Home Blog Page 764

Key Dates for NBA 2014-2015 Season

0

nba 2014 2015 season images movie tv tech geeks

The NBA has changed drastically since the San Antonio Spurs hoisted the Larry O’Brien on June 15th after Game Five of the NBA Finals. LeBron James announced his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Duke guard Jabari Parker heard his name called by the Milwaukee Bucks with the second pick in the NBA Draft, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to a trade that will send All Star forward Kevin Love to the Cavaliers in return for Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, the last two first overall picks in the draft.

James and Love are not the only big names that have found new homes this offseason: Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry all signed with new teams. Kidd has agreed to become the next head coach of the Bucks, Pierce signed a two year contract with the Washington Wizards, and Terry is now in Sacramento playing for the Kings. Kidd has shown his ability to coach a team to victory, and he will have a bunch of young talent to work with in Milwaukee including 2014 second overall pick Jabari Parker. Pierce and Terry may be getting older, but they are both going to teams that will greatly benefit from the veteran leadership that these two men can bring.

After four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, the Miami Heat are finally on the decline and Indiana Pacers fans thought this would finally be their year. The Pacers had been knocked out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Heat the past two seasons, so they were the obvious choice to win the conference with the Heat gone—that is, until Paul George broke his leg in a USA Basketball exhibition game. With the Pacers and Heat both out of the question, LeBron and the Cavaliers are looking like the team to beat this season. Derrick Rose is finally set to return, so if he can stay healthy for the entire season his Chicago Bulls may be the Cavaliers toughest opponent in the East.

Let’s not forget about the defending champs—despite the age of their three super stars, the San Antonio Spurs show absolutely no signs of slowing down. Future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan has announced that he will be returning this season for what will most likely be his last NBA season, and obviously he wants nothing more than to go out on top. The Spurs also have reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Leonard’s rookie contract expires at the end of this season, right around the time Duncan is expected to retire. If everything goes as planned, the Spurs will be able to use the cap space freed up by Duncan’s retirement to pay the young Leonard handsomely and keep him in San Antonio for years.

There is a lot to see in the NBA this season, so let’s look at some of the big dates for the 2014-2015 NBA season:

September 27th: NBA Training Camps begin for teams participating in preseason NBA Global Games

September 29th: NBA Team Media Days

September 30th: NBA Training Camps open for practice across the league

October 5th: NBA Canada Series begins when the Toronto Raptors take on the Sacramento Kings in Vancouver, Canada at Rogers Arena

October 8th: NBA Global Games begin when the San Antonio Spurs take on Alba Berlin in Berlin, Germany at O2 World

October 27th: NBA Team rosters must be set for Opening Day (by 5PM ET)

October 28th: NBA Regular Season begins

November 19th: Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets (Jason Kidd’s first game back in Brooklyn since leaving the team to become head coach of the Bucks)

December 25th: Christmas Day NBA Lineup (all times are in Eastern):

12PM: Washington Wizards at New York Knicks

2:30PM: Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs

5PM: Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat (LeBron James’s first game in Miami since returning to the Cavaliers)

8PM: Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls

10:30PM: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers

February 13th-15th: NBA All-Star Weekend in Brooklyn and New York

February 19th: 2015 NBA Trade Deadline (3PM ET)

April 15th: Final day of the NBA Regular Season

April 18th: 2015 NBA Playoffs begin

Translating Coach Speak: Episode 1 Bill Belichick Press Conference

bill belichick press conference translated

Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick addresses the media during his conference call on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Here is our translation of his “coach speak”. We want our readers to know exactly what these NFL coaches are trying to say…at least from our view. Here’s the full transcript here.

Belichick quote about upcoming Dolphins matchup: “They do a good job, they have a very experienced coaching staff and they do a good job of attacking all the areas of your team – offense, defense, special teams. So, there are really a lot of things that you have to prepare for and be ready to handle

Translation: Clearly our coaching staff can take a few extra hours off this week since we are facing the Dolphins. Their coaches are lucky to have NFL jobs and I couldn’t name even one of them. There is good fishing down in Miami though.

