Food for Thought 1-3-2012

Photo courtesy of bostonherald.com. Rex Ryan (pictured above) is not the happiest of people as we begin 2012. Has he learned any lessons over the course of the past year?

By Josh Kramer

2012 has already begun with a bang.  Football, football, and more football.  Plus some hoops and hockey among other things sprinkled in.  Who else is in BCS Heaven and hyped for the NFL playoffs?  Here are the items that have caught my attention

Rethink your priorities Rex

–Rex Ryan has admitted to possibly not having the “pulse” of his team this season.  Maybe he should have thought about this type of thing before running his mouth.  Rex Ryan has quickly become one of the most villainous figures in football.  If you are not a fan of the New York Jets, you are not a fan of Rex Ryan.  There are not too many people who are neutral towards Rex Ryan.  Every sports fan has a pretty definitive stance regarding the New York football coach.

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College Football Bowl Picks Week 3

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. The top matchup this week has to be the Stanford vs Oklahoma State Fiesta Bowl date. I have a feeling Andrew Luck (pictured above) will play a large part in the outcome.

By Josh Kramer

Please somebody explain to me why it is called “Capital One Bowl Week?”  We are now entering Week 3 of bowl season.  Why isn’t it “Capital One Bowl Month?”  I would love to hear the reasoning.  12 bowls down, and 23 to go.  19 games will be played between now and next Thursday.  Strap in, because the beat will not stop until January 9th as we start to hit the “real” bowl games.

Thursday:

Florida State vs Notre Dame (CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL)

–Fighting Irish by 3

Headline:  Brian Kelly brings home a second straight bowl game victory to South Bend.

-Let’s just call this the “Year Away Bowl.”  Both of these teams had lofty expectations to play in BCS Bowl games this year.  Neither was ready.  Notre Dame is slightly closer to being ready in my opinion though.

College Football Week 12: Don’t leave it on the shelve

Photo courtesy of kansas.com. Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein (pictured above) is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in College Football. Look for him to lead Kansas State to a big victory over Texas on Saturday.

By Josh Kramer

Kicking was the name of the game last week in College Football.  Sadly, many top teams did not get the memo, and paid the price in a big way.  The fiasco that is Penn State continues to get worse each day.  And the Stanford Cardinal finally ran out of “Luck” against a Oregon team that is playing outstanding football.  Week 11 was a wild one, but Week 12 is sure to be great in its own right.

Here are the marquee matchups.

Nebraska at Michigan:  Cornhuskers by 3

Headline:  Rex Burkhead turns the “Big House” into his house.

Week 11: Will all of the kickers please stand up?

Photo courtesy of http://www.tri-cityherald.com. Boise State freshman kicker Dan Goodale (pictured above) has officially become the new Kyle Brotzman.

By Josh Kramer

The “Game of the Century” was in the rearview, but that did not affect the caliber of play this week.  Great games from start to finish.  The excitement began on Thursday night with a great ACC battle that lived up to the hype and ended with the marquee event of the week in Palo Alto, where LaMichael James “sprinted” himself back into the Heisman consideration.

Do not underestimate the significance of the kicking game

College Football Week 11: It is not heaven

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Oregon and Stanford are currently tied atop the Pac-12. Can LaMichael James (pictured above) lead Oregon to a huge victory in Palo Alto on Saturday night?

By Josh Kramer

College Football has hit a new low.  With the recent developments in Happy Valley, it is hard to focus on this week’s games.  The matter going on in Pennsylvania is much bigger than football.  It is bigger than college athletics.  These were felonious acts that went on, but rest assured, the game will go on.  My condolences and sympathy go out to all of the kids and families that were hurt from these most despicable acts.  I once respected Joe Paterno as much as any coach in sports.  Now my respect level for him is zero. 

Week 9 was pretty fine

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Rex Burkhead (pictured above) had himself a huge day in leading the Cornhuskers over the Spartans.

By Josh Kramer

Despite the absence of the top two teams in the nation, Week 9 was pretty fine.  There was a major shakeup in the Big Ten.  A QB out West, who is definitely no “fluke,” continued his Heisman Campaign.  And another unbeaten from the ACC went down hard (Clemson).

Big Ten Bonanza

College Football Week 9: It will be mighty fine

Photo courtesy of spartan-football.com. Will Kirk Cousins (pictured above) and the Spartans have enough gas left in the tank to escape with a victory against the Cornhuskers?

By Josh Kramer

It is safe to say that Week 8 was great.  Riddled by blowouts and its fair share of upsets, fans were kept on their toes until the last second across the country (especially in East Lansing).  As the nation continues to prep for what many are calling the “Regular Season National Championship” in Tuscaloosa, do not overlook Week 9.  It has the makings to be mighty fine.

Here are the marquee matchups.

Michigan State at Nebraska:  Cornhuskers by 3

Headline:  After every high comes a low.  The Spartans struggle in the cornfields of Lincoln.

College Football Week 6: Get your fix

Photo courtesy of dallasobserver.com. Week 6 has a great slate of games, but none are bigger than the Red River Rivalry game.

By Josh Kramer

We are nearly at the halfway marker of the College Football season with conference play in full swing.  The Russell Wilson experiment in Madison has been a crazy success story thus far.  Andrew Luck is living up to all of the hype and more, even making insane one-handed catches as a receiver.  And the SEC seems to be as good as ever.

Here are the marquee matchups.

Oklahoma vs Texas:  Sooners by 14

Food for Thought 10-4-2011

Photo courtesy of sternbutfairsports.blogspot.com. The real Dream Team (pictured above) handled business back in 1992. Vince Young's "Dream Team" is not handling business thus far in Philadelphia.

By Josh Kramer

There is so much going on in the wide world of sports these days that it is somewhat difficult to keep track of it all.  Big time College Football plus the looming conference realignment.  Amazing comeback galore in the NFL.  The MLB playoffs.  And NHL hockey is about set to get the party started.

Here are the items that have caught my attention.

Dream Team not so “Dreamy”

-We are now four weeks into the NFL season.  There are only two undefeated teams left, and the excitement is brewing.  In the off-season, no team made more headlines than the Philadelphia Eagles.  Once a new CBA deal was struck, the Eagles seemed ready to “fly” into action.  It seemed each day brought a new major acquisition to a team that already won the NFC East last season.  Then on a fateful July 30th morning, Vince Young, a man who has yet to play a down for the Eagles, declared Philadelphia’s finest the “Dream Team.”

Weekly Nickel 10-3-2011

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. The NHL season is set to get under way this week and sadly the game's biggest star, Sidney Crosby (pictured above) will be sidelined.

By Josh Kramer

The MLB playoffs are under way and have been a slug fest thus far.  College Football this weekend was defined by blowouts.  And the NFL slate was filled with improbable comeback victories.  Last week was great.  But do not sleep on this upcoming week.

Here are the events to  keep an eye on.

5.  It could be a do or die type of week in terms of NBA action.  Expect to learn more about what the future holds in terms of the 2011/2012 season, Kobe Bryant’s vacation plans, and more.  I have a feeling that we may know whether we are playing half a season or no season at all by weeks end (the chances of a full season are all but finished).

4.  NHL preseason hockey is over.