Why is everyone so desperate draw comparisons for the current phenomenon that is Jeremy Lin?  Why can’t we just sit back and enjoy a great story in the sports world?  And if you are going to compare it to something, why does everyone make such horrible comparisons.  Tim Tebow?  Really?  Answer something for me, did you know who Jeremy Lin was before this recent stretch?  If you didn’t answer no, you either just told a lie or you went to Harvard, and if you went to Harvard, what the hell are you doing reading us?  Now, Tim Tebow, correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t he arguably the greatest college football player of all time?  So where is the comparison other than the religious ties?  And don’t tell me they both come through in the clutch, because while that is true, Jeremy Lin plays well in the first three quarters as well, which you certainly can’t say about Tebow.  Then you hear the Kurt Warner comparisons.  Ok, this is closer, guy comes out of nowhere after spending time in lesser leagues, gets a chance due to unfortunate circumstances, and comes in to light it up.  Pretty good start, but it is a start.  Kurt Warner is a hall of famer, Jeremy Lin hasn’t even started 10 games yet.  What about Mark Fidrych?  Ok, he made the team after being a non-roster invitee in 1976 and won the Rookie of the Year and two all-star games before suffering a torn rotator cuff and having to retire after just four years.  Maybe, but let’s hope he doesn’t suffer a career ending injury and let’s face it…Lin isn’t insane, he may be the creation of “Linsanity”, but I don’t see him yelling at the basketball before tossing up a free throw.  I have heard John Daly comparisons.  Ok, maybe a bit of a reach here, but Daly did win the 1991 PGA Championship after being a last minute entry after Nick Price dropped out with his wife about to give birth.  But does anyone really want to stick Jeremy Lin with a John Daly comparison?  Torsten and I have discussed this topic and came up with three comparisons of our own.  A Taiwanese right handed Nick Van Exel with hair.  An American Yao Ming only a foot and a half shorter with a jumper.  A different minority Mark Sanchez with more accuracy and a rounder ball.  Those three seem crazy, right?  Well so is trying to compare Jeremy Lin to anyone else.  The great thing about sports is we can get a story like we currently have with Lin.  So please, do me a favor, stop trying to compare him to other stories, and let his stand on its own.  Maybe it only lasts a few more weeks, maybe it lasts an entire career, regardless, comparing him to past athletes doesn’t do him justice.  Just sit back, turn on the TV, and enjoy this great story playing out in front of us.

It is well known that I fully believe the Nationals will win the 2013 World Series.  But I have recently realized they just may face an even less likely team in that matchup.  I am convinced the Kansas City Royals will have a legit shot to make a run.  So, as we are counting down the days for this weekend when pitchers and catchers report for the 2012 Spring Training, I figured I would give a prediction…for the 2013 World Series.  I am calling it a year in advance; the Nationals will beat the Royals in the Fall Classic.  Now granted, this will be the least watched World Series ever, but will be loaded with future stars.  We all know Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, and Steven Strasburg, but Jason Werth will settle in to the second spot of the Nationals line-up and live up to his contract.  Jordan Zimmerman is the best pitcher in the league that wouldn’t be recognized in his own home town.  In Kansas City, Mike Moustakas will finally live up to the hype, Alex Gordon will continue his stellar comeback as a power hitting outfielder.  Erik Hosmer will be one of the best power hitting first baseman in the league in 2013.  Mike Montgomery and Danny Duffy will make for a studly one-two combination at the top of the rotation, and one Jonathon Broxton will rediscover himself as a dominating closer for the Royals.  Below are my starting line-ups for the series, pitching staffs, and predictions.  I have included a couple of signings based on the 2013 free agent market.

Nationals beat the Royals 4 games to 2.