 

Belichick on watching film on Miami’s new offensive coordinator’s 2013 Eagle offense: “No, I’d say it’s definitely on the radar screen. You see the schedule, you see who your opening games are with. That’s a good time to study things like that.

Translation: We work like 18 hours a day. Do you reporters think we miss any piece of film that might help us? I feel like you asked the question as a way to let me know we should watch that film if we have not done so. Are you trying to do my damn job?

 

Belichick on Gronk saying that he will be ready to play in game one: “Well, I’m glad that Rob’s optimistic about his situation. With all due respect to Rob, I’m glad he feels the way he does but we’ll have to make the decision that we feel is best for the team”.

Translation: Gronk is not a medical doctor and likely has the lowest IQ on this entire team, if not our division. Do you think we would just let him decide when he is physically ready? Clearly you have not seen some of the videos out there of this guy. We love him, but he is a nut!

 

Belichick’s response to whether he mentions to the team the heat factor in Miami or tries to keep it out of their minds: “First of all, the game has been on the schedule for quite a while so it’s no secret that we’re opening in Miami in September. I think you can get a hot day pretty much anywhere.”

Translation: These are grown men who go outside on a regular basis. We actually practice football outdoors. I think the majority of the players, except maybe Gronkowski, are aware of geography. So they know Miami is near the equator, which is hot. Also they are familiar with the seasons of the calendar. I can’t hide the fact that we are still in summer here in America. Most of our team spent some time in college classes.

Miami Heat 2014-2015 NBA Season Preview

0

miami heat 2014 2015 nba season images

After four consecutive NBA Finals appearance and two NBA Championships, LeBron James decided to return home to the Cleveland Cavaliers leaving Miami Heat fans wondering what will happen to their beloved team this season without its best player. Yes, the Heat are losing a five-time NBA MVP, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and an All Star all at once; however Pat Riley has made the offseason moves to ensure that the post-LeBron era in Miami will be equally successful.

Since the Game 5 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals ended the 2013-2014 NBA Season, Riley has been making roster moves to ensure success in the event that James decided to leave the Heat. Riley has already signed Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger this offseason, as well as resigning the other two members of the Big Three, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, to huge contract to keep them in Miami for years to come. The Heat also used their first-round draft pick to select Shabazz Napier out of UCONN, a player that James speaks very highly about.

With James out of the picture, Bosh and Wade will be expected to lead the Heat going forward. Both have shown their respective abilities to carry a team in the past: Wade (with the assistance of Shaquille O’Neal) led the Heat to an NBA Championship in 2006; and Bosh single-handedly carried a very weak Toronto Raptors team to two consecutive playoff appearances. Due to Wade’s recent injury problems, Bosh will most likely be the go-to guy in Miami, so he should have no problem averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds a game like he used to with the Raptors.

The Heat’s biggest road block in the Eastern Conference will most likely be James and the Cavaliers. Without Paul George, the Pacers will most likely not be much of a threat this season; the Heat should be able to win in the playoffs until they run into either the Cavaliers or Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. The Heat will definitely struggle getting used to life without LeBron, but with Bosh and Wade leading they should at least make it back to the playoffs in 2015.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs

0

cleveland cavaliers lebron james vs san antonio spurs 2014 images

It seems like at the beginning of every season the San Antonio Spurs are the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. The Spurs took on LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals the past two seasons, and they come out victorious this past season. Tim Duncan and the Spurs have emerged as sort of a road block for LeBron and his championship goals: James is 1-2 against the Spurs in the Finals, with their first meeting dating back to 2007 when he was still with the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron is now back in Cleveland, and he is tired of coming in second to the Spurs.

James’s return to Cleveland started a trend: fellow Olympic Gold Medalist Kevin Love and three-point specialists Mike Miller and James Jones soon followed to the Cavaliers, making them an NBA Finals competitor virtually overnight. The Cavaliers now have a big three of James, Love, and Kyrie Irving which they are hoping will catapult them right into the Finals.

