Weekend sports review
It is Monday, so I'm instituting a new regular feature of this site which will be a weekend sports review. This will mainly deal with teams that I care about, so if you're looking for commentary on the Cubs, the Pats, Dook, or any NBA team, you can save yourself some time and stop reading now...
First, let's talk about the UNC-GT game. This game was a heart breaker on many levels. I picked UNC to win, speculating that GT would continue to underachieve as they have the past few seasons, but the real sad thing is that I was right about GT not playing that well and UNC still lost. GT will be better than I thought (they are healthy and both their O and D are solid) but they will still struggle because their coaching staff proved once again that they can't call a good game. If they had ran the ball during their last 3 possessions, the game would not have been nearly as close as it was. The GT coaching staff practically begged Carolina to beat them. UNC, on the other hand, will be an all-around better team this year because their defense is good, but they will struggle even more than last year, because even though the D will be respectable (yes, I did say that) the offence is much, much worse. All of you who were worried about Matt Baker can rest assured that he is more than capable, and the running backs looked talented as well. But the true weakness of this year's team is the o-line and receivers who were horrific, and that affects both the passing and running game. Ken Browning should get much more credit than he has gotten up to now because, once again, when he switches sides of the ball, UNC sees vast improvements where he is then coaching (d-line), while the area he leaves quickly becomes the akiles heels of the team. Now that I've seen the '05 Heels in action myself, and I'm no longer going off the rose-colored descriptions of the Tar Heel Sports Network, I'm sad to say that we're still at least a year away (and probably more) from fielding a team with both a competitive offence and defense. My 5-6 projection may be more like 2-9, if UNC doesn't do something to improve the blocking and pass protection up front.
In other news, at least I can take comfort in my Steelers! Go Big Ben!
Also, I think I'm finally going to see a Nationals game on the 24th, but by then, it looks like they will be out of contention for the playoffs if they can't put together a streak soon.
How can you leave out the Dodgers? And don't you have a spell checker? Your Mom says to tell you she prays for you and Brooklynne every day. That has nothing to do with your spelling. Love you lots.
The gross spelling errors previously included in the post have been fixed, but no promises for the future. Unfortunately, Moveable Type does not include a spellchecker that I know of (in the free version at least), so spelling-impaired people like me are out of luck. But isn't the internet supposed to transcend the limitations of traditional language anyway? Thanks for the prayers... for my spelling and otherwise.
Yes, the Dodgers do deserve a mention since they have a little 3 game streak going. And since the last series of the season in against San Diego, we really only have to make up two games to stay alive into the last weekend. I'm really glad that the Nationals have a series this weekend against the Padres too, because I feel like we're part of the DC community when we pull whole-heartedly for the Nats.
I agree with your dad. I'm a Chicagoan now and the Cubs deserve no coverage. Maybe my opion has a little something to do with a certain "Buehrle" who pitches for the Sox. Regardless ... I think that you should include more about the Dodgers. I hear they're bringing Fernando back up from the minors to pitch a few innings for old times sake. I just ate a bowl of Wheaties this morning. The box had a picture of Dodger Kirk Gibson.
Dude, Burly, I'm in the process of going through a Kirk Gibson box of Wheaties myself! That was one of my favorite moments in sports. The Dodgers still have a minute chance of taking the division. I'm hanging in there with a sliver of hope.
Interestingly, I was an A's fan at the time, because Ricky Henderson played for them, and I am a fan of the individual (Ricky Henderson) than the fan of any team ... well, I WAS. Now that Ricky can no longer play since he's approaching 50, I have seen the error of my ways. Dodgers forever. Fernando forever.
Burly, if it makes you feel more consistent, I think the Dodgers were the last MLB team on which Ricky Henderson played. They picked up his contract from some Independent League team to help them out at the end of the season (last season, I think). I wouldn't be surprised if he's still playing somewhere out there.
Oh yeah. That's right. Rickey Henderson forever! Dodgers forever!