Nats starting lineup

1) Ian Desmond – SS

2) Jason Werth – CF

3) Bryce Harper – RF

4) Mike Morse – LF

5) Ryan Zimmerman –3B

6) Anthony Rendon – 1B

7) Danny Espinosa – 2B

8) Wilson Ramos – C

9) Pitchers Slot

DH) Rick Ankiel (or sign Carlos Quentin)

Pitchers – Strasburg, Zimmerman, Gio, and the newly signed Zach Grienke

Royals starting lineup

1) Alicedes Escobar – SS

2) Mike Moustakas – 3B

3) Erik Hosmer – 1B

4) Bubba Starling – CF

5) Alex Gordon – LF

6) Will Myers – RF

7) Billy Butler – DH

8) Salvador Perez – C

9) Johnny Giavotella – 2B

Starting Pitchers: Mike Montgomery, Danny Duffy, Luke Hochevar, and John Lamb or newly signed Edwin Jackson

Surprise contributors: Bernardina makes a Dave Roberts type steal and Lombardozzi comes through with a pinch hit game winner. 

WS MVP: Jason Werth with two steals, three home runs, and 7 RBI in the series

 

I must be the only one who didn’t give a damn. Why are people so surprised over the Luis Suarez non-handshake of Patrice Evra? Enough with the outrage. Everyone knows Suarez is a tosser. It’s not like we saw the Virgin Mary working the corner, or Kobe Bryant putting the team ahead of his personal stats. This should have been expected… And as much as I hate to side with Suarez on anything, if one grown man doesn’t want to shake the hand of another, he shouldn’t have to.
Speaking of Kobe, can he just retire already? It’s one thing to get outplayed by super rookie Jerry Lin after lying to the national media by saying you had no idea what he was accomplishing. But to shamelessly heave up terrible shot after terrible shot in a futile effort to rack up as many points as Lin at the expense of a loss for your team is pathetic. To not hustle back on defense a single time is unforgivable. Then to follow up that “performance” with an equally hideous one against Toronto was criminal.
Shame on the basketball and LA sports media for glossing over the fact that Kobe’s selfishness and greed are what put the team in a position where they needed a last second basket to win against one of the league’s worst teams. When your shooting percentage is in the 30s, you did NOT win the game for your team, even if you hit the last bucket.
And how come you “journalists” didn’t once point out that these opponents, the Knicks and Raptors, were the opponents for two of Kobe’s virtuoso performances in his career, the 81 pointer against Toronto and the 60-something pointer at Madison Square Garden? I cannot honestly believe that I’m the only one who noticed that Kobe was unapologetically trying to recreate those point totals in a pitiful attempt to prove his best days are not behind him. To all of you sports/basketball writers who still sing Kobe’s praises like he’s the same guy who used to care as much about his team winning as he did about his own numbers, shame on you. You’re cowardly brown-nosers and it’s reprehensible that you still cash a paycheck.
And I don’t even like basketball!!!