With the Indiana Pacers pretty much out of the picture due to Paul George’s gruesome leg injury, the Cavaliers should have a straight shot at the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers biggest competition in the East will most likely be the Chicago Bulls so long as Derrick Rose can remain healthy this coming season. However, assuming the Cavaliers win the Eastern Conference, they will probably be meeting the Spurs in the NBA Finals.

The Spurs Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili may be getting older; but they show no signs of slowing down. On top of their three super stars, the Spurs have reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard on their team who is still on his rookie contract and making less than $1 million a season. It is as if the Spurs planned it out—Leonard’s contract is set to end around the time Duncan will be retiring from basketball, freeing up millions of dollars of cap room to pay Leonard.

The Cavaliers and Spurs are on a collision course in 2015, and there is no telling which team will come out victorious. The Cavaliers and Spurs meet in San Antonio on March 12 which will be a good indicator of how the potential finals matchup may turn out. Be sure to tune in for this late season game in 2015.

New Orleans Pelicans 2014-2015 NBA Season Preview

0

eric gordon on new orleans pelicans 2014 2015 nba season preview images

Despite an injury-riddled and disappointing 2013-2014 season, the New Orleans Pelicans are finally starting to receive some national recognition almost completely due to the emergence of All Star and Olympic Gold Medalist Anthony Davis. Davis was the 1st overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, but he did not emerged as a true All Star until this past season in which he averaged over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and almost three blocks per game. Even though Davis had these great stats, he only barely slipped into the NBA All Star Game because Kobe Bryant was unable to participate. Davis’s numbers are expected to increase in each of the coming seasons; and although he has only played two seasons, many people have already labeled him as the next big super star in the NBA.

Alongside Davis, the Pelicans will have forward Ryan Anderson back from injury this coming season. In the 22 games he played in this season, Anderson averaged almost 20 points per game on over 40 percent shooting from behind the arc and over 95 percent from the free throw line. The Pelicans were considered a playoff contender until Anderson was diagnosed with a herniated disk and ruled out for the remainder of the season. The Pelicans play significantly better as a team when Anderson is on the court averaging almost 10 points per game more when he is on the court.

Davis and Anderson are not the only big weapon the Pelicans will have this coming season: Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, and Jrue Holiday round out the rest of the big name players on the Pelicans. Omer Asik will also be playing in New Orleans this coming season, bringing another big defensive presence to stand in the middle and allowing Davis to have more headway to play a forward position at which he feels more comfortable. The Pelicans also have point guard Austin Rivers (Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers’s son) who, although he needs to be more consistent, is willing to work hard and has a handful of great games every season.

All things considered, as long as the Pelicans can stay healthy in the 2014-2015 season they should have no problem slipping into the postseason. They are not good enough to defeat a team like the San Antonio Spurs or Houston Rockets in a seven game series, but the Pelicans may be able to at least cause a scare for one of the older and more experienced teams in the NBA this season.

Indiana Pacers 2014-2015 NBA Season Preview

0

indiana pacers 2015 nba season images

When LeBron James announced that he would be leaving the Miami Heat, everyone immediately looked to the Indiana Pacers to take the Eastern Conference Championship in 2015. Larry Bird pieced together a great team in Indiana which included big names like David West, George Hill, Roy Hibbert, and of course Paul George. However, Paul George suffered a gruesome leg injury this offseason and will miss the entire 2014-2015 NBA season; so the Pacers will have to rely on their other big names in order to win this season. The Pacers may have lost their best player for the season, but they still have the roster to at least sneak into the playoffs in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

If the Pacers expect to succeed this season they will need a lot more than they have been getting from center Roy Hibbert. Hibbert is widely considered to be one of the most overpaid, overrated players in the NBA because of his low numbers, high salary, and inability to show up in big games. In the 2013-2014 NBA season Hibbert averaged only 10.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. A 7’2 center making over $13 million a season should be able to grab at least 10 rebounds a game. Hibbert was even worse in the playoffs this past season, managing only 9.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. In order for the Pacers to succeed, Hibbert will need to pick up some of the scoring that George used to handle.

