Vikings Update

Although it is the offseason in Winter Park (Viking HQ), there is a lot going on with the Vikings right now.

1. The Viking have reportedly already gotten tired of the media circus that is "as the grey beard turns" in Brett Favre. Rumor has it they have given him until Tuesday to make a decision on his shoulder and on his intentions of playing next season with the Vikes. I knew only time would tell before Brad Childress got tired of the Brett Favre bullsh*t and it seems to be at a boiling point. If he is already tired of all this, why is he still pursuing Favre? This is what he will have to deal with for the entire season. Former Viking legend and Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton has also spoke out about Favre:

“I think it’s despicable. What he put the Packers through last year was not good. Here’s an organization that was loyal to him for 17, 18 years, provided stability of organization, provided players. It just wasn’t about Brett Favre. In this day and time, we have glorified the Brett Favre’s of the world so much, they think it’s about them. He goes to New York and bombs. He’s 39 years old. How would you like Ray Nitschke in his last year (playing for) the Vikings, or I retire, and go play for the Packers. I kind of hope it happens, so he can fail.”

2. Part of the Williams Wall, Pat Williams has called out the work ethic of Tavaris Jackson. I think the team realizes Jackson has the physical tools, but Williams spoke up and said that Jackson isn't putting the time in to be a starting QB in this league. The part of the game Jackson struggles with most is not being able to read a defense and just know where to go with the ball. Many QB's struggle with this early in their career, but show signs of improvement as time goes on. The only way you get better is by watching film and recognizing defensive sets and being able to pick up blitzes. You should know really quickly based on the look of the D what you need to do with the football. If you think 4 hours of film study a day will do, you probably need to watch 8 hours according to Williams. The other frustrating thing with Jackson is that teams stack the box in an attempt to stop the running game, so basically his WR's are one on one. Jackson needs to know who has the better matchup and be able to get the ball to them. Jackson responded with "i've pretty much figured it out." I think Sage Rosenfels is good enough to start for this football team, but having a more mobile QB is something that most teams are without. I sure hope that Jackson does get it and will put in the time to make the correct reads, make the throws and use his legs while being the starting QB for the Vikings in '09.

3. Music to my ears/eyes as I have been reading that the Vikings are installing 15-20 formations specifically to use for Percy Harvin, a couple of those will be the "wildcat" formation. For years Viking fans have complained about the simplicity of their offense and how conservative the play-calling is at all times. With the drafting of Harvin the Vikes are putting another "gamebreaker" on the field and if you need to get creative with the play-calling to get him the ball you absolutely must do it. It is sad, but I honestly had no faith that the Vikings would do anything different with him. With the running game that the offensive line opens up for Peterson/Taylor and the deep ball threat of Bernard Berrian the addition of Harvin and some trick plays, wildcat formations or getting him the ball in some space to make plays may be the missing link to get them past the first round of the playoffs. While Bobby Wade is a reliable WR to make a few catches a game, he simply isn't a threat to take the ball, make a move and get in the endzone, Percy Harvin is just that! I'm looking forward to the new sets and to see how they utilize his abilities.

NBA Finals Matchup

The NBA finals are set and while it isn't the dream matchup that everyone wanted (Cavs vs Lakers) I think it will be a great series. The Orlando Magic will face the Los Angeles Lakers and the series will feature two of the best players in the game in Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard. While the world wanted to see Lebron vs Kobe, I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised with Lakers/Magic. The last time the Magic made a championship series they were led by "Shaq-Fu" aka "Shaq-Diesel" aka "Kazaam" aka Shaquille O'Neal and they had an up and coming guard name Anfernee Hardaway. Shaq moved on to LA, then to Miami (winning Championships at both) and now is in Phoenix. "Penny" Hardaway was a star in the making but the injury bug got him and he was forced into an all too premature retirement. The Lakers advanced to the championship last year losing to the Celtics and hadn't won a championship since Shaq.




















If you know me you know that i'm a pretty big Kobe Bryant fan. I would like to see him win a championship without Shaq being the guy who basically gets all the glory from the victory. I think what Kobe has done in his career will rival what Michael Jordan accomplished and maybe surpass Michael if he can win a title without Shaq. Michael Jordan had the best supporting cast in basketball in his championship years in Chicago, including Scottie Pippen who was voted as one of the NBA's top 50 players of all-time. Kobe won championships with Shaq, but if he can do it with a scrub like Lamar Odom (a good game every 4th game) and a soft (and ugly) European in Pau Gasol he deserves more credit than anyone will ever give him. The team around him is AWFUL! This would be an amazing accomplishment in my mind and when you add up his other championships, big shots, 81-pt game and spectatcular highlights he may be getting some talk as the greatest to ever play the game.