We are just a week away from pitchers and catchers reporting, but there is already championship baseball on your TV.  I have been known to tune into the Caribbean Series from time to time, but I have found something even better to watch…the Australian Baseball League Championship Series.  I am typing this in the bottom of the fifth, but I have been on the ABL website, so I know the final result, so if you are watching, stop reading now.  Game one was a pretty good 4-1 win by the Perth Heat.  Game two was a fantastic matchup that was won by the Melbourne Aces in the 13th inning sending the series to a decisive third game.  Now, a bit of background that as I have become an “expert” since watching the ABL all the way back to Friday.  There are six teams in the league, four make the playoffs after a 45 game season.  the Perth Heat were the runaway leaders of the regular season being the only team with a winning record, finishing 13 games better than the Aces, and 14 games beter than the other four teams in the league.  There are guys in the low minors and a few that have some MLB experience in the league, most notably Justin Huber.  Now, back to the baseball.  Melbourne scored at least one run in each of the first three innings of game three, but Perth managed to keep the game close eventually tying the game at 6 in the fifth. After the fifth inning, the scoring suddenly stopped as both bullpens pitched lights out the rest of the way.  The decisive game three, try and put yourself in a game seven of the World Series mindset here, goes into extra innings.  Both teams at the edge of their seats on every pitch.  Then comes the bottom of the 13th.  The leadoff batter is hit by a slider, advances to second on a sacrifice bunt, then to third on a groundout.  The series winning run now stands 90 feet away for Perth with two outs in the inning.  The second pitch of the following at-bat would leave Mitch Williams thanking his lucky stars he didn’t lose a series this way, even if he was known as “Wild Thing”.  The slider from Andrew Russell was well off target and gets away from catcher Kevin David and makes it’s way toward the backstop.  James McOwen breaks toward the plate.  David gets to the ball and flings it back to home at nearly the same time McOwen gets there….but McOwen just gets under the tag.  The Perth Heat celebrate their second consecutive Claxton Shield.  I now have an even bigger itch for Spring Training to start, but I have also found the perfect fix to the post-Super Bowl depression I fall into due to the lack of decent sports.  Let’s face it, watching competitive baseball with nobody you have ever heard of is still better than regular season college basketball or the non-Jeremy Lin garbage the NBA is currently putting out there on a night to night basis.  So thank you ABL, thank you for giving me something decent to watch.  Now, where can I find a Sydney Blue Sox hat here in America?  By far my favorite obscure sports hat I have seen in some time…got to get me one of those.

Who else is shocked that Gloria Steinem hasn’t charged into the media spotlight after Brandon Jacobs’ comments toward Tom Brady’s wife, supermodel Giselle Bundchen. The Giants running back reportedly said that Bundchen should “stay cute and shut up” after she was critical of the Patriots receivers late in the Superbowl after some critical drops. Or, has society finally evolved to where someone can call out a stupid bimbo for being, well, a stupid bimbo without having prominent feminists freak out over some perceived slight against all womanhood. One can only hope.
Here’s an idea for a reality tv show. While it can’t be proven, you can assume Bundchen’s tweets had a lot to do with star receiver Wes Welker’s inability to catch a potentially game clinching pass deep in Giants territory late in the fourth quarter. It was a difficult enough play, but the normally sure handed Welker was open and would make that catch probably 90% or more of the time. Let’s have Bundchen run that route and have Tom Terrific whip the same pass to her ten times on live tv, and see if she catches it one single time.

Shaun just asked me, given that the Patriots just lost an agonizingly close Superbowl to the Giants, if we knew ahead of time, before week one of the season, exactly how everything was going to turn out this season, would I rather be a Rams fan or a Patriots fan?

There are a few ways to answer this question honestly. You may ask, how can one possibly answer a question multiple ways while still remaining honest? I don’t @#$%ing know. I’m not a shrink. Leave me alone.

What’s indisputable is that we as sports fans end up with our allegiances to teams in unusual ways. Some of us inherit our teams from our dads, some base it on geography, some on particular players, and some people (including many that I know) simply support whatever team is in first place when they open the sports page because they think it gives them license to talk a little bit louder in the local sports bar.

There are other ways, surely, but let’s not stray off topic. Fact is, there are logical arguments in favor of both teams in question. Let’s begin.

Patriots: If it was easy to simply put down decades of allegiance to a particular team and choose a new one, who wouldn’t choose the Patriots? They have great players, compete every year, and have a way of turning ordinary players into Cinderella stories (see: Woodhead, Danny, among others). Plus, if you live in a major media market that doesn’t have a team (Los friggin Angeles for example), they televise pretty much every Patriots game. They play something like 9 Monday night games. And analysts can’t stop verbally ejaculating all over themselves about everything Tom Brady does. It must be pretty gratifying for fans.

Rams: They’ve been my team since I was old enough to comprehend football. Old loyalties die hard. Even though they are in the throes of one of the longest streaks of epically sucking in the history of pro sports, it’s not as simple as throwing in the proverbial sports towel. When the Rams won in ’99, it was directly after another extended period of futility. You just never know when it’s going to happen. They do have a few players on the squad who are worth cheering for. And it’s plain convenient to not have to donate several dozen shirts and hats to goodwill, and purchase a whole closet worth of new apparel.

