The Indianapolis Colts lost in the division round in 2013 at New England and in a game you may have heard about, the AFC Title Game at New England vs the Patriots, last year.
This year with improvement and no worry about the opposing team’s “equipment,” I certainly can see the Colts playing in a CBS/AFC network Super Bowl.
Certainly they are big favorites to win the AFC South.
The Houston Texans will stay about the same.
While I see improvement for the Tennessee Titans and perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars, it is the Colts in the AFC South.
However they do have to play the games as nothing is conceded.
While of the opinion, as expressed here yesterday, that both Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter were over rated, they along with Bernie Williams are three outstanding players, who helped the Yankees win 4 World titles in 5 seasons under manager Joe Torre, the latter, another reason the Yankees became more palatable.
The bigger reason for liking these players and even the highly over rated Jorge Posada, was that they were “home grown,” not bought and paid for by George Steinbrenner’s $$.
Jeter went out on the town, (most of you would too if you could), but unlike others was protected from intense media scrutiny. He is an admirable, non “trouble maker” but sitting home (on nights not out on the town) ordering Chinese food and staying “football fields” away from controversy, is not going to change things for the better.
He was a clutch player who delivered big hits for Yankees’ title teams but let’s not confuse him with Reggie Jackson, Tommy Henrich nor Thurman Munson in that department.
Yet, I went along with it, not even battling him in the early years, but then watching intensely as he stood in, stepped out in his “think walk first” “wait for the pitch” style, preached correctly, but to the detriment of the once great game, by Yankees and Red Sox coaches alike.
In subsequent short series, save 2009 which was Alex Rodriguez’ redemption, the Yankees facing too many playoffs were stopped, which puts their 4 titles in 5 seasons in a brighter light.
It is one similar to great New York Islanders’ teams in hockey, a team that won so many series in a row to reach 5 straight Stanley Cup finals, winning four.
The Islanders were not hockey’s greatest team ever, but rank closer in their sport, than the so called “Jeter/Rivera” Yankees.
Concerning the latter, I never would have put them “there” (baseball’s greatest, or close to it) anyway, but since Mr. Rivera failed on those aforementioned 3 post season occasions, the numbers did not put them there either.
Jeter and Rivera
It is not the 21 runs they scored in last night’s victory on the road vs the Texas Rangers (though quite impressive) nor even their stellar play that makes me reasonably “sure” (few things are sure) the New York Yankees will win their first A.L. East title since 2012.
At this point, it is their seven game lead, but all year it has been the nature of the division, which is very weak.
The Yankees “ran with the weak pack” but now have exploded as they did last night, winning 9 of 11 since the All Star break and 13 of 16 overall to take a nice divisional lead.
Alex Rodriguez, disliked by so many including a talented, hard working “non record buyer,” who might want to look at his incredible RECORD, has been a big factor for the Yankees.
However, the race in the division is not over and winning it really only “buys” the Yankees a “one eighth division.”
This year the Yankees did not have media favorites like the “teflon” Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, a “deity,” who thrice blew playoff games in series lost by the Yankees, and it makes them so much more palatable.
My not so subtle “knocks” above are not so much to denigrate either Jeter or Rivera, each deserving of Hall of Fame status, but to build Mr. Rodriguez, whom as with Pete Rose, Barry Bonds and the “current” Tom Brady “suffers,” unfairly via the media and in public perception. All are among the greats in the “not worth the aggravation” sports world.
Continuing our early look or reads on the six NFL divisions, today a look at the NFC South.
Last year, the Carolina Panthers became the first repeat champions in the 13 year history of the NFC South.
Of course they did it with a less than .500 record beating the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta in a CBS televised “cross over” (normally Fox would cover NFC games but last year exceptions were allowed) game to win it.
The Panthers, Falcons and Saints are more or less considered evenly matched. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who had the first draft pick, selecting Jameis Winston of Florida State are a real long shot even in a weak division.
My only “early read” is that the division will improve overall, hard not to, and that all three top teams, the Panthers, Falcons and Saints are actual contenders to win the NFC. The Buccaneers will improve as well, again hard not to from whence they came.
This past week I was fortunate enough to see the great Neil Young perform at The Jones Beach Theater.
Amidst beautiful surroundings on a beautiful summer evening, Neil Young just kept going, as they say, “cranking out” song after song, so many beyond meaningful, all performed in great fashion by the iconic performer.