The Pacers will also rely heavily on David West this season both for offensive productivity and veteran leadership. West has already shown his ability to lead a team when he (along with the young Chris Paul) led the New Orleans Hornets to the playoffs in consecutive seasons in 2008 and 2009. Without George, West will most likely be the go-to man on offense; so he can expect to see more than the 14 points per game he was averaging this past season. West will also be charged with keeping spirits up in the locker room and not letting the loss of George and championship aspirations affect the other players’ moral.

Even without George, the Pacers have a solid squad; however, without George the Pacers do not have a team that is ready to make a playoff run. The Pacers have the tools to make a playoff appearance this season, but do not expect a miraculous postseason run.

Paul Pierce’s Impact On NBA Washington Wizards

0

paul pierce impact on washington wizards nba 2015

After 15 seasons and one NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce shocked the NBA when he was traded along with Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets. After only one year with the Nets, Pierce shocked the NBA world again by signing a two year deal with the Washington Wizards. Pierce is entering his 17th year in the league, but he still has a lot to offer—especially to a developing team like the Wizards.

Before this past season, the Wizards had not won more than 30 games in a single season since 2007-2008. The Wizards seem to have finally turned the franchise in a winning direction, largely due to great draft picks like John Wall and Bradley Beal. Wall was the 1st overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and he has improved in each of his four seasons in Washington. Wall had a spectacular season this past year averaging over 19 points and almost nine assists and two steals per game. Beal, the 3rd overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, has also made significant improvements between his rookie season and this past season. Last season Beal averaged over 17 points per game and shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc. The Wizards are also arguably one of the best balanced teams in the NBA. Not all of the scoring in Washington comes from their super stars: Marcin Gortat averaged over 13 points and almost ten rebounds per game this past season; and Nene Hilario added another 14 points per game.

Although he will turning 37 on October 13th, Pierce will still be able to contribute at least 25 minutes per game and the veteran leadership and guidance that the young developing team could definitely use. Having a super star and potential NBA Hall of Famer’s energy to feed off may be just the boost the young players on the Wizards need to help sling shot them to a deep playoff run in 2015. With both the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers on a steep decline this season, the Eastern Conference is wide open for the 2015 playoffs. The Wizards could easily finish as high as 3rd or 4th in the conference, and could even potentially upset a team like the Chicago Bulls or Toronto Raptors in the playoffs.

The Wizards will certainly benefit from signing Paul Pierce. Expect the young players on the team to improve significantly this season and the team as a whole to rally behind Pierce as they strive to make the playoffs for the second year in a row.

How Will Paul George’s Injury Impact Indiana Pacers?

0

paul george injury impact on indiana pacers 2015

When LeBron James announced that he would be leaving the Miami Heat to return home and play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, everyone immediately assumed that the Indiana Pacers would have no problem winning the Eastern Conference Championship. The Heat have been sort of a road block for the Pacers in recent years: the Heat have knocked the Pacers out of the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. In the past two seasons, both of these eliminations came at the hands of the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Heat lost the best player in the world this offseason, so 2015 should be the Pacers year, right?

The Pacers have been playing exceptionally well the past two seasons, even finishing first place in the Eastern Conference this past season over the Heat. The Pacers have been succeeding thanks to many combined efforts all led by the scoring of super star Paul George. Since being drafted to the Pacers with the 10th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, George has improved drastically every single season in the league. This past season George averaged over 21 points per game while leading the team to 56 regular season victories in 80 games played. George may not be the NBA Scoring Champion, but he provides the clutch shooting and leadership the Pacers need.