And the verdict is… ok, you ought to know better.  We can’t make a call here until both the pros and cons have been weighed. And there are plenty of both for both teams.

Patriots: The elephant in the room is that any Pats fan, real or bandwagon, is immediately branded the latter living on the West Coast. That’s a big scarlet letter for any sports fan to want to wear on their foreheads. Object vehemently enough, and you’re likely to end up in fisticuffs if alcohol is involved, and at my age (even though 33 isn’t that old), that’s never an ideal scenario. Additionally, their coach is an unapologetic cheater willing to break just about any rule to gain an advantage, and the purist in me has a serious issue with that.

Rams: For decades, team management has held up a giant middle finger at the fans by consistently fielding a subpar product. The only three year interruption was by accident, when a future Hall of Famer named Kurt Warner ended up the quarterback due to a severe injury to starter, Trent Green. It’s almost like The Smartest Guys in the Room. A bunch of executives laughing about how their stupid fans will keep paying for the product despite it being markedly inferior to the rest of the league.

Sidebar: Tosh.0 has got to be the dumbest show in the history of television. Yet I can’t look away. I want to slap the smug smile off his face, and spend the majority of any episode wondering how someone could profit from the stupidity of the masses in such an abrasive manner, but it’s undeniably gratifying to know that so much of the world’s population is dumber than me.

The Verdict: It’s a slam dunk. I would rather be a Patriots fan. To know that your team will compete each and every year, and will do its best to put a product on the field its fans will appreciate is valuable beyond description. Sure, they lost a heartbreaker today, and they lost a heartbreaker after the 2007 season, but they’ve won a few in there too. You can’t win them all, and logic would dictate that if you make the Superbowl most years, you will take one on the chin every now and again.

But I’m not. I’m a Rams fan. And I will sit here in envy. With my beer.

1) Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck – QB – Stanford – Luck is the most pro-ready quarterback to come out of college since Peyton Manning.  It is time for the Colts to cut the cord, draft Luck, and prepare to be competitive in a couple years.

2) St. Louis Rams – Matt Kalil – OT – USC – In reality, this should be a traded pick.  The Rams need to milk as much talent out of this draft as they can and trading back to take advantage of a team wanting RG3, but I won’t predict trades in a mock.  Most people have Justin Blackmon here, but I think he is a bit overrated, and the Rams have enough guys at receiver, none #1 guys, but there is enough talent outside on that team.  Picking Kalil will allow them to move Jason Smith in to guard where he can resurrect his career similiar to Robert Gallery.

3) Minnesota Vikings – Justin Blackmon – WR – Oklahoma State – While I just discounted him above, I think this is the perfect pick to give Ponder another weapon and will help roll coverage off Pervy Harvin.

4) Cleveland Browns – Robert Griffin III – QB – Baylor – There is some mild concerns that RG3 might not be completely pro ready day one of the season, and I am not sure the Browns are not sold on Colt McCoy, but this is too good a talent to pass up.  Let the two guys compete and see if Griffin can take the spot going into the season.  I don’t see McCoy being an elite starter ever, but I do see him being one of the best back up guys in the NFL, and with some injury concerns over Griffin, the combo would be great for Cleveland to have.

5) Tamp Bay Buccaneers – Trent Richardson – RB – Alabama – Probably the best running back talent to come out of college since Adrian Peterson.  Blount has proved he is not an every down back, but a combination of Richardson and Blount could be one of the best in the league.

6) Washington Redskins – Morris Claiborne – CB – LSU – Mike Vick, Tony Romo, and Eli Manning.  Hakeem Nicks/Victor Cruz, DeSean Jackson/Jeremy Maclin, and Dez Bryant/Miles Austin.  That is what the Redskins see in their division, and since there are no guys in that mold available here, if they don’t trade up for Griffin, a corner that will help slow those guys for the next 10 years.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars – Riley Reiff – Iowa – OT – Just another excellent offensive lineman from Iowa.  Gabbert was the most disappointing rookie quarterback last year, but he also had the worst line and worst receiving core.  He became gun shy based on all the pressure he faced, and Reiff can help slow down an oppositions pass rush.