This series will be Dwight Howards coming out party (if game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals wasn't already). I totally expect him to dominate Gasol or Bynum and put up 20 and 15 along with 5 blocks in every game. In my opinion the NBA has lacked a real superstar Center since Shaq. After these playoffs and this series in particular, the league will no longer lack a stud inside player (the game seems to be very perimeter or drive oriented). Not that there aren't great inside players, but there are none with the skill, athletic ability and likeable personality that Howard has. Aside from Howard, the Magic also have Rashard Lewis (native Texan) who is an excellent player and was a matchup nightmare for the Cavs. For every Batman there is a Robin and Lewis fits that Robin role.
My heart tells me you have to go with LA in this series, but my gut says the Magic. I think Howard dominates the paint limiting the LA big men from scoring/rebounding and defensively makes the lane his home. Bryant will get his points, but I think Lewis will score enough to kind of offset what Kobe is doing. The key to the series will be the perimeter shooting and the Magic have a huge advantage in my mind. This series will turn into Kobe vs the Magic and unfortunately for him, he won't be enough. The Orlando Magic will be crowned NBA champs and Dwight Howard will be a SUPERSTAR when it is all said and done.

Mattradamus picks the College World Series cont'd...

Today i'm going to pick the winner of the College World Series. The first round in Omaha is played like the Regionals. 4 teams will play a double elimination tournament and my groupings I have are: Texas, Georgia Tech, Arizona St. and North Carolina and then LSU, Cal St Fullerton, UC Irvine and Arkansas.



In the first group I just don't think Texas and GT have the offense to continue on so it will come down to North Carolina and Arizona St. Give me the Sun Devils over the Tarheels to advance to the best 2 or 3 series vs the winner of the other bracket.



Arkansas's ride will end as will Cal St Fullerton's prior to the Anteaters and the Tigers doing battle to advance. UC Irvine was the number 1 team in the country coming into the tournament with LSU the number 2. This is a partially biased pick, but i'm rolling the dice with LSU! They have about 7 guys hitting .300+ and have power all over their lineup. On top of that they have some very good pitching that can hold teams to the the mid single digits for runs (4-7 runs) which will win them most all games. Tigers advance.



The Arizona St. Sun Devils and LSU Tigers will play for the NCAA College Baseball Championship in a best of 3 game series. If the Sun Devils had two strong left handed pitchers they could throw against the Tigers I would give them the nod. As is they have one great righty and one great lefty. LSU lost 3 games this season to right handed pitching compared to 13 vs left handed pitching. ASU's Josh Spence will get a victory in game 1, but then the Tigers will beat up on the right handed pitching and prevail in the final two games!!



The LSU Tigers will win the College World Series

.

Mattradamus picks the College World Series cont'd...

Yesterday I went through the regional games and today i'm moving on to Super-Regionals. I already gave away one of my choices and that was the Texas Longhorns will spank the Aggies of A&M and advance to the college World Series. Here are my other predictions.

Georgia Tech will play host to Miami in an ACC clash. These teams know one another well and GT just beat Miami a week ago in the ACC tournament. Homefield plus confidence = a World Series berth! The boys from Atlanta can book their flights to Omaha.

Arizona St will host Alabama out in Tempe and I think the Sun Devils will be too much. They are a national 5 seed for a reason and will March on.

UNC will host South Carolina in a battle of the Carolinas. This is a pretty big rivalry and should be a good series. In the end, North is on top of South just like the Tar Heels will be on the Gamecocks.

Out in California the Titans of Cal St Fullerton titanically destroy the Cardinals of Louisville. Another seeded team advances to Omaha.

Arkansas will travel to Tallahassee to play the 'Noles from FSU who edged out Georgia. Arkansas at this point in the season has seen and played the best. They will go down to Florida with confidence and will prevail!

UC Irvine will play host to Ole Miss. UC Irvine has been the top team in American (even though their Nationally seeding doesn't show it) for over 7 weeks now. At home I have to give the edge to the national #1 ranked team.

LSU will play host to the Owls from Rice down in Baton Rouge in the last Super Regional. LSU just has too many bats and doesn't lose at home. They move on! They eye of the Tiger travels to Nebraska.

Would you call this a headbutt?