He opened the show with the mesmerizing hit “After the Gold Rush” from his legendary 1970 album of the same name, and highlighted it “jamming” about 10 minutes on the fabulous “Down By The River.”
Young who was part of “Buffalo Springfield” and of course “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young,” also has had and continues an incredible solo career.
Seeing him perform this show with the band “Crazy Horse,” is certainly a must do/bucket list item for many music lovers.
I am so glad the great “item” Neil Young is checked but I surely hope to “check” him and his fabulous music out again and again.
No matter what the length, if any, of brilliant quarterback Tom Brady’s suspension, the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will probably win the AFC East.
However, with what I see as nice improvement regarding the three other AFC East teams, the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, do not “mortgage your house” on the Pats winning a seventh straight AFC East crown.
I think the Bills are ready to improve significantly this season and with new coach Rex Ryan, who like his father Buddy Ryan, is at least a good “short term” coach. I see the Bills winning say 9 games.
Both Miami and last year’s last place team, the Jets, will also improve. It is still the Pats, but even with Brady for all the games, nowhere near certain and with say 10 wins.
In the NFC East, the defending winners, the Dallas Cowboys, are the top choice.
Next are the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. The “outside chance” team is Washington (Redskins).
The Giants, twice in their history have won the Super Bowl four years apart. They did so in 1986 and 1990, with respectively a dominant and fine regular season team and again in 2007 and 2011, with just over mediocre regular season teams.
I feel the Giants will improve this season and surely can at least win the NFC East.
My early read is Dallas will slightly decline, the Eagles are a threat and Washington does have a chance.
My early prediction is that the Giants with a (10-6) record will win the division.
The early odds have been posted on the six NFL division races and in the next few days I will give some “early reads”/gut feelings on those races.
In the AFC North, the thought is that it will be a three team race among the defending AFC North winners, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. The Cleveland Browns are considered a long shot.
In my early opinion, the Browns have an outside shot to win the division as I do not think all that much of either the Steelers or Bengals.
The Ravens are a class, solid team that have battled the New England Patriots, for example, on better than even terms for the last six seasons. They usually shine at playoff time and rarely have a great regular season.
I think the Ravens will win, say 9 to 10 games which should be enough to win the AFC North. The Browns will improve while the Steelers and Bengals will each slightly decline.
I have mentioned it before and now it is clearly very possible that the old great rivalry between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals, that lay dormant for at least 30 years, may be rekindled in the playoffs this season.
Certainly each team has a great chance to not only qualify for the playoffs, but to win their divisional title as well.
The Yankees have a seven game lead in the loss column in the American League East.
The Royals, whose record is second only to their intrastate rivals the National League St. Louis Cardinals, whom they face in a makeup game tonight, have an eight game “loss column” lead in the American League’s Central Division.
The Yankees beat the Royals in three straight memorable ALCS from (1976-1978). The Royals, who ended a 29 year playoffs qualification drought when lost by one run in the 7th game of the World Series last year, swept the Yankees in three straight games in the 1980 ALCS.
The world of boxing had a truly fine event promoted by Dibella Entertainment at BB Kings in New York City’s Times Square.
The action packed “Broadway Boxing” card was held Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd. The show was headlined by Bryant Cruz who had an impressive TKO victory over Martin Cardona and improved his record to 15-0.
The lovely round card girls were from Vivid Cabaret New York, the midtown Manhattan gentlemen’s club famous for having the city’s tallest stripper pole and over 100 exotic dancers performing daily.
There were several celebrities in the audience, including singer/actor “50 Cent.” At one point, 50 Cent could be seen enjoying the matches with Vivid Cabaret NYC strippers perched on his lap.
“He’s so talented,” purred Vivid Cabaret NYC girl Justine. “The girls and I can’t wait to see his new movie.”
Vivid Cabaret NYC girl Diana said, “I only got to spend a brief moment with him, but I can tell you he is very nice.”
Vivid Cabaret NYC has four stages, the first of its kind “VIP Ultra Lounge,” a Roof Top Cigar Bar and Garden, Deluxe Luxury Suites, and is now open for lunch. The upscale club is a favorite spot for pro athletes from all the major sports who like to “make it rain” on the gorgeous dancers.
Andy B Sports 