8/9) Carolina Panthers – Dre Kirkpatrick – CB – Alabama – He is 1B to Claiborne’s 1A, a big corner that will be helpful for a team that will need to slow down the passing games of Atlanta and New Orleans.  It was clear the Panthers needed more secondary help this season.

8/9) Miami Dolphins – Devon Still – DT – Penn State – This may not be the biggest position of need for the Dolphins, and it may not be the best player available, but in a division that leaves you chasing Tom Brady and the Patriots, you need a push up the middle, and Still is by far the best DT in this draft.

10) Buffalo Bills – Jonathon Martin – OT – Stanford – Since trading Jason Peters a couple years ago, the Bills have been near the top of the league in sacks given up.  Martin will not only help in that statline, but he is great in the run game as well.

11/12) Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Kuechly – ILB – Boston College – Not the most athletic inside backer, and would not fit a 4-3, but being the inside guy next to Derrick Johnson could be a special combination.  Putting those two guys together with Hali coming off the edge could be one of the best unknown linebacking corps in the league.

11/12) Seattle Seahawks – David DeCastro – OG – Stanford – May well be the best lineman in this draft, but being a guard, his value is lessened.  DeCastro lined up next to Russel Okung could make that left side of the line second to none, and open up massive holes for Marshawn Lynch.  If the Seahawks make this pick, mark Lynch as a top 5 fantasy running back next year.

13) Arizona Cardinals – Mike Adams – OT – Ohio State – I had him late first round until I watched the Senior Bowl where he dominated three first round pass rushers.  He will protect John Skelton’s blind side, yeah, I have given up on Kolb, and open some off tackle holes for Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams.

14) Dallas Cowboys – Quinton Coples – OLB/DE – North Carolina – I initially had Dre Kirkpatrick falling here and filling the biggest position of need for the Cowboys, but then I put my homerism aside and took another look at it.  At this spot, there won’t be a decent pick at a position of need for the Cowboys, but a team can never have too many pass rushers.  Coples take the spot that Anthony Spencer has disappointed in, or put his hand in the ground and come off the edge in front of Demarcus Ware, either way, he will be a factor on this team.

15) Philadephia Eagles – Courtney Upshaw – Alabama – DE/OLB – The worst position by far on the Eagles is at linebacker.  While they could really use an inside guy, there isn’t one worth drafting this early, but Upshaw can be a great addition as a DE/OLB opposite Babin.

16) New York Jets – Melvin Ingram – DE/OLB – South Carolina – The biggest need for the Jets, outside of Dr. Phil to fix the locker room, is an edge rusher.  There are several in this draft that grade out about the same, and ingram is the best fit for the Jets.

17) Cincinnati Bengals – Alfonso Dennard – CB – Nebraska – This may be too early, but the Bengals need a CB and this could be a really good one.  I was not happy to see him get kicked out of the bowl game by throwing a punch at Alshon Jeffrey, and his measurements may hurt him at the combine.  He is listed at 5’10”, but there is a concern he may measure in closer to 5’8″.

18) San Diego Chargers – Whitney Mercilus – DE/OLB – Illinois – The final of the 4 top talent edge rushers in this draft.  The Chargers of a few years ago with the intimidating pass rush is no longer, but this pick could start them back down that path.

19) Chicago Bears – Michael Floyd – WR – Notre Dame – The least flashy, but best fundamental WR in the draft.  The Bears need a guy that can become a #1 receiver, and Floyd is it.  He may not have the highest upside, but he certainly has the highest floor.

