All week leading up to this weekend’s divisional playoffs in the NFL all I heard amongst the talking heads was how New Orleans had lost three consecutive games going in, and how Indianapolis had lost their last two, and how neither team had played a “meaningful game” in about a month, and how all of this was going to play into their opponents hands.

Well, we saw how things turned out didn’t we.  Here we are Monday morning and three of the top four teams won their games.  And not only won, but won handily.

Sports talk (radio or televised) oh these many years seems to be directed at the misguided betting sports public.  Always trying to find some angle to predict the outcome of games.  Well let me tell you something betting folks: IT DOESN”T WORK!

That’s what makes sports so great, their unpredictability.  You wouldn’t want them to be predictable.  It would be boring!

What cracks me up though is that anyone was believing the crap from the talking heads.  I could bring up plenty of examples of teams over the years who lost their last couple of games and ended up winning the Super Bowl, or at least appearing in the big game.  It doesn’t mean a damn thing.

And regarding the bye week, when did that all of a sudden become  a negative for a team? Isn’t that what the playoff teams play for? A week off to rest, regroup, and plan.  Seems to me that would be an advantage.  But in this black is white, up is down world of punditry these days, nothing surprises me.

All I know is this: next year I’ll be hearing the same stupid prognostications about some of next year’s playoffs teams. 

THAT you can bet on!

At ArizonaPremiereLiving.com, we don’t just talk about Phoenix real estate, but we talk about the things we have a passion for – like sports – and that’s the whole reason for ArizonaPremiereSports.com. For more information about us and the things we enjoy, check out our blog and visit our Arizona Premiere Living Resources Page and check out the Sports Resources section.

The Arizona Cactus League now hosts the majority of the major league teams with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians having moved their spring training facilities to Arizona in recent years.

For those interested I’ve included links to all of the teams stadium info below.  Just click on your team name and it will take you to the respective site which will give you Spring Training schedules, ticket information and other useful tidbits to make your stay down here an enjoyable one:

Arizona Diamondbacks

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

Cincinnati Reds

Cleveland Indians

Colorado Rockies

Kansas City Royals

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Dodgers

Milwaukee Brewers

Oakland A’s

San Diego Padres

San Francisco Giants 

Seattle Mariners 

Texas Rangers

At ArizonaPremiereLiving.com, we don’t just talk about Phoenix real estate, but we talk about the things we have a passion for – like sports – and that’s the whole reason for ArizonaPremiereSports.com. For more information about us and the things we enjoy, check out our blog and visit our Arizona Premiere Living Resources Page and check out the Sports Resources section

courtesy uweekly.com

Football season is nigh, and I can smell it.  Though it’s consistently been about 108 degrees here for the last month here in Arizona, we are ready–My wife actually commented that she was excited for it to be here.  Perhaps, for me, football season is doubly enjoyable now because not only do I get to watch my hometown Colts but I get to watch the Phoenix Cards as well who’ve been really fun to watch over the last couple of seasons.

The approach of football season this time also brings with it the aroma of controversy.  I’m happy Michael Vick has paid his debt to society and everything–that’s how our legal system works–but I still have questions about his re-instatement and recent signing with the Philadelphia Eagles.

If, as Roger Goodell wrote, Michael Vick’s “conduct has brought embarrassment and ridicule upon [himself], [his] club and the NFL,” then what has Michael Vick done to reverse that damage.  If Goodell was protecting the league’s integrity, how has Michael Vick’s prison stint somehow limited the league’s “P.R. liability”.

Let’s way it against other professions…  I know that, as a REALTOR covering the Phoenix real estate market, if I violate the public trust and bring embarrassment upon my profession, I run a very real risk of losing my ability to practice my profession.  What about doctors, lawyers, firemen, police officers, etc?  If they lose their job for violating that trust, they must find another line of work.  Michael Vick not only violated the law–to which, as I mentioned before, he has served his societal debt–but he also violated the terms of his player contract, and in my world it’s time for him to look for a new job, and Michael, you may want to cancel that interview with PETA.

It isn’t just about Michael Vick though.  If you cruise over to http://nflcrimes.blogspot.com/, you’ll see how many of these guys just can’t seem to stay out of trouble.  Just scroll down the list and you’ll see everything from misdemeanor traffic violations to assault, drunk and disorderly conduct, DUIs, to manslaughter and attempted murder.

I think the NFL has a big P.R. problem, and though I’m all in favor of giving people a chance in life, and love the story about someone gone bad who comes back around to the good side, I don’t think that Goodell’s re-instatement of Michael Vick lends any credibility to his “get tough” stance against criminals in the league.  I think it just muddies the waters, and makes everyone look bad.  Ultimately the fans–specifically the fans in Philly–will decide whether Vick will work in Philadelphia, and public opinion will decide whether he is fit to play in the league.

