The Student of the Game

The Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers were two of 2005’s worst teams in football in the second-worst division in the league, the NFC West. To even the non-NFL inclined, the Cards are famed as one of the worst-run organizations IN ALL OF SPORT (until this past off-season anyways) – including hockey teams. The Niners, while once models of greatness as the first franchise to achieve 5 Super Bowl victories, have eroded from their treasured status and are now more “Fool’s Gold” as far as any hope for advancement or evolution into a revitalized team. When these 2 cellar dwellers met for their first match-up of 2005, it didn’t make sense that it would be an event of possible momentous significance . . . at first glance it certainly fits snuggly in the, “Who gives a flying [BLEEP!]?” category. (Read on …)

Imagine being an NFL veteran entering his 12th career year at Quarterback (which many would argue is the most important position on the field) who just 2 seasons ago shared MVP honors in 2003 with the Colts’ Peyton Manning. Your play on the field and your tough-guy image off of it have been driving forces for the success of your franchise since ‘98 whose recent history boasts being 1 yard short of sending the Super Bowl into overtime for the first time in its history. (Read on …)

         Marvin Harrison is currently number 1 in receptions among active receivers with 927, but up until May 10^th 2006, you may not have guessed who was 2^nd . . . the best WR in the history of the Jacksonville Jaguar franchise, Jimmy Smith with 862; 70 of which he earned in 2005 as a 37-year-old while collecting another 1,000+ yard season. (Read on …)

The Playoffs have begun, the Don Cheadle commercials have aired, and we have a set of 4 teams that can be referred to as “1 and done”. Let’s get to it! (Read on …)

Welcome kids. . . here comes Week 2 action. While it was a seemingly mediocre week, the law of “Any Given Sunday” certainly held true bringing some big surprises, wonderful plays, and plot twists that showed why every Sunday is good times.

I deliver you the delicious appetizer that is the UPSET SPECIAL. . . (Read on …)

That’s right, dear readers, the first week is in the the books and all the extravagent, rediculous, gaudy, ra-ra BS is out of the way. Here’s a rhetorical question for you: Why is someone who was cast as the head of the “gay” mophia on a popular TV show (”Will and Grace”) performing to hype up the opening night for the NFL? I think this is a fair question. (I won’t even go into his decision to sing about Saturday night when it is COLLEGE ball that plays at that time.)In any case, in addition to the “shows” some serious butt kicking action is in the books as well. But just as in ANY first week of the NFL, there were some surprises that took place that will be featured in out first segment, the UPSET SPECIALS. (Read on …)