George may not be the most experienced player on the team, but he leads like a veteran. The only other player on the team who is respected as much as George is David West. West is entering his 12th season in the NBA; and his résumé of leadership dates back to his years with the New Orleans Hornets when, along with the young Chris Paul, West led the Hornets to multiple playoff appearances. Last season West averaged 14 points and almost seven rebounds per game—he was not the Pacers top scorer; but he is still a vital part of the team.

The Pacers also received big contributions from other players, like their center Roy Hibbert. Although Hibbert is widely considered to be an overrated player, he is still a huge part of the Pacers multiple wins this season—especially on the defensive side of the ball. Hibbert averaged 10.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, which is definitely low for a 7’2 center. Hibbert’s biggest contribution is his defensive presence: his size alone intimidates opponents and prevents them from driving against him. Hibbert also averaged 2.25 blocks per game, fourth most in the NBA this past season; so even brave opponents often found themselves stuffed at the rim by the big man.

Other key contributors on the Pacers this season included George Hill and Luis Scola. Hill added another 10.3 points per game, and Scola averaged 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game coming off the bench. Scola is another highly respected player on the Pacers—although he is not the best player, he still gets out there and hustles for points and rebounds every night. Scola is also very consistent in that he very rarely misses a game. In his seven years in the NBA, Scola has missed only eight games; he has not missed a game since the 2010-2011 season.

The Pacers seemed to have it all going their way and were right on track to at least another Eastern Conference Finals appearance…until tragedy struck. With 9:33 left in the USA Blue vs. White Basketball Showcase, Paul George jumped after James Harden’s lay-up attempt and broke his leg on the landing. George suffered the same sort of freak accident that Louisville’s Kevin Ware suffered last season, a normal play that went horribly wrong. Following George’s injury, the game was called and the future of NBA players participating in USA Basketball came under immense scrutiny. George has already been ruled out for the entire 2014-2015 NBA season. It will be about three months before George is able to put any weight on his leg, and it will also be able that long until doctors are able to tell the full extent to which the injury will affect George’s play. George’s leg could take anywhere from six to 12 months to heal enough for him to return to the court, but either way the Pacers will not be risking the 24 year old’s career for one season.

Without George the Pacers will be lucky to make the playoffs. They have enough talent to do so, but unless players like Hibbert can really step up on the offensive side of the ball the Pacers will struggle tremendously. David West will be able to provide the veteran leadership that the team desperately needs in a time like this, but even that will only go so far. George’s injury has essentially knocked the Pacers right out of championship contention, so do not expect much from the team without their young super star.

Celebrity Gossip Roundup: Taylor Swift & Katy Perry Twitter War

taylor swift katy perry twitter feud

This week in celebrity gossip includes feuding stars, leaked wedding details and a surprise wedding among other occurrences.

The Twitter accounts of Taylor Swift and Katy Perry have been blowing up lately thanks to a public feud between the two. After Taylor Swift took to Twitter accusing Katy Perry of trying to ruin the singer’s career she fired back a comment that compared Katy Perry to Rachel McAdams’s “Mean Girls” character. In an interview with Taylor Swift that was recently published in the digital version of Rolling Stone Magazine she spoke of writing “Bad Blood,” a song that she wrote about a singer whose name she wouldn’t reveal. According to Taylor Swift Katy Perry has tried to sabotage Swift’s arena tours in the past. Only time will tell if the feud between the two stars continues.

In semi-related news Taylor Swift is also making the rounds in the gossip mill due to the fact that she reportedly hasn’t been on a date for a total of 18 months. The singer has a series of failed relationships trailing her and has announced that one of the reasons she is no longer dating is because it always seems to cause gossip that she is simply tired of dealing with. She also said that the pressure the gossip mill puts on her relationships makes it too hard for her to have a successful one. Swift reportedly told the media that though she doesn’t have the energy to be in love these days she is still a hopeless romantic at heart.