"Sweep the leg Johnny......and then see what laundry detergent he uses!"

Mattradamus picks the College World Series

I posted earlier this week about the College World Series and i'm going to follow that up with my predictions. Let me just start off by saying that me picking a college world series bracket is probably equivalent to your little sister picking the NCAA March Madness bracket. I do follow a few teams, but I don't necessarily have great knowledge of probably more than 5 teams in the tournament. With that said, i'm going to have some fun with this and here we go:

Austin Regional:
Can you bet against the National #1 seed, I don't think so. The Texas Longhorns use the longball and cruise this regional without a loss and advance to host a Super Regional.

Ft. Worth Regional:
TCU is the top seed, but their lack of true competition playing in a smaller conference will hurt them. There is a reason the voters put Texas A&M in this bracket. They hoped they would advance to face the Longhorns in the second round. They will get their wish. The Aggies advance. Bonus prediction!!! Texas smokes TAMU so the dream is over Aggies. Double Bonus Prediction!! Texas Tech once again steamrolls you in football this coming season.

Atlanta Regional:
Georgia Tech is the host and they battled their way through a tough ACC this season. I like the fact that they had to play some great teams and still won more than 30 games while only losing 17. The Yellow Jackets sting the competition and advance.

Gainesville Regional:
The Gators are hosting and are the national 8 seed but when was the last time you remember Miami getting the boot in the Regional round (probably happened sooner than I thought) but it wouldn't be a College World Series without Da U getting past the first weekend. Maybe the Carolina Hurricanes will take in a few games in between their golf rounds after being swept out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Tempe Regional:
Arizona St. is the national 5 seed and they don't lose this weekend. The Sun Devils are moving on despite the fact they would rather be spending time on the ASU campus checking out what Playboy has consistently rated the school with the best looking women.

Clemson Regional:
This will be a great region to watch. I think Clemson and Alabama will will play to see who moves on. Don't bet against the SEC in this one! The Crimson Tide play another weekend. Do those blonde twins attend all their baseball games or just the football games??

Greenville Regional:
East Carolina is the top seed and had a great season, but it come to an end as the SEC wins again. The Gamecocks from Columbia, SC advance.

Chapel Hill Regional:
The nationally 4 seeded Tar Heels play a pesky Coastal Carolina team in the finals and it comes down to one game. UNC wins that game and continues to have a chance of bringing home a baseball title to go along with their basketball title they won in April.

Fullerton Regional:
Cal St Fullerton is the #2 overall seed for a reason. Easy weekend for them. They move on. You won't have to just remember the Titans, you will see them again.

Louisville Regional:
The Cardinals win on their home field despite a great effort by the Middle Tennessee St. This is the region we all forgot was even playing.

Tallahassee Regional:
Another great final in this region between Florida St and Georgia. I have tended to lean to the SEC in these games, but not in this one. The tomahawk chop moves on (assuming they don't have all their players suspended b/c of cheating allegations like their football team)

Norman Regional:
Oklahoma is the national 7 seed, but they are going to have their hands full with the Razorbacks from Fayetteville. Arkansas played a very difficult schedule and won some big games and their losses were generally by a run or two. I think their experience in big games this season helps them move on. Big Game Bob Stoops loses another big game, ah wait, sorry, wrong sport. Woo Pig Souiee (however you spell it)

Irvine Regional:
UC Irvine always play deep into the tournament. Same goes this year. They breeze through this weekend. Do you think they would ever seed them against a team whose mascot was the Ants?

Oxford Regional:
Ole Miss were the Co-SEC Champs. They move on. Sales on red pinstriped short shorts, loafers and long sleeved button up polos will go out the roof. Lots of whiskey will be drank as well.

Houston Regional:
The college baseball giant that is the Duke of the Dirty South moves on. Hoot Hoot, go Rice. Is there a less intimidating mascot out there? Would they consider changing their mascot to the Creepy Owls?

Baton Rouge Regional:
The Bayou Bengals have their hands full with a couple of tough test in Minnesota and Baylor, but ultimately a gopher and a drugged up winnie the pooh bear have no shot against a tiger (neither did that handler in New Zealand).

Super Regional Predictions to come tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Interesting Sports Fact

With an Overtime victory last night vs the Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. The matchup will be the NHL's first Stanley Cup rematch since the Edmonton Oilers beat the New York Islanders in 1984 after losing to them the previous year. If history repeats itself Sid the Kid will bring home another professional championship to the city of Pittsburgh this year.