Enjoy the season, and go Colts (Cards too)!

I’ve been wanting to ask this one for a while now–I actually started this post on 03/14/09–and I thought this would be the perfect venue to ask the question:  Whatever happened?  At the risk of sounding like a crotchety old Andy Rooney, I have a few questions that start with the aforementioned interrogative… 

Whatever happened to kids knowing how many stiches on a baseball?  Do they know this?  Everytime I muffed a ball and looked longingly at it for answers as it lay on the ground before me, I would hear a coach yell out of the dugout, “108 of ‘em” as though I wanted to know at that point.

Whatever happened to kids wearing their ballcaps the way they were intended?  When I was a kid, and I got a brand-new ball cap, the first thing I would do to it is start flexing that bill so that when I put it on, it felt like it was made for me.  Besides being a part of the uniform, the ball cap had a funtion – to keep the sun out of your eyes (I might add that I’ve had the bill of my cap deflect more than a handful of bad hops in my life).

Now I see something so common that it just makes me scratch my head: The super-flat bill. See, that’s how peculiar it is – I don’t even know what to call it. People, do you know how uncomfortable that must be? I mean c’mon, you have to order your cap 2-3 sizes larger than normal just to accomodate for the for the span of the flattened bill across the forehead.
I don’t know about you guys, but this would absolutely drive me crazy, and how would you keep it on your head and from flying off every time you went to chase down a ball?

Whatever happened to kids playing catch in the street or playing a pickup football game?  Do kids still do these things, or are they too busy being mathaletes, text messaging and playing totally sick video games?  I’m sorry, but I just saw a kid who looked like he must be about 8 years old, riding a bike and talking on his mobile phone.  That’s crazy…  Oh, I don’t mean that’s ‘crazy’; it’s just bizarre.

Whatever happened to paper routes?  I freakin’ quit! 

I’ve got a bunch of these questions that I want to throw out there, but I want to hear what you think.  Let’s hear your comments – I want to know if you can get as fired-up about it as I am.

At ArizonaPremiereLiving.com, we don’t just talk about Phoenix real estate, but we talk about the things we have a passion for – like sports – and that’s the whole reason for ArizonaPremiereSports.com. For more information about us and the things we enjoy, check out our blog and visit our Arizona Premiere Living Resources Page and check out the Sports Resources section.

As a 49er fan I got to see Terrell Owens act up front and personal for 8 seasons.  The last few of which were very painful.

But as much as I don’t like the man T.O., I must say the player, Terrell Owens, still has some gas in the tank, and could propel the Bills into the playoffs and beyond.

Owens pairing with Lee Evans gives the Bills a 1-2 tandem that now ranks amongst the best in the league.  With a maturing and very accurate Trent Edwards throwing them the ball and Marshawn Lynch carrying the ball (pending weapons charges) the Bills will put one of the more potent offenses in the league on the field week in and week out.  They may even approach the lofty levels of the Jim Kelley/Thurman Thomas/Andre Reed squads of the early 90′s.

The wild card in this whole scenario of course is the alter ego T.O.  Can he keep his ego in check, and will he mature (finally) to become a team player.  One would think that a player who is now on his fourth team would come to the conclusion that not EVERYBODY can be wrong, and only he is right.  But then again, this is T.O. we’re talking about.

I expect that Terrell Owens will put up a very good season this year.  Along the lines of 85 catches, 1,200 yards, and 12 TD’s.  That will be enough to help Buffalo secure a wildcard spot in a very strong AFC.  Beyond that will make people question whether the risk of signing T.O. was worth the payoff – probably an early round exit from the playoffs.

Best of luck Buffalo. We’ll see you in the headlines. No doubt.

At ArizonaPremiereLiving.com, we don’t just talk about Phoenix real estate, but we talk about the things we have a passion for – like sports – and that’s the whole reason for ArizonaPremiereSports.com. For more information about us and the things we enjoy, check out our blog and visit our Arizona Premiere Living Resources Page and check out the Sports Resources section.

Yesterday the Arizona Cardinals signed Kurt Warner to a 2 year $23 million deal, the bulk of which Warner will receive in the first year, and I for one am happy that he was re-signed because I think it is an important step in keeping the team itself together, but this signing brings up a big question:  Is there a future role for Matt Leinart with the Arizona Cardinals.