In a surprising move, George Clooney has announced where his upcoming wedding will take place. For a celebrity who is often hounded by the paparazzi this is an unexpected possible publicity stunt. Though it had been reported that Clooney and his fiancé were keeping tight lipped about their upcoming wedding he let some details slip at a recent private charity event.  Despite the fact that all he revealed is that the couple is going to wed in Venice, Italy this was either a carefully calculated PR move or Clooney is so head over heels in love he isn’t thinking clearly. Stay tuned to see how much of a media circus the wedding is due to Clooney’s public slip up.

Apparently Italy is the place to get married if you are a celebrity. Over the weekend, How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris slipped off to Italy to quietly wed his partner of 10 years David Burtka. The couple’s two children were a part of the wedding proceedings and it included celebrity guests such as Kelly Ripa and Elton John, who sang at the couple’s wedding reception. The small, intimate wedding was held at a sprawling castle.

At a New York Fashion Week After Party Miley Cyrus made quite the impact when she appeared topless for the festivities. Armed with only pasties covering her nipples Cyrus partied with fashion designer Alexander Wang and his many guests. Cyrus reportedly spent a good portion of the party flirting with its host, which probably explains her trashy and tasteless decision to go topless. Clearly, less is more is not a phrase Ms. Cyrus is familiar with.

Paris Jackson, daughter of the late Michael Jackson, is now 16 years old and stirring up controversy due to rumors circulating that she is pregnant. Insiders have reportedly told the Daily Star that Paris has a visible baby bump. A source that witnessed Paris on a date with her boyfriend reported that she repeatedly gave toasts, but did so with a glass of water as opposed to a glass of wine or champagne. There has also been speculation that Paris and her boyfriend are talking engagement as the couple was reportedly spotted at a jewelry store shopping for an expensive ring. The Jackson family spokesperson will not comment on the rumors regarding Paris.

Kendall Jenner is reportedly ruffling the feathers of runway models participating in New York City’s Fashion Week. Her appearance in the event is sparking anger from those who feel like she is taking attention away from the real runway models that have earned it. Experts in the industry are complaining that Jenner is taking paid jobs away from models that need them to support themselves. They feel that allowing celebrities to take the place of models counts as abuse of their celebrity status. This proves just how cutthroat the entertainment industry can be.

In a tragic twist of fate, Chicago Fire actress Molly Glyn was killed this week when a strong storm caused a tree to fall on her. The actress was bike riding at a Chicago park with her husband when the storm began. The couple was reportedly trying to escape from the storm when Glyn’s death occurred. She died at nearby NorthShore Evanston Hospital.

Reality star Kim Kardashian may be doing the world a favor by announcing that though she would have “a million more kids” if she was able to, she won’t be doing so because of the difficulty of her first pregnancy. She reportedly made this announcement after heading to San Diego to visit her sister during Kourtney’s pregnancy. After babysitting for Kourtney’s two kids, in addition to having her own on hand, Kim made the declaration that multiple kids were a lot of work. This could become the next Hollywood fad; situational birth control.

Lena Dunham recently appeared on late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live and discussed with the host a wardrobe malfunction that happened to her while on board an L.A. bound flight from New York. The actress told Kimmel that while she was sleeping on the plane she must have unbuttoned her pants. When she woke up she got up to use the restroom before she realized her pants were unbuttoned. Though some may see this as TMI it is refreshing for others to see a celebrity doesn’t try to appear perfect.

This has been celebrity gossip the week of September 7th.

Ray Rice Drama Enters Act 3

ravens ray rice drama wife beating continues

What is the difference between the Ray Rice story of a few weeks ago and now? We were all in the elevator with him and his girlfriend after seeing the graphic video, released by TMZ. Before we saw the footage we could only imagine what happened in that elevator. Now we have seen up close and personal, what it looks like for a grown man to punch a woman in the face. Not to mention that Ray Rice is a professional football player who is strong as an ox I am sure. A picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth millions in terms of a terminated NFL contract. Ray Rice is in a world of hurt right now and he has no one to blame but himself.

