Sports Bytes - December 31, 2010

Week 17 Predictions

• Atlanta over Carolina
• Pittsburgh over Cleveland
• Detroit over Minnesota
• Oakland over Kansas City
• New England over Miami
• New Orleans over Tampa
• NY Jets over Buffalo
• Baltimore over Cincinnati
• San Diego over Denver
• Green Bay over Chicago
• Indianapolis over Tennessee
• Philadelphia over Dallas
• San Francisco over Arizona
• NY Giants over Washington
• Jacksonville over Houston
• St. Louis over Seattle

It would be wise for Philadelphia to sit Michael Vick this week and play Kevin Kolb exclusively . . .

It is supposed to be rainy in NY on Sunday, so I would limit Mark Sanchez to only one-half of football regardless of the score at half-time . . .

Jaguars QB David Garrard is done for the season--and by 8:00 pm ET on Sunday so should his team. Thanks to back-to-back losses the Jaguars' playoff chances rest on a victory over Houston, and a Titans upset of the Colts. Not likely . . .

Green Bay would beat Chicago this week even if the Bears had something to play for . . .

The names Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro should not be mentioned in the same sentence with the words "Hall of Fame" . . .

Get well soon, Harmon Killebrew . . .

Our condolences to Angelo Dundee, whose wife passed away this week . . .

Boxing lost one of its toughest fighters on Tuesday with the passing of Bennie Briscoe. Briscoe won 66 bouts in his career, and he fought a Hall of Fame list of opponents, including Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzon, Emile Griffith, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, and Vito Antuofermo. Hall of Fame promoter Russell Peltz refers to Briscoe as " one of the best [fighters] never to win a world title (when world titles meant something) and the man who presided over the last Golden Age of Boxing in Philadelphia (the 1970s)" . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - December 29, 2010

Week 16 Results

New Orleans over Atlanta (17-14) Loss: After Monday night's game it is apparent that both teams are beatable.

• Drew Brees threw for 300 yards, but was intercepted on consecutive drives. Matt Ryan was disappointing, throwing for just 148 yards and only one TD . . . Brees is now the only NFL QB this season besides Eli Manning to throw at least 30 TDs while tossing 20 or more INTs . . .
  
• Atlanta RB Michael Turner, who entered the game with 1,256 yards rushing, was held to only 48 yards by New Orleans' 18th-ranked run defense. Turner compounded his awful night by fumbling the football at the Saints one-yard line in the third quarter . . .
• Atlanta's defense played well overall, but late in the 4th quarter when the team most-needed the Saints to go three-and-out, the defense faltered by surrendering a 13-play, 90 yard drive that chewed 7:11 off the clock . . .
• Speak of that 90 yd drive, why do teams continue to employ the prevent defense no matter how many times they see other clubs get burned by it? For three-and-a-half quarters Atlanta successfully pressured Drew Brees and held the Saints to just 10 points. Inexplicably, late in the fourth quarter when they most-needed a defensive stand, Atlanta stopped blitzing and dropped-back into coverage, allowing Brees to drive his offense nearly the entire length of the field . . .
• Expect Atlanta to secure the NFC South division crown and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs next week when they face the Carolina Panthers . . .

Minnesota over Philadelphia (24-14) Loss: Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier obviously watched film of last week's Giants-Eagles game and noticed the success NY had in the first half pressuring Michael Vick. Of course, unlike the Giants, the Vikings stayed loyal to that strategy for the full 60 minutes and were rewarded with an upset victory. Vick was bounced off the turf repeatedly by a ferocious Vikings pass rush that sacked him six times and forced him to turn the ball over three times (two fumbles and one INT) . . .

• RB Adrian Peterson and WR Percy Harvin carved-up the Eagles defense. Peterson rushed for 118 yards on only 22 carries (5.4 yards per carry), while Harvin collected 100 yards receiving on just seven catches (14.3 yards per catch) . . .
• Here's an interesting stat that I was unaware of. (Thanks to ESPN.com for pointing this out) In the last six games Vick has thrown six INTs, lost three fumbles, and has been sacked 19 times . . .
• I enjoyed watching Minnesota QB Joe Webb make the Philadelphia defense look silly on several of his bootlegs. Now the Eagles know what it's like trying to deal with Michael Vick in the open field . . .
• For those who want to crucify the NFL for postponing the Eagles-Vikings game because of the snow, be aware that two of the main arteries leading to Philadelphia (the NJ Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway) reported over 100 accidents prior to the NFL's decision to postpone . . .