Leinart is in an interesting position being stuck in the old ”can’t have the job unless he has experience but how can he gain experience unless he’s got the job” pickle, but also sitting on a Super Bowl season’s worth of ”classroom experience”.  Where does he go from here?  Matt Leinart has really exhibited some real skill on the field at times, but at other times he’s looked like a train-wreck.  I’m not even going to get into his off-the-field antics – there’s plenty of photo evidence of that already – but let’s just say that he’s no Kurt Warner off the field either.

Leinart has been groomed as the future of the Cardinals – something I support – and has worked under the tuteledge of Kurt Warner for the last couple of seasons.  I have to speculate, and would like to think that this sideline experience has benefitted him in a number of ways that make him not only a better physical QB, but a smarter and more confident one as well, but I wonder if this confidence is enough to motivate him to seek employment elsewhere.

Why wouldn’t he?  Every game he sits on the bench, his stock goes down, the doubts about him rise, and I have to think that his confidence has to take a hit as well.  He’s still young but he’s not getting any younger and he’s going to have to look for experience, and he may have to go wherever he can find it.

Like I said, I would support Leinart being the future of the Cardinals franchise, but I think he must leave town for his own good.  As a business owner, that’s a tough thing for me to say because you’ve already poured so much time, energy and money into developing  talent that it is such a shame to see it go un-used, but that is where I say that if Leinart is going to make a name for himself, it’s going to be in another city, and he ought to welcome it.

At ArizonaPremiereLiving.com, we don’t just talk about Phoenix real estate, but we talk about the things we have a passion for – like sports – and that’s the whole reason for ArizonaPremiereSports.com. For more information about us and the things we enjoy, check out our blog and visit our Arizona Premiere Living Resources Page and check out the Sports Resources section.

Earlier this week the Suns put an end to what was a bad mistake.  Namely the hiring of Terry Porter as head coach.  And if they end up keeping Amare Stoudemire that will be their second good move.

Porter was a bad fit.  Porter tried to bring in a slowed down half court game focused on feeding the ball to Shaq down low and playing stiff defense on the opposite end of the floor.  But that type of style is not what fits the Suns talent base.  The Suns best players are Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Jason Richardson.  Guys who like to move up and down the court.  Coaches who try to mold the players to a system usually fail.  Those who identify players strengths and accentuate those strengths usually win.

A great example of that theory, albeit in a different sport, was Don Shula.  When Shula won two Super Bowls with Miami in the early 70′s (including the perfect season of 1972) he had three excellent running backs in Larry Czonka, Mercury Morris, and Jim Kick.   So what did the Dolphins do. They ran the ball.  Bob Griese would average maybe 15 passes a game during those seasons.  And they had Paul Warfield at receiver!

Then, in 1983 when the Dolphins drafted Dan Marino Shula was bright enought to change his system to a throwing offense.  Marino would throw the ball 35-45 times a game.  It would have been dumb, and a waste of talent, to have Marino handing the ball off 30 times a game.

In essence that was what Porter was doing with Steve Nash.  Nash is not a half court pick and roll type of point guard like John Stockton.  Nor is he a defensive specialist.  So to ask him to change his style this late in his career is foolish.  Go with his talents.

The Suns have too many good players to be relegated to the 8th seed in the Western Conference.  In my opinion they should be a four seed.  They may have dug themselves too deep a hole to rise to that level this season, but if they go back to the up tempo type of play they were known for a few years ago, I think they’ll be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

Smart move Suns.

At ArizonaPremiereLiving.com, we don’t just talk about Phoenix real estate, but we talk about the things we have a passion for – like sports – and that’s the whole reason for ArizonaPremiereSports.com. For more information about us and the things we enjoy, check out our blog and visit our Arizona Premiere Living Resources Page and check out the Sports Resources section.

For  a while I was delusional.  I wanted to believe Barry Bonds wasn’t a user.  Maybe it’s my childish naivete.  Maybe it’s that I like to believe the best of people and give them the benefit of the doubt.  So when Barry was smokin’ balls out of the park at record breaking clips and putting up some of the best seasons ever, I thought he was just super human.  Maybe, if one had personal trainers and dieticians and ’round the clock consultation, one could gain 25lbs of muscle at age 35 and defy age.

But then reality set in.  And all the evidence began to stack up. Skepticism started to creep in, then take over.  Then Giambi was caught doing it. Canseco kept ratting players out. Petitte admited to doing it. Tejada was nailed.  Clemens.  And a litinany of other players.

Now A-Rod. A-Rod.  This was a guy I really respected and appreciated as a ballplayer. I never thought Alex Rodriguez would have ever done steroids.  But there was over the weekend.

The only question left is, who’s next?  At this point no one will shock me.

I still love the game.  I just hate what’s been done to it. It’s really a shame.  It’ll be hard to explain to my now 5 year old son as he grows up.