The Ravens had no choice but to cut the guy even though he has done nothing extra since the story first broke months ago. Everything that happened has already happened. He has not punched anyone else. The Ravens were in the elevator with the couple now though. And like all of us who saw it, could not deny it is worse now. Knowing what happened and seeing it happen are two very different things. The former cost Ray Rice a couple games. The latter cost Ray Rice his job with the Ravens and most likely his football career.

How could Rice’s team keep him around after what the entire country has witnessed? You can’t have a player in your team uniform after all the coverage the video got yesterday. Not only sports networks, but regular news networks ran the video once it was put out for the world to see. By the way, TMZ is a sickening organization that stalks people for profit. But occasionally they do let the world in on stuff like this video, which makes them somewhat valuable to the media world.

The NFL knew it screwed up as soon as the backlash started when they only suspended Rice for a couple games back when all this started. Roger Goodell apologized and changed the NFL policy to make the punishment much harsher for future women beaters. Now domestic abuse cases will come with a six game suspension and follow that up with a possible lifetime ban if a player is stupid enough to hit a woman again. Now that the NFL has seen the video, they have indefinitely suspended Rice from the league. Some could argue that they are backtracking on the punishment already dealt to the player. And the union could have something to say about that fact. However, I am sure the NFL Players Associationdoes not want to be seen as supporting lighter punishments for incidents like the one involving Ray Rice. A union that seeks better treatment for a man whom the world saw hit a female, is not a union that will be supported by its members or the league’s fans.

Is Ray Rice the devil? No. He had a very, very, very bad night. From all accounts, he was one of the most popular guys in the Ravens’ locker room. Even his coach, John Harbaugh had a hard time not saying something good about the guy as he announced the team’s decision to cut him loose. The fact is that Ray Rice should have simply walked away from the situation. Domestic issues can be tricky, but violence is clearly not the answer, especially when it is a man versus a woman.

Because of one bad night, Ray Rice, along with his new wife, will be changed forever. The multimillion dollar contract is gone. There is not much hope for reinstatement anytime soon. There are no TV analyst jobs waiting. No coaching job is going to be open for him for a long time, if ever. Whatever plans he and his wife had are totally wrecked. It is bad that one night will define a man, but that is reality for Ray Rice now. Video was the vehicle for his banishment from the NFL. His own actions are what lead to there even being a video in the first place. If any athlete or average Joe can learn anything from this incident, it is to simply walk away. There is clearly no instance where hitting a woman is going to be justified or tolerated.

Fantasy Football: Players You Can’t Trust

fantasy football 2015

You better hurry if you are planning a fantasy football draft. The regular season will kickoff in about 30 hours from now. I drafted my team last night and I think I will go with just one team this year. I want to focus solely on it. If something terrible happens like my starting QB going down, I will have to suffer through it with a rough season I guess. I did get a good backup so maybe that won’t…..I better not even say it. I need Drew Brees healthy all year.

As I was going over my paper with a widdled down pencil, I got to seeing a few guys that I would not trust on my fantasy team no matter their upside. And yes I used a pencil and paper to write my fantasy notes. I didn’t mail my picks in via the postal service though. I went with a online draft. Anyway, there were players that I was tempted to draft in the middle rounds that may have a big fantasy year. I just couldn’t pull the trigger though. Some of these players are injury prone, while others are just up and down week to week. These untrustworthy NFL fantasy ballers can’t remain nameless, so here is the list calling them out.