20) Tennessee Titans – Peter Konz – C – Wisconsin – Probably the pick in the first round that will draw the least amount of attention.  He is not on the level of a Pouncey or Mangold, but he is an excellent center and can be extremely valuable for a young QB in Locker and a RB in CJ.

21) Cincinnatti Bengals – Lamar Miller – RB – Miami – They need a guy to spell and be the heir apparent to Cedric Benson.  Miller runs very similiar to another former ‘Cane running back, Clinton Portis.

22) Cleveland Browns – Kendall Wright – WR – Baylor – Baylor teammate RG3 goes there early in the first, why not build instant chemistry and bring this combination to Cleveland.  Wright is a very talented WR for a team that is in need of a receiver.

23) Detroit Lions – Cordy Glenn – OT/OG – Georgia – The Lions have quickly established themselves as a tough, sometimes dirty team.  Yet, on the offense, they have yet to establish a running attack.  Glenn is a big powerful guy that plays tackle but probably best suited as a guard that will blow people up at the line of scrimmage.

24) Pittsburh Steelers – Mark Barron – S – Alabama – This was the easiest pick in the mock for me.  The Steelers need a safety because theirs are getting old and injury prone, and Barron is the only safety with a first round grade.  Enough said.

25) Denver Broncos – Janoris Jenkins – CB – North Alabama – This Florida transfer will help an aging secondary.  My biggest concern for Jenkins is he was beat multiple times on double moves in the Senior Bowl.  But time in the film room with Champ Bailey should help him recognize those at the next level.

26) Houston Texans – Alshon Jeffrey – WR – South Carolina – The Texans could use another outside weapon opposite Andre Johnson.  Jeffrey is a special talent and on a team that just needs more weapons to take the next step, this is a perfect fit.

27) New England Patriots – Zach Brown – LB – North Carolina – Most likely an inside backer, he could also slide outside, which is important for the multiple formations the Patriots use.  His combine will be important to prove he is athletic as he appears to be.

28) Green Bay Packers – Nick Perry – DE – USC – The defense didn’t get to the QB as often as they would have liked this year, but Nick Perry can help bring pressure from the line.  The linebackers and BJ Raji have masked the fact the Packers really don’t have an end to write home about, but Perry just might change that.

29) Baltimore Ravens – Vontaze Burfict – ILB – Arizona State – Crazy talent, maybe even a little crazy, sound like anyone else that plays inside linebacker in the NFL?  Oh, yeah, Ray Lewis…so why not learn from him.  He has fallen after punching a teammate, but if he can get his anger under control, he will be the steal of the draft.

30) San Francisco 49ers – Mohamed Sanu – WR – Rutgers – Alex Smith completed something like 1 pass to a wide receiver in the NFC Championship game.  So, obviously, a WR is their #1 need, and Sanu is the best available.  

31/32) New York Giants – Zebie Sanders – OT – Florida State – The Giants line is getting a bit old, and Sanders can play either the left or right side.  He may start as depth, but will likely be the starting left tackle after just a year or two.

31/32) New England Patriots – Jared Crick – DE – Nebraska – While he may not be the pure pass rusher the Patriots are in need of, he is a solid defensive end.  He will need to become a bit more explosive in his 5 technique, but could fit the Patriots scheme well.

For the overwhelming majority of fantasy football leagues, seasons are over. Therefore, anyone who isn’t a fan of one of the four remaining teams, the real NFL season is essentially over as well. Looking back, anyone who lost miserably with one of their fantasy teams this season after starting the season with high hopes can offer a variety of excuses. Will it matter? No. But if The Stain can give you one more reason to be aggravated but chose not to, well, we wouldn’t be doing our duty. (That’s duty as in obligation, not doody as in…well, you know… though some would argue that we are full of doody but that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms.)

