Posts

Showing posts from October, 2009
Cover for Reach Past Your Limits

Get My Motivational E-Book "Reach Past Your Limits"
Click here for information on all of my books.

Week 8 Picks

I like Halloween as much as the average person, I suppose. I don’t get nuts or anything, but a good scary movie is cool around this time of year. So, I gave myself a real scare, and figured out my record so far this year with football and baseball playoff picks. I’m a frieghtening 9-12 in the NFL, 3-6 in college for an overall 12-18 in football. A 5-1 baseball record pulls me up to 17-19. The last four weeks offers some hope at 16-10 overall. I’m still working on figuring out my record from previous years, but my record keeping left a lot to be desired. Last week was a disappointing 2-3 after back-to-back winning weeks. Here’s my Week 8 picks: New York Giants –1 over the Eagles Denver +3 over Baltimore Minnesota +3 over Green Bay Atlanta +10 over New Orleans West Virginia –3 over South Florida USC –3 over Oregon If you’re taking my advice, God help you. And, as Jody McDonald says, you get what you pay for and . . . how much did you pay for these?

How the Phils Can Beat the Yanks

The Phillies versus the Yankees in the World Series. Let’s face it. This is the match-up Phillies fans wanted all along. As much as we hate the media’s love affair with the Yankees, we know deep down we want what they have. The mystique. The legends. Most of all the titles. And we want to take it directly from them. In fact, we know that beating the Yankees is the only way we could seriously start using the “D” word (“dynasty”). Even if the Phillies went on to win 3 out of 4 Series against other teams, there would always be the asterisk that they didn’t beat the Yanks. It won’t sound much like the Phillies are the team defending their crown in the next week or so. Odds are the Fox broadcast of the World Series will sound more like a coronation of the Yanks than a baseball series. Yet, whether they like it or not, the world will have to acknowledge at least at the outset that the Phillies still wear the crown of baseball. It would be pure homerism for me to change my pick to the Phillie

Week 7 Picks

I’m posting just a bit late this week, but after two consecutive winning weeks I’m hoping to keep the momentum going. I was 3-2 last week, and 5-3 over the last two weeks. Throwing in the baseball playoffs, I’m at 9-4 recently. It could be 10-4 if the Yankees handle things Saturday night. Before that, I definitely struggled. Without further ado, here are my Week 7 picks: Atlanta +170 (money line) over Dallas Chicago 0 over Cincinnati (even spread) San Francisco +3 over Houston In college, I had two “gut feel” (in other words, I-don’t-really-even-think-I-know-jack) picks: Pittsburgh –6.5 over S. Florida West Virginia –7.5 over Connecticut As Jody McDonald used to say on the airwaves, and probably still does on satellite, you get what you pay for and . . . and how much did you pay for these?

Philly Looking for Repeat

The Phillies are returning to the World Series to defend their championship. It’s such a simple statement, yet so very unfamiliar in my lifetime as a Philadelphia sports fan. I’ve seen it happen in other cities. I’ve even seen the Sixers go to back-to-back NBA Finals, but not as defending champions. The “D” word, as in “dynasty,” is already beginning to creep it’s way into the Philadelphia lexicon. It’s premature, but talk of such things usually is. Debating whether or not a team is a dynasty is much less fun when the results are in. Don’t criticize fans using the “D” word too harshly. I’m not sure any of us know how to react right now. I remember part of my emotion as a fan after the Phillies won it all . . . man, it’s still fun just to say it . . . was a sense of relief that this core of players would not be remembered as just one more team we thought was great but just never got over the hump to win the elusive title. So many have fallen into that category. That would be a core of

Clear Differences Between Eagles, Phillies

The difference between the Philles and the Eagles was never clearer than it was last night. One franchise is chasing a second straight title; the other talks like it wins titles but never does. One has Cliff Lee; one has Donovan McNabb. One throws the ball incessantly because the coach has decided he can re-invent the game despite a decade of evidence to the contrary and talent that better fits a conventional system. The other has built a team around its ballpark and the talent it has developed. The Eagles are eager to resign a coach who despite a lucky run to the NFC title game last year has shown signs of failing since his one Super Bowl appearance. The Phillies made sure Charlie Manuel was the right guy before giving him a contract extension. One has Ryan Howard, a guy being mentioned in serious tones with Babe Ruth. One has, well, no one even worthy of mention in this paragraph. The Phillies look like they will be sending the Dodgers back to Los Angeles alone as Ryan Howard and com