  1. Nick Foles – This one I was not sure about. I may regret it later. Foles went nuts last year and had the second best QB fantasy numbers per game on average. He was only behind Peyton Manning. I just can’t believe in him just yet. One year does not a career make. He will have to show me again this season.
  1. DeSean Jackson – The fact that this speedy receiver was affiliated with gang activity is enough for me to shy away. First, I don’t like gangs and don’t need to get “jumped in” fantasy style or otherwise. I have not heard any bad reports since Jackson was exiled to Washington. So maybe Chip Kelly just hated the guy, I don’t know. I do know that I wasn’t going to be the one who drafted a guy only to lose him to suspension midway through my fantasy season.
  1. Matt Ryan – For the record, I love Matt Ryan . I wanted him for my QB#1 honestly, but felt like I would get ridiculed from my fantasy league members. I am a Falcons fan and I took Drew Brees with my first overall pick. So I am feeling pretty ashamed of myself this morning. The main reason I did not take Ryan is because I don’t trust him behind his porous offensive line. They have more questions than a five year old.
  1. RG3 – How can I put this nicely about Robert Griffin III? He isn’t any good. I hope that sums it up. He had a nice rookie year, but it was an aberration. His play since then has been atrocious. He is not improving, he is regressing. I am not sure he will be able to keep that awesome nickname if he continues his hellish QB play. I would have drafted almost any quarterback in the league to avoid taking him.
  1. Rob Gronkowski – He was there for the taking in the later mid rounds of my draft. I was so tempted but would not allow myself to get punked by the meathead again. His body is in shambles. He could do something really stupid at anytime to get suspended. Even with his amazing talent, I could not find the courage to take him. He cost me a lot of fantasy points last year. This breakup with Gronk is going to stick.

How Will Atlanta Falcons Offensive Line Hold Up This Season?

atlanta falcons offensive line bulge tight 2014

The difference between the Atlanta Falcons getting back to playoff form and another dismal season is the offensive line. I could throw the defense in the mix, but I have so little faith in that unit that I expect the Falcons to have to simply out score everyone they play. There will be no great defensive efforts from this group on a regular basis. The team is counting on the offense to produce points in a flurry and in a hurry each week. They have the weapons to pile up Broncos-like numbers. The question is all about the offensive line.

Matt Ryan is as good as any quarterback in the NFL. I know fantasy gurus and big headed TV talkers don’t give him quite that much credit, but I will do so. The man is clutch. He is a great leader and he makes all the big throws a coach can ask of his field general. But he can’t do anything spectacular if he is getting bounced all over the soon to be demolished Georgia Dome turf. Last year he was absolutely ambushed by defenses. His o-line was impotent when it came to protecting the franchise QB. They let defenders have their way with Mat Ryan last season, giving up 44 sacks. Contrast that with the mere 18 sacks on Peyton Manning and you can see the difference in the two’s numbers in 2013. Leave Matt Ryan upright most of the game and he will destroy a defense with his trio of great wideouts. Maybe Roddy Whiteneeds to be in offensive line meetings to keep them in check. White is a very funny football comedian, but the o-line might tire of his act, so that might be a bad idea actually.

This o-line is not shaping up to be a great run blocking unit. That is a big concern….about as big a concern as Steven Jackson‘s health. All this adds up to the Falcons being a pass first team in my eyes. They do have some hope in rookie tailback, Devonta Freeman, but look for passes galore in this 2014 version of the Dirty Birds. Falcons fans will have to look past the ineffectiveness of the running game if that ends up being the reality. A great passing game is the only way Atlanta will be back on top of the NFC. Of course they need to run the ball to keep the defense on its toes, but the bread and butter is hinging on Matt Ryan and the receiving corps. The o-line will be the x-factor in this offensive equation.

If you watched any of “Hard Knocks”, you know the Atlanta coaches’ big theme was being tougher. It will take a nasty offensive line to keep Matt Ryan pressure free all season long. If the toughness theme really got through to the big guys up front, it will show. They should have some after the play penalties early on in the year to set the tone. Mike Smith doesn’t want any dumb penalties, but I have a feeling he will let a couple slide to prove a point to the rest of the league. They will get their first chance to test that toughness against New Orleans in the opener. The Saints are a big reason for the toughness theme being an issue. We will see if the o-line lets a Saints defender put their hands on Matt Ryan after the play this year with no repercussions. I am betting that does not happen. If Mike Tice or Bryan Cox has to run in from the sideline like a pro wrestler from outside the ring, something will be done to send a message.