Following last night's Vikings-Eagles game, my Week 16 picks were an average 9-7. My season's record is now 143 - 97 . . .

Forget Teflon Don. The real teflon man is Norv Turner. Despite San Diego's latest annual failure to measure-up to expectations, team President Dean Spanos has guaranteed Turner's return for the 2011 season . . .

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. appears willing to fight everyone but Manny Pacquiao . . .

Quote of the week: Yesterday a sports fan called WFAN radio in NY and asked what accumulated faster on Sunday: inches of snow on the ground during NY's blizzard or points scored by the Packers against the Giants defense. Ha!! . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - December 27, 2010

Week 16 Predictions

• Pittsburgh over Carolina (27-3) Win: Not exactly a surprise . . .
• Arizona over Dallas (27-26) Loss: Can't say I saw this coming, but when you have two INTs returned for TDs and a missed extra point, a loss is almost inevitable . . .
• New England over Buffalo (34-3) Win: You weren't expecting professionals like Tom Brady to come out flat because they were playing a team with only four wins, were you? . . .
• Chicago over NY Jets (38-34) Loss: Jets back-into playoffs with Jaguars loss, but porous defense should be of concern to Rex Ryan . . .
• Baltimore over Cleveland (20-10) Win: Ravens win game they are supposed to win. Ed Reed collects two INTs, while Joe Flacco throws two TDs. Cleveland QB Colt McCoy throws three INTs while his club rushes for only 65 yards . . .
• Kansas City over Tennessee (34-14) Win: Congrats to Kansas City on its AFC West title. Matt Cassel tosses three TDs to lead the Chiefs to their 10th win . . .
• St. Louis over San Francisco (25-17) Win: Mike Singletary is gone. The 49ers organization wasted little time following the team's playoff-eliminating loss to the Rams to fire the head coach . . . Good win for the Rams, who can lock-up the NFC West with a victory over Seattle next week . . .
• Detroit over Miami (34-27) Win: Three in a row for Detroit. Miami QB Chad Henne did his best Eli Manning impersonation by tossing two INTs--one of which was returned for a TD--while his team surrendered 17 fourth-quarter points to lose its seventh home game this season. Looks like Tony Sparano will face the same fate as Tony Soprano . . .
• Washington over Jacksonville (20-17) Loss: Jacksonville's chances of making the playoffs are slim, and after yesterday's sloppy performance they have nobody to blame but themselves. Jags QB David Garrard threw three INTs and was sacked four times, while his team committed seven penalties, fumbled twice, and missed a field goal . . .
• Cincinnati over San Diego (34-20) Loss: Good riddance to perhaps the poster boy for NFL pretenders--the San Diego Chargers. Carson Palmer throws four TD passes despite missing the services of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco . . . Is there anyone besides Jimmie Johnson who believes Norv Turner is a good NFL head coach? . . .
• Denver over Houston (24-23) Loss: How do you blow a 17-point lead to the Broncos? . . .
• Indianapolis over Oakland (31-26) Win: Three Manning TDs move the Colts a game closer to the AFC South division crown . . .
• Green Bay over NY Giants (45-17) Win: It is time for the Tom Coughlin Era to end. There is a lot of dead wood on that Giants roster, and it will take a new leadership to make the necessary cuts. (See below)
• Tampa Bay over Seattle (38-15) Win: Five TD passes by Josh Freeman. Sure it was against the Seahawks, but it is still incredibly impressive . . .
• Philadelphia over Minnesota (Postponed until Tuesday)
• Atlanta over New Orleans (Tonight)

Prior to tonight's game my Week 16 picks are 9-5.

More Packers-Giants

Aaron Rodgers played a near-perfect game yesterday, tossing four TDs and compiling 404 passing yards. It would be a shame if the Packers missed-out on a playoff spot considering how well they have been playing as of late . . .

In the last five quarters the NY Giants defense-and I use that term loosely--has surrendered 73 points. Yesterday they ceded 515 total yards, the most by any Giants defense since the Carter administration (Oct 19, 1980).

I am an Eli supporter, a big one in fact, but if next season he shows the same predisposition to throwing INTs, his starter status should be in jeopardy.

It is time to thank and to say goodbye to Shaun O' Hara and Chris Diehl. The two have been excellent offensive linemen, but neither can do the job any longer.

The Giants secondary looks as disorganized as a cell block of inmates during a prison break. For all the praise Perry Fewell has received this season for his job as defensive coordinator, in the last two games the Giants defense looked as awful as Bill Sheridan's defense did last season.