Week 6 Picks

After my first winning week of the football season, with a 2-1 record last week, I’m looking to keep the momentum going this weekend. Check the time on the post for validation that I got the first of my picks in before kickoff on Friday night between Pittsburgh and Rutgers. (Or find me on Facebook by searching the name of this blog.) That’s the best I could come up with! Here’s my Week 6 picks: Pittsburgh -6 over Rutgers USC -10 over ND Giants +155 (money line) over New Orleans Denver +155 (money line) over San Diego Atlanta -3 over over Chicago More after the Phillies game (probably). UPDATE: It was a tough loss for the Phils tonight. I would have liked to see Pedro Martinez go another inning with a 1-0 lead through 7, but hindsight is 20-20. I hope Charlie Manuel would have left him in if Carlos Ruiz hadn’t walked to bring up the pitcher’s spot with 1 out and a guy on base, but once that happened he probably had little choice. Two outs and nobody on is a different story in my opinion

Five Weeks of the NFL

After five weeks of the NFL season, there are some things I think I know, some things I’m still figuring out, and some things I’m baffled by. · It’s almost become the newest cliché, but I don’t think we know anything about the Eagles yet this season. When was the last time anybody felt that way after 4 games? They’re 3-1, having lost to one seemingly good team (New Orleans) and beaten a bunch of drek (Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and Carolina). With the Raiders on the horizon this week followed by Washington, the trend isn’t about to change. · I’m not ready to call the Michael Vick experiment a failure, but it’s certainly not going well. I’ll admit I’m watching more and more of the NFL in general as opposed to the Eagles, and that will likely only continue now that I got the RedZone, but I haven’t seen anything all that valuable from the Eagles version of the “Wildcat.” Maybe when the JV portion of the schedule ends that will change. · On the other end of the “Wildcat” spectrum sits the Mia

Phils Advance; ALCS, NLCS Picks

Clutch hitting by the Phillies sent them to the NLCS from second straight year. Better yet, the critical hitting came from the guys the Phillies need it to come from. After a walk by Chase Utley with Shane Victorino already on base, Ryan Howard slammed a two-out double to tie the game in the ninth at 4-4. Before fans got over the fact that Howard’s hit looked like a go ahead home run off the bat, Jason Werth sent Howard home with the eventual game winning hit. To top it off, Charlie Manuel brought Brad Lidge in with two men on to get the final out . . . and he got it. Of course all of this came after the Phillies led for most of the game after another incredible performance by Cliff Lee almost went for naught. An error by Jimmy Rollins in the eighth thwarted a potential inning ending double play and ended Lee’s night with two outs. Ryan Madson came in and promptly gave up back-to-back hits giving Colorado their only lead of the game. It’s tough to question Manuel these days, but I’m gu

Week 5 Picks; Eagles and Phillies Thoughts

If Matt Holliday could catch a line drive, my baseball playoff predictions would be looking brilliant. Now it’s time to return to the National Football League where last week’s 3-4 record qualified as a good week. Slim pickings aren’t helping this Sunday with several double-digit spreads in the NFL. I wouldn’t give the Philadelphia Eagles 15 points against anybody, but I just can’t bring myself to touch Tampa Bay. But there are a couple games I like a lot: New England –3 over Denver Indianapolis –3.5 over Tennessee And since that’s all I like, and I know the smart people out there want more from me so they can make some money by going the other way, I have a college pick: Alabama –4.5 over Mississippi That’s nothing more than a gut pick. Eagles. Did the Eagles seriously sign Jeremiah Trotter? So much for all the confidence in Sean McDermitt replacing the late Jim Johnson. Trotter couldn’t cover tight ends three years ago. He is going to be the most literal coach on the field ever. Phi

2009 MLB Playoff Predictions

With the Major League Baseball playoffs finally set now that the Minnesota Twins survived the tie-breaker against the Detroit Tigers, it’s time to make some predictions for the playoffs. It’s amazing how people mock betting baseball – not that I’m condoning such activity unless of course you live in Las Vegas – but it’s often easier to predict than football. (No doubt I just guaranteed that I’ll crash and burn.) Even if they had a shot against the New York Yankees, Minnesota was screwed baseball’s schedule makers. Less than 24 hours after winning the tie-breaker in extra innings, they get to open their playoff in Yankee Stadium. Don’t feel too bad, they weren’t winning this series anyway. I don’t think they would have won a single game either, and I find it very doubtful now. The odds will be huge, so it may be worth taking odds on a sweep. But certainly take the Bronx Bombers. Red Sox nation has Boston as a favorite against the Los Angeles Angels. No chance the Sox are winning. Take t

Week 4 NFL Picks

I swore I wouldn’t do this, but I actually got my last pick correct, so I am throwing out a few more after a week off. Besides, I can’t do much worse than the guys getting paid to make picks – something I will never understand. Just remember, you get what you pay for (well, maybe not) and these are free: Giants -9 over KC Broncos +125 (money line) over Dallas Ravens +110 (money line) over New England Saints -7 over the Jets Chargers +6.5 over Pittsburgh Bills -1 over Miami Bengals -6 over Cleveland