But then again, look at Wall St.   Cheating just seems to be par for the course these days in our society.

Let’s just hope it doesn’t ruin everything we hold sacred. Like baseball.

At ArizonaPremiereLiving.com, we don’t just talk about Phoenix real estate, but we talk about the things we have a passion for – like sports – and that’s the whole reason for ArizonaPremiereSports.com. For more information about us and the things we enjoy, check out our blog and visit our Arizona Premiere Living Resources Page and check out the Sports Resources section.

Every year I hear someone mutter the inane comment, “all the Super Bowls are blow outs anyway, I just watch for the commercials”.   Stated like a true NON-FOOTBALL fan.  And the comment about the commercials….well, I could write an entire blog post alone about that ridiculous comment.

When one really has a history of the game one will note that there have been just as many exciting down to the wire games as there have been blow outs.  In fact 13 Super Bowls have been decided by 7 points or less.  3 of these were tied in the last minute of the game.  Only 11 games have been decided by 21 points (what I would consider a blow out) or more.  The rest are somewhere in between.

If one examined statistics from the regular season I would surmise you would find similar results.

So next time you hear someone make an ignorant remark about Super Bowls all being blow outs you’ll be armed with statistical ammo to blow them away.

You can thank the guys at Arizona Premiere Sports.

Every sports fan has got their favorite Super Bowl moments and Super Bowl games.  Many will be biased because their favorite team was probably involved.  This list is compiled as objectively as can be by a 49er fan.  The criteria for the list are as follows: the game had to have significance OR was a thriller down to the end OR included something no other Super Bowl game had.  Feel free to add your favorites or comment on ours.

So if the captains would please meet at mid field we’ll flip the coin and get this thing going:

1. Super Bowl I – Packers vs. Chiefs. May not have been a nail biter, may not have been that great of a game competitively speaking, but it was the first.  It got the whole ball rolling.  At that time the game was billed as the NFL/AFL Championship Game and didn’t even sell out the L.A. Colliseum.  By the way, the Packers won 35-10.

2. Super Bowl III – Colts vs. Jets. Again, not necessarily the most competitive game but significant due to Joe Namath’s bold prediction, the fact the Jets were 19 point underdogs, and it was the first Super Bowl victory for the AFL.  A huge step forward and an impetus for the NFL/AFL merger.

3. Super Bowl VII – Redskins vs. Dolphins. Fairly tight score, Dolphins 14-7, but the true importance of this game was that it was the crowning jewel to the Dolphins perfect season.  Still not matched.

4. Super Bowl XXXVI – Rams vs. Patriots. Nail biters get a heavy nod in this list.  The Patriots have been involved in a lot of them. But this was the first of their three Super Bowl victories, won on a last second Adam Viniatieri field goal.  And who says field goal kickers don’t matter?

5. Super Bowl XXIII – 49ers vs. Bengals. I told you I was biased.  But this was really the only close Super Bowl victory the 49ers had.  And it exhibited Joe Montana at his coolest best.  Hitting John Taylor for the game winning touchdown with only 39 seconds left, culminating an 89 yard drive was quintessential Joe.

6. Super Bowl X – Cowboys vs. Steelers. The two of the NFL in the 70′s met for the first time.  This was the first Super Bowl I remember watching.  And it was a great one.  Hard fought, lots of exciting plays and two of the greatest catches not only in Super Bowl history but in the entire history of the NFL executed by Lynn Swann.

7. Super Bowl V – Cowboys vs. Colts. Kind of a sloppy game really (11 turnovers committed by the two teams) but that’s part of what makes it interesting. That and the fact that this one was also decided by a last second field goal by Jim O’Brien.

8. Super Bowl XLII – Giants vs. Patriots. Sad because I wanted to witness another perfect season.  On the list because of that very fact, it was a nail biter, and it laid witness to one of the luckiest catches in Super Bowl history by David Tyree that kept the drive alive and allowed Eli Manning to hit Plaxico Burress for the game winning touchdown.

9. Super Bowl XXII – Packers vs. Broncos. This one is on the list because a.) it was a good competitive game and b.) because Elway finally won one.  It was almost as if he willed his team to win.  That and that fact that FINALLY Elway had a big time running back (Terrell Davis) to complement him.

10. Super Bowl XIII- Cowboys vs. Steelers. The rematch. And it didn’t let anyone down.  This was a high scoring aerial assault. Swann and Stallworth were at their best and Roger the Dodger was still able to make things happen.  Had Jackie Smith not dropped that pass in the end zone the outcome might have been different.   But the Steelers were great. Pure and simple.