Vegas Metro Police, going so far as to bring the argument: "Realize this is the same police department that still can't find out who murdered Tupac, WHO WAS KILLED RIGHT OFF THE STRIP." How disgraceful for Jemele to use the Tupac incident to discredit LVMPD in a case against Orenthal James Simpson, as a black man in America I'm completely disgusted by this, as a young black man in America, I'm ashamed by Jemele. She claims that she isn't defending Orenthal James, she claims that she is just trying to give him a level playing field in the public court of opinion. Yet 1 of her 4 signs of the situation sounding like a set-up is that LVMPD couldn't find Tupac's killer, therefore they have to be rail-roading OJ. (to think anyone in a position of power was looking for the killer of my generation's most influential voice in black culture is to live in a dream land anyway) Orenthal James Simpson was only acquitted of double homicide in Los Angeles because he was on trial in a city fresh off race riots and the acquittal of the officers who beat Rodney King. If those acquittals don't happen, as well as the riots or if OJ is on trial in another city he goes away for life; OJs acquittal was the apparent "eye for an eye" in the LA justice system. Orenthal James Simpson is a man who is a lifelong criminal who has used his celebrity to avoid convictions on Road Rage, Domestic Violence, Stolen Cable and Double Homicide, I hope the buck stops at Armed Robbery, and I suggest a sentence of 32 years if convicted.

On a lighter note instead of Peter King's "Ten Things I Think I Think" I provide you with "5 Talking Points I know I know" mostly because I'm cynical, opinionated and think you might possibly give half a damn about what I believe; but also partly because knowing things is more decisive, even if u don't.

1. I know that Derek Anderson is not for real: It's much more likely that Cincinnati's defense is really that bad and no one really realized it. Ponder this:

Derek Anderson's Career Passer Rating Through 5 games in 2006: 63.1

Derek Anderson's Passer Rating in 2007 Through 2 games: 101.3

I don't think Derek Anderson will drop 40 rating points in 3 games, but I do think he will drop about 25 points, he's always looked like a 75.0 passer rating guy, a career back-up. So before he get crowned and the trade rumors start over Brady Quinn, just know that Anderson isn't a sure thing.

2. I know Mike Shanahan is the Anti-Christ: this is no explanation of this one... I just know it.

3. I know Roger Goodell sent a message on Football Night in America and that message was "I'm more interesting then Olbermann": Goodell told me three things with his interview on Sunday night: 'those who cheat in my NFL will face harsh consequences', 'if you try to weasel outta punishment for cheating then I'll do unthinkable things to your franchise' and 'interviewing Me during halftime each Sunday would be far more interesting than anything Keith Olbermann could possibly do, so cut your losses NBC and just quit the "worst person in the NFL" segment before Olbermann ends up as the 2nd part of my "I did it, here's how it happened" book about Shanahan.

4. I know San Diego won't make it pass the 2nd round of the playoffs: I only offer you this piece of information for my argument: Re-watch the SD/NE game and the first quarter and a half shows not only how poorly Norv Turner and his staff prepared his team for a New England team with something to prove at home, but how they were unable to make adjustments to the defense and passing game to counter-act the New England game plan. Hear me now, loud and clear Alex Gillis and Dave Liu, Norv Turner will never win a Super Bowl, and your teams talent can't overcome Turner's incompetence as a head coach.

5. I know that I forgot to wish Alex Gillis happy birthday on Sunday and that makes me a bad friend: I was so busy bitching about the Oakland game Sunday afternoon I forgot to say happy birthday when I called him... I called him and forgot to say it, it makes me a bad friend and a real jackass. So Gillis I hope your girlfriend took care of you since youf Friend and football team let you down. All you kids out there, don't be a douche-bag friend, call your friends on their birthday, and actually wish them happy birthday.

Football Fanatical

By: Nate Gordon

During the 2006 NFL season I made 4 mistakes:

1. I drafted Dom Davis in the first round of my fantasy league draft. (The next day he tore his ACL in practice missing the whole season.)

2.I drafted Clinton Portis in the second round of fantasy league draft. (He separated his shoulder making a killer tackle on an interception, in the first series of preseason.)

