Category — Sports

I’ve been thinking a lot about basketball lately. (Mainly because I’ve been reading the amazing Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons. And partly because of my recent move to Los Angeles.) My girlfriend and I decided that we needed to see a Rocket’s game this season. No, it wasn’t me persuading her to let me go to a game…she’s  a Rocket’s fan and enjoys basketball games. I’ve got a great girlfriend, what can I say. We both disagreed on which game to go see. She wanted to see tonight’s game. The Lakers game. I was against giving my money to the Lakers and I wanted to see the dunking monster that is Blake Griffin. Obviously I won because we’re not at the game tonight. All this basketball talk and basketball reading got me excited and I started looking up all the Rockets rosters from ’93 to present. (I got a little depressed in the late nineties rosters.) And then I saw the glimmer of hope with the McGrady trade.

So I started thinking of T-Mac, who is now the starting point guard for the Pistons. I remembered that horrible bashing I gave him last season and the angry mob that would have torn him apart in 2009. I remember seeing him in like August of 2009 after bashing him so much and feeling bad. I was at work and I saw T Mac. He looked out of shape and humbled. He was sort of slouching, like he was trying to make himself smaller or hoping no one would notice him. I felt bad for demanding for him to shut up and leave Houston. I felt bad for all the crap I talked about him. I saw him for the first time as a person and not a basketball player. I’ve been lucky enough to run into T Mac a couple of times but this time was different. This time he was different–not just because he seemed out of shape. I wanted to run up to him and say, “Look man, I know you don’t know me but I’m sorry you’re going through crap.”

Now, I’m not excusing the man. What he did to the Rockets was wrong. He announced he was having surgery without consulting the team. He knew he was in pain, he knew his contract was expiring, and he knew that there were trade rumors. He knew that if he had surgery nobody would trade for him and he’d rehab on the Rockets dime and hopefully come back in time to be on a contender in the last year of his contract. The only thing is he came back and was not the same T Mac as before surgery and he was not in his old T Mac shape. He looked like old T Mac. And then he complained about his minutes. He wasn’t up to snuff to play good minutes. His body probably wasn’t capable of starters minutes and he complained. He was a distraction and he was only thinking of himself.

All of Houston turned against him. Almost everybody hated him. His antics made us all forget all of the great things that he had done in a Rockets jersey. 13 points in 33 seconds. 30-7-7 average in his first playoff series as a Rocket. Being part of the 22 game winning streak. Just to name a few.

It’s tough to see profession athletes as people sometimes. He constantly was attacked for never advancing past the first round of the playoffs. He put the Rockets on his shoulders and tried to win games, advance in the playoffs and it just never happened. He heard trade rumors and made some horrible decisions and then turned into one of the most hated men in Houston. We were always hard on T Mac. We expected a lot out of him and when I saw him in 2009 I didn’t see a jerk. I saw a man that looked beaten down.

The regular football writing had to be put on hold but how can this happen without making mention of it. Andre Johnson, one of the nicest guys in the world, threw down yesterday. Cortland Finnegan deserves to get hit, on a regular basis. And even though Andre apologized he earned some respect out there. I hate the Titans and it’s been good, as a fan, to see some of the players really start to despise that team. Rivalries are awesome to watch and this is just another thing that’s going to keep the Texans/Titans games more interesting. Andre did everything right, he didn’t get pushed around, fought back, apologized without excuses and is willing to take his punishment like a man. Yeah he lost his cool but he’s got respect. Cortland Finnegan–one of the funniest names in football–is a chump.

Jacksonville at Kansas City

I don’t think Jacksonville has a chance in this one. Kansas City wins at home.

Philadelphia at Tennessee

These are two teams that might be good teams I honestly have had a feel for either one so far this season. I’m going to have to go with Philly because they have the edge on offense.

Buffalo at Baltimore

The Ravens should have this game hands down.

Cleveland at New Orleans

It must suck to be a sports fan in Cleveland. New Orleans wins.

Washington at Chicago

I think Washington has the edge here. I’m still waiting for Chicago to completely break down.

Cincinnati at Atlanta

I think Cincinnati pulls off the upset win here. Why? I have no idea…

Pittsburgh at Miami

People that counted Pittsburgh out this season are eating their words. Pittsburgh wins.

San Fransisco at Carolina

Both teams had high hopes and now just hope they can get back on the right track. San Fran is the better team here and should get the game.

St. Louis at Tampa Bay

At the beginning of this season, I would have made some sort of joke about these two teams but now Tampa Bay is getting out of the bottom of the NFL and becoming a legit team. Tampa wins.

Arizona at Seattle

Seattle…?

New England at San Diego

Poor San Diego. Coach is going to be out of a job soon. New England wins.

Oakland at Denver

Denver is the better team and is playing at home….plus they’re still playing Oakland. Denver.

Minnesota at Green Bay

This game will officially close the wound of Favre leaving. Favre has never looked more foolish and Green Bay hasn’t been better since Favre left. Green Bay.

NY Giants at Dallas

I really want the Giants to win here. Nothing has made me happier than the Cowboys year so far. I’m crossing my fingers they let Wade Phillips coach through the year….

I’ve been running lines and working this week here are my picks in mad-cap last minute fashion. I’m only writing the winners of the games…

Chicago

Green Bay

San Diego

New England

New Orleans

NY Giants

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Houston

San Francisco

Denver

Minnesota

Indy Robots

Tennessee

Wow, this has been a crazy week. Road trip to LA and back to Houston and rehearsals and work. This should be the last time I procrastinate this bad on updating my blog. My bad fools. Here’s the picks.

Jacksonville at Buffalo

Every week there’s a game that seems horrible to watch. This one is this week’s. I don’t know what to do so I’ll go with Buffalo at home.

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati

This game is a whole lot more interesting than it would have been at the beginning of the season. A Tampa Bay upset would be fun but I think that Cincinnati will get the better of them.

Atlanta at Cleveland

Atlanta should win this one on the road. Easy pickins…

St. Louis at Detroit

Which team shall emerge as the team not getting the first pick of the draft this year? Detroit is better and have home field.

Kansas City at Indianpolis

A true test to see if Kansas City has what it takes to take the next step. KC is good but I wouldn’t pick them on the road against the robots. The Robots win this one.

Green Bay at Washington

I think this is going to be a close game. Maybe the best game of the week. Green Bay should take it in the end.

Chicago at Carolina

Poor Carolina. They seem to be looking worse every time I look at them. Chicago.

Denver at Baltimore

I’m feeling an upset. I think Denver can take this one on the road. Who will be worse the Denver defense or Baltimore offense?

NY Giants at Houston

Eli may be able to carve the secondary up. However I think that Houston can take the Giants defense and the Houston secondary is getting a bit better plus…Brian Cushing!

New Orleans at Arizona

This game doesn’t seem fair. New Orleans.

San Diego at Oakland

West Coast mediocrity! San Diego.

Tennessee at Dallas

No matter who I pick I will hate myself. But I think and hope Tennessee will win.

Philly at San Fran

It’s going to be better than it sounds but Philly should beat a west coast team.

Minnesota at NY Jets

Ah, a matchup created last year that should now not be on prime time. These are two teams that I think are over rated. However I’m picking Favre to come back and win this tough game on prime time. He’s made for that kind of dramatics. Minnesota.