Thought 1: Tom Brady had to have Rob Gronkowski on his fantasy team, right? No doubt, Gronk is a terrific athlete and good player, but record breaking touchdown good? Let’s say, hypothetically of course, that Tom Terrific has Gronk and… say, Vince Wilfork has Wes Welker or Aaron Hernandez. And of course there may be a “small” wager between the teammates and friends. Both guys are open, who would YOU throw to? Just sayin…

Thought 2: Lots of people say that drafting a kicker with anything other than your final pick is stupid. They may or may not be right, but in a 16 round draft, how many guys taken in round 13 or later offer a measurable contribution. How many teams made fantasy playoffs and/or won their leagues just by having David Akers as their kicker this season? Is it really the worst thing in the world to take a proven, reliable machine of a kicker like Akers a couple rounds before the end, when you could pick up a gem of a receiver like… who, exactly? Exactly.

Thought 3: I believe the Madden Curse now. I do.

Thought 4: Three of the four remaining quarterbacks in the NFL playoffs (Joe Flacco, Alex Smith, and Eli Manning) were effectively fantasy afterthoughts before this season. (Eli likely won’t be in next year’s drafts.) Something should be wrong with this. I don’t know if it is though.

Thought 5: Is anyone else looking at Cam Newton as the first overall pick next season? Good.

Random observations are probably frowned upon in the professional sports media. Well, we ain’t there yet so we still have that freedom.

Rumor has it Texas is talking to Prince Fielder. Shouldn’t they be trying to sign Yu Darvish who they just ponied up a gazillion dollars to talk to? SIDENOTE: Chad Moriyama wrote a terrific article on laziness in analysis by sports media by deferring to race when comparing players. It’s very very good. That little line under the “terrific article” a couple lines above, that’s a link. Click it.

Referees are not held accountable enough in any sport. Now, the Giants won today so nobody is going to talk about the atrocious officiating that led to the Packers’ first two scores… but what if Green Bay had won?

I like rasberry vodka and fruit punch.

Can we plan a celebrity boxing match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for ten years from now? They’ve done such an excellent job at pretending to be friendly (until Rafa’s dig at Roger the other day about not being vocal enough about difficult scheduling conditions for players) to this point that the animosity absolutely must be simmering. Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, interested in making this an MMA thing?

Speaking of MMA… What do you do if you don’t like what you are getting paid at your job? Find another? Ask for a raise? Yahoo!’s Dave Meltzer wrote that many UFC fighters are unhappy with their pay. The article, once again, is journalistically excellent. It fairly captures input from both sides, does not pass overt judgment, and provokes thought. Here’s one thought it provoked from me. All you fighters who offered your quotes in anonymity, Curt Flood is rolling over in his grave. Personally, if you’re only making 20 grand a year at that job, either ask for more money, perform better so you can get a bonus, or get another job. I love MMA and respect the intensity of the sport and the training fighters must go through to perform, but this rankles me. We all work for a living in a variety of jobs. We all have bosses. If you can man up to an opponent with the professional skills to snap your limbs and concuss your brain, you can schedule an appointment in your boss’ office and discuss your compensation.

Lastly, stay tuned for a podcast soon. It may be Shaun and I putting each other on the spot with random philosophical sports questions, it may even be the long-promised EPL analysis. And with a bit of luck, we may be able to have our friend, George Ogier join us. He contributes to a bunch of sites. Here is a another example of his excellent work.

Stay tuned for more.

AT the time of this quick blurb, the Steelers and Broncos are tied at 23 in the fourth quarter with just over three minutes left.  The Broncos may still drive to win it… or lose it. But if they win, is God really helping Tebow? The religious young quarterback has had a great game so far, very little thanks to some of his teammates. So far, Demaryius Thomas has dropped what would have been a sure touchdown, either by himself or after first and goal from inside the one, on a pass that hit him in the numbers as the first half drew to a close. Denver settled for a field goal. Later, on what appeared to be a game sealing drive, Willis McGahee coughed up an inexcusable fumble leading to Pittsburgh’s tying touchdown drive.  That same drive, moments before the score, Champ Bailey dropped a sure interception that seemed easier to catch than the alternative. Hmmm….