3. I forgot how bad Art Shell's clock management skills were from childhood. (Simmons wouldn't let me forget during this season though.)

4. I rationalized Aaron Brooks as my starting quarterback. (Insert joke here)

Each of these mistakes screwed me one by one. I finished 7th in my fantasy league last year after starting like 5-2 in a 14 game season while simultaneously learning to hate everything about LaDell Betts from the way he ran the ball to his first name. Seriously if he wasn't black his name would be Dell Betts and how horrible is that? Art Shell's loyalty to his coaching staff a la 1988 left the Raiders with an offense so embarrassing even Kansas City's defense was laughing at us; of course they were only laughing and not doing they're job because Herm Edwards did a terrible job preparing the team, a terrible job. (I just found out that Herm has been doing such a terrible job preparing the team because he is busy directing Children's Fashion Shows for NFL Apparel - do I need to go further with this?) And Aaron Brooks, well unsigned JaMaracus Russell currently owns his number 2 jersey. Basically I'm still trying to kill the brain cells that remember the entire year of 2006, I'd like the promptly flush it down the shitter. A 3-day weekend at Keith Richards house should provide enough blow to do the trick.

Since I've now forgotten 2006 I can't speak about it anymore, so I'll fast forward to this morning. I was sluggish waking up since it was 6 AM on a Sunday... yes I said 6 AM. I stumbled to the car much like a drunk would later at a stop light to ask for change, it was cold so I had my windows rolled up and couldn't be bothered. Some of you will think that was heartless of me, but you know what.... if Keyshawn Johnson and Bill Parcelles were on your radio together on NFL Opening Sunday, you wouldn't be bothered either, so I don't wanna hear it. I find it enjoyable to hear what Key and Tuna have to say, I mean who wouldn't considering neither of them have shut the hell up since 1996 when they first met up. I'm mostly happy to hear Tuna on the radio cause that means I don't have to see he's old man boobs in those horrid form fitting coaches polo's on Sundays. I was finally starting to get excited about football again. I was getting so excited to see the Raiders play in a real game again that I wasn't even sleepy when I got to work. The thought of getting home to see the Raiders/Lions game in the afternoon was more then enough.

When I got home this afternoon at 1:10 I was excited to still see Jim Brown's increasing receding hairline and Dan Marino's constant look of being uncomfortable. They were making fairly obvious observations and given very little true analytical information but I could care less, it's week 1 and more importantly I missed the morning games and they're filling me in. Adrian Peterson looks like an absolute animal, ignore the 4.3 speed and killer footwork, this kid is strong, and as Jeff said to me S-T-R-O-N-G!!! AD would of been the mornings most impressive player for my money if it weren't for New England lighting up the J-E-T-S like they were L-O-S-E-R-S. Then Jim Brown said the one thing that ruined my day "Thanks for watching, up next US Open Tennis." What!?!?! CBS isn't carrying the game and I'm in a local market? This is bad, that means that Fox is carrying the game and (like the douche bags they are) they're showing the LA Market San Diego/Chicago because it's a higher profile NFC game. CBS always shows LA the Raiders as the regional team.... this is overwhelmingly depressing, so i found the expensive smoking lamp and turned on the computer to get the stream online. It's just not the same, I hit up Jeff who is in Santa Barbara to see what Fox is showing there. "We have the Raider game man." That's all I needed to hear, an hour away my team is on TV, in the city I was working in this morning. I had contemplated during work going to where Jeff was to watch the game but then decided that because they're Charger fans there I would go home and watch. Here I am at home, watching the damn Chargers...

So here we are now at halftime where Terry Bradshaw informs me that Oakland was the upset pick of the week, thanks for jinxing my already doomed team Terry. For Christ sake a hall of fame Raider in Howie Long is sitting right there and he let the team get jinxed on National TV by the guy in the freaking Supercuts commercials; no doubt he actively participated in the jinx. After missing three field goals the Raiders lost 36-21 but only needed to not turn the ball over in the 4th quarter to claim victory when leading 21-20. Oakland claim victory? Al Davis will claim Social Security worked with the NFL in conspiracy to keep him from winning bingo on Tuesdays faster. It is so depressing to be an Oakland Raider fan these days; where is that expensive smoking lamp?

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