It always pains me to go along with the crowd which is in itself being sheeplike, by not ever wanting to be as a sheep/follower, but I do agree with the masses that the Indianapolis Colts and their, to this point over rated quarterback, Andrew Luck will win the AFC South.
The Houston Texans will improve and finish second.
Jacksonville (Jaguars) will be next.
The Tennessee Titans will finish last.
Did you ever notice that so often in giving their season record predictions some forecasters do not add correctly and give figures that can not possibly occur.
Having given some team record predictions and not willing to make them all add up, I will not give projected records here. Lazy yes, but at least accurate and honest.
It will be an all-Italian women’s final at the US Open, that manifestation after two big upsets on Friday.
In yesterday’s first women’s semi-final match, two and a half to one underdog, Flavia Pannetta upset second seed Simona Halep.
Next came a shocker, but not quite the seismic upset the media is proclaiming it out to be.
Roberta Vinci, a nine to one underdog, spoiled top seed, Serena Williams’ bid to win the Grand Slam by prevailing in 3 sets.
Three is the operative number as that was the length in minutes of Williams’ post match press conference. She gets the ads and soaks up the glory, but alas the test in life is when you fail and Williams at least yesterday did the “bail.”
Finally on the subject of odds, the abrasive, but face it correct on much of the evil that is sports, Howard Cosell warned of the emergence of a glorified tout named Mike Francesa. The horror is that he and so many others bereft of class and true skill, permeate the airwaves.
Add to that, Francesa said Vinci was a 300 to one underdog, showing he could not even get it right concerning the insidious subculture of gambling from which he emerged.
Roberta Vinci ‘s Look and How I Feel
It was almost exactly 30 years ago today that the Toronto Blue jays and New York Yankees met in a very meaningful 4 game series at Yankee Stadium.
What would have been a repeat 30 years later is spoiled by you guessed it, the presence of the wild card team in baseball.
In 1985 the winner of the AL East (’twas the Blue Jays, who won 3 of 4 at Yankee Stadium that weekend 30 years ago and eventually the division title) moved on, while the non winner went home.
That likely is not the case this year, as both teams have the “safety net” of an almost certain playoffs qualification, even if they do not win the division.
The Kansas City Royals, the likely American League top seed this season, beat the Blue Jays in seven games in the 1985 ALCS en route to winning their lone World Series.
Another NFL season begins tonight with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots facing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers with 6, have the most Super Bowl crowns. Of course the Patriots with enormous success have four but last year was their first since 2004. The Steelers won titles in both 2005 and 2008.
First week predictions:
New England 24 Pittsburgh 14
The Jacksonville Jaguars will upset the Carolina Panthers.
The Packers, a touchdown favorite will win by 4 points at Chicago vs the Bears.
It was a Thursday then and a Wednesday now but how can it be that 50 years have gone by since Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game vs the Chicago Cubs on September 9, 1965?!!
This was one of the greatest pitched games by both hurlers, Sandy and the Cubs’ Bob Hendley.
The lone run of the game was scored by the Dodgers without a hit. Hendley allowed but one hit in the game, that to Lou Johnson.
So many years later, I recall hearing the news of the game on Friday morning September 10th from Dick Reeves on WCBS radio.
Koufax capped his most incredible season 5 Thursdays later by winning (2-0) in game seven of the World Series at Minnesota vs the Twins.
Sure there are some mysteries left in the baseball regular season but I say most of it is settled.
It is very likely that the Los Angeles Dodgers, once the Brooklyn Dodgers will face the New York Mets in what amounts to a quarterfinal series, in what has become the baseball tournament.
As of now it is a series likely to open in Los Angeles on Friday night (you know the network, I think TBS will want New York and LA at night) October 11th.
Last year in a Friday night opener in the same round, but a week earlier on Friday October 3rd, the Cardinals overcame a big Dodgers’ lead and beat Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers in game one.
“St. Loo” again beat Kershaw and L.A. in game 4 to clinch the series. They lost the NLCS to the eventual World champion San Francisco Giants as was the case in 2012.
The Dodgers won the NLCS vs the Mets in seven games in 1988 en route to their last world title. The current 27 year World Series title drought is the second longest in Dodgers history.
Only the World Series title drought before the lone Brooklyn title in 1955 was a longer World Series title drought for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers have never gone longer than the current drought length of 27 years without a World Series appearance.
Last season after losing their opening game at home vs Virginia Tech, Ohio State was supposedly out of the national title picture. However, unlike many previous Ohio State teams, the 2014 vintage took advantage of its opportunity and claimed the school’s second title in 46 seasons.
Tonight a preseason top ranked Ohio State team is a two touchdown favorite at Virginia Tech in a Disney Monday night game as a prelude to its Monday night NFL package.
Last year Ohio State did not deserve to be in the four team playoff.
However, what were they supposed to do, lose?
They scored a great comeback win vs Alabama and then beat Oregon also on a Monday night for the title.
It is the story of a great “qb” named Brady
About whom, so many are jealous.
He has won 4 Supes
also come close in others.
This year will be tough
but he is so great.
One day you jealous folks will grow up
and say and know Brady is great!
Last year the drives were so effortless
rarely a tough 3rd down
When has he failed
with any real time left?
Grow up accept his greatness!
The Brady Bunch Lyrics – Theme Song Lyrics
As you might expect I am predicting that the New England Patriots will win a 12th AFC East title in the last 15 seasons.
They will struggle at times, I predict with a degree of certainty they will lose at least two within the division, and to the Colts in Indianapolis in a game that will be hyped beyond reasonable taste.
The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins will contend while the New York Jets will improve quite a bit.
In the end, it will be New England.
Let’s guess and it is a true guess:
New England (11-5)
Buffalo (9-7)
Miami (8-8)
New York Jets (7-9)
It is always tough for me to go along with the crowd, but count me in concerning the Philadelphia Eagles.
They are impressive and will go (11-5) and win the NFC East.
The Dallas Cowboys, who won the division last year before eventually losing an excruciating game to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round, will decline and go, say (9-7).
Next will be the New York Giants at (8-8). Eli Manning won 2 Super Bowls that few expected but I say do not expect another 4 years apart.
The Giants twice won Super Bowls 4 years apart with excellent regular season teams in 1986 and 1990 and again with Eli Manning quarterbacking mediocre regular season, but Super Bowl champions in 2007 and 2011.
Once the Washington Redskins won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks and an excellent coach named Joe Gibbs. Now they are less than average, say (6-10).