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - December 23, 2010

Week 16 Predictions

• Pittsburgh over Carolina
• Dallas over Arizona
• New England over Buffalo
• NY Jets over Chicago
• Baltimore over Cleveland
• Kansas City over Tennessee
• St. Louis over San Francisco
• Detroit over Miami
• Jacksonville over Washington
• San Diego over Cincinnati
• Houston over Denver
• Indianapolis over Oakland
• Green Bay over NY Giants
• Tampa Bay over Seattle
• Philadelphia over Minnesota
• Atlanta over New Orleans

I'm beginning to think the world's most dangerous weapon is not the nuclear bomb, but the hand-held camcorder. When will people learn to stop taping themselves in situations that will prove embarrassing should those video clips become public knowledge? C'mon. Foot fetishes? Talk about being given more information than you need to know . . .

NY Giants RB Brandon Jacobs made some odd comments during yesterday's media session. When asked whether he thinks playing on the road is an advantage, Jacobs said, "We always like playing on the road because we know there’s no mystery of who’s on your side there." So, Brandon, when you're playing at home you're confused as to what team the fans are cheering for? . . .

I'd be the first to argue that Sunday's Eagles comeback victory was more about the Giants defense choking than it was about Michael Vick. Still, it would be a shame if the season ended today and Vick was not selected as the league's MVP . . .

According to Fightnews.com Tomasz Adamek may challenge former WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter in an IBF eliminator on April 16. The bout would take place at the Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland, with the winner earninging the IBF's #2 ranking. The IBF's plan is to have “Fast” Eddie Chambers battle Derrick Rossy for the sanctioning organizations #1 ranking, and to then have the winners of Adamek-Peter and Chambers-Rossy compete for the mandatory shot at IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko. Got all that? They'll be a quiz on it tomorrow . . .

WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has reportedly agreed to a 50-50 revenue split with WBO/IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko. Now that the financial understanding is in place the two are expected to face-off in a 2011 heavyweight championship unification bout. But I wouldn't bet on it. I don't see Haye stepping into the ring with either Wladimir or his brother Vitali . . .

When was the last time you saw a pitcher win 17 games and sit on the free agent market as long as Carl Pavano has? . . .

MLB.com is offering fans the opportunity to vote for the "Greatest Game" of the past 50 years. There are some great video clips accompanying each entry . . .

Sports Bytes will return on Monday, December 27

Merry Christmas to all! . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes - December 22, 2010

Week 15 NFL Predictions

Following Chicago's demolition of Minnesota on Monday, my Week 15 picks finished a disappointing 7-9, bringing my overall record to 134-90 . . .

The NY Giants are saying all the right things. They insist they've learned from last week's embarrassment. They assert they are prepared for the Packers, knowing that a victory on Sunday virtually guarantees them a playoff spot. But until NY proves they can deliver on the field, all I hear is blah, blah, blah. And apparently I am not the only person who feels that way. On FOX's post-game studio program following Sunday's choke, Michael Strahan ripped the Giants defense for its pathetic second-half effort. "The end of the game was fitting because you don’t let a team back in when you’re up like that. The Giants have not finished, I don’t know if they know how to finish and they need to learn how, if they expect to do anything this year. You have to have a killer instinct. You have to finish teams.” Couldn't have said it any better myself . . .

It is an absolute disgrace the way the Redskins are treating Donovan McNabb. Head coach Mike Shanahan is trying to dodge the blame for Washington's disappointing season by setting-up McNabb as the fall-guy. It's a cowardly act . . .

It's no solace for Yankees fans still smarting over the team's disappointing ALCS performance, but the organization will pay its lowest luxury tax since 2003: $18 million . . .

The Cowboys made the right move ending Tony Romo's season by placing him on the IR. Why risk further damage to the QB's shoulder when the Cowboys are already out of playoff contention? . . .

The Phillies smacked around the Mets; the Eagles are smacking around the Giants. Philadelphia is putting a hurtin' on New York right now . . .

Congrats to the UConn women's basketball team for winning its 89th straight game and snapping the 1971-1974 UCLA men's basketball team's record for consecutive wins. I still believe UCLA's accomplishment is more impressive because of the deeper talent pool in men's NCAA basketball, but UConn's achievement is still worthy of honor, nonetheless . . .

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reports that Manny Pacquiao will face Shane Mosley on May 7. If this were six or seven years ago, Pacquiao-Mosley would be a showdown worthy of excitement. Now, it is merely a battle between a pound-for-pound king who is in his prime against a faded former pound-for-pound king. Thanks, but I'll pass on spending the $60 they'll probably charge for the PPV broadcast . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.