Update:  AND terrible officiating. Second blatant facemask not called against Pittsburgh. Less than two minutes left, Pitt ball.

Update 2: For once I actually agree with the announcers. How on Earth do you not let Suisham try a 66 yard field goal. You can see how the ball travels on kickoffs. Practically out of the end zone.

Update 3: I hate the new overtime rules… and the referee that confusingly “explained” them. Seriously.

Update 4: With. Definitely with…

Well, it’s January, the month where our gyms get packed with thousands of resolutionites who have decided it’s time for them to get fit. If you’re a regular gym rat and annoyed at the sudden packedness you’re experiencing, worry not. 90% are gonna quit within six weeks and you’ll have your space back. If you’re one of the resolutionites, and plan to be one of the ten percent that doesn’t throw in the towel after a month, listen up. The Stain has your keys to success.

Disclaimer: We know more about beer than we do about most other things. Nothing in this article is intended in any way to represent us as doctors of any kind. We are merely not dumb.

Losing weight/getting in shape is a very simple equation. Caloric intake versus output. If you take in more calories than you burn, you are going to gain weight or become flabby. If you burn more than you take in, you’ll lose weight/increase your fitness. Period. The following five workout tips are all you need to succeed.

Start slow: Look, fatty. You didn’t gain it in a day, you ain’t gonna lose it in a day. Trying to fix decades of sloth with one three hour mega workout is only going to get you hurt. Now you’re fat AND injured. Not a good combo. Your first few workouts should consist of focusing on correct form and getting comfortable with the weights and equipment. Feeling some burn in your muscles? Good. Feeling shooting pains in your ligaments? You’re doing it wrong.

Tell the trainer to buzz off: Unless you are trying to tranform yourself from a Biggest Loser contestant to Mr. Universe, you don’t need professional help. If what you want is to just improve your overall health and pick up some definition, the basic excercises are more than enough. Walk or jog to warm up. Bench press, leg press, shoulder press, arm curls, pull downs, you don’t need some kid who wasn’t smart enough to major in something other than Phys Ed to teach you those.

Bring music: You’re not there to socialize. Pop in your headphones and listen to something upbeat. It will keep you moving. See a friend? Smile and nod and move on. You can talk over coffee another time.

Hold yourself accountable: If you just stopped going to work, you’d get fired, right? If you stop going to the gym, you’ll only lose your self esteem. No biggy, right? Look, it’s okay to skip a day if you’re under the weather, or that three martini lunch hasn’t made its way through your metabolic process yet. But, if you do, schedule a replacement workout on a day you weren’t originally planning on going. Same goes for when you’re there. We don’t always feel our strongest, but if you’re not the least bit tired when you’re done working out, you haven’t really tried very hard, have you?

Cut out vices incrementally: Reaching your goals involves effort, but you can speed up the process by cutting back on the stuff your dentist would kick your ass for anyway. Sucking down four Cokes every afternoon at the office? Try cutting that in half, and then againg. Voila. Hundreds of calories gone right there. And don’t be fooled by diet soda. They’re worse for you than the regular stuff. Want some ice cream? Have some. But rather than the whole tub, how about just a couple scoops?

Got it? Good. Now, a couple more things. You might be a newbie, but there are some people who are very advanced in that same gym as you, lifting heavy weights on big bars with some complicated excercises.  Watch where the hell you’re going. Accidentally clip the bar a guy is using to squat 500 pounds and you could get him killed. Like skipping rope to warm up? Great. Do it somewhere else. A jump rope can have the effect of a lasso or a noose on someone if they get caught by it. Taking this workout thing seriously? Great! We’re proud of you. Sweat is good!!!  Unless it’s somebody else’s. You might think the stuff streaming from your pores is sexy and smells like roses, but the guy patiently waiting to use the machine after you thinks it’s nasty. Have some decency and bring a towel to wipe down after yourself.

Print this, reread it in six months and look at yourself in the mirror.  You’re welcome.