posted by Zagnut on Nov 27
The news of Sean Taylor’s death today as a result of the gunshot wound suffered Monday hit me like a ton of bricks. While I’m not a Washington Redskins fan, anytime a 24 yr old man, father, husband, son dies, at the hands of violence especially, it is a tragic and horrific thing regardless of their chosen profession.
While his teammates must deal with the death of a friend and cope emotionally with this, his family must find a way to continue into what is surely a rough Holiday season without the son, father, husband, brother they knew and loved. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers to his family. The Redskins team will have football as an outlet, something to think about, that ultimately will remind them of their friend and teamate.
A growing and concerning trend in violence towards athlete’s including several armed invasions of their homes seems less than coincidence and more a pattern. While the specifics of the break in at Sean Taylor’s home are being pieced together hopefully the authorities will find leads to the identities of the people responsible. I’d hope that other athletes and people in the spotlight take a serious look at their personal security. While we admire their talent and lament the rising salaries of these superstars (only in the price we pay to get into the events, and a degree of jealousy) I don’t believe we, the general public, can truly appreciate the additional challenges, and threats to their well being that these people face.
posted by Zagnut on Nov 21
For Titan’s and Bronco’s fans alike Monday Night brought a sense of definition to a season.
While Jay Cutler and Vince Young put up decent numbers (Young with the obvious yardage advantage) Denver’s defense appears to be coming together while Tennessee’s had an uncharacteristic bad night.
It would appear that both teams need to work on some defense in different areas. Denver looked pretty solid against the run, but they bent a bunch against the pass despite a consistent pass rush. Only timely turnovers, a very nice kickoff return, and a productive offense saved the day for Denver @ Invesco Field.
I was impressed with Vince Young for most of the night. The two hiccups were the 2 interceptions. Both were under heavy rush and Dre Bly’s interception was simply a great play by a cornerback. Not much a Quarterback can do about those sometimes. Stuff happens.
Likewise Jay Cutler seems more and more in command of the offense and is showing his leadership well. The only bad play that I would grade down was the first pass of the last drive that he should have thrown to the stands.
Again the Bronco’s appear to be able to just plug anyone in at tailback and do just fine.
Still no sign either of these teams are ready to challenge the Patriots, but I think they have a significant amount of company in that category.
Just a thought.
Happy Thanksgiving 
posted by Zagnut on Nov 18
Monday Night Football this week features 2 teams that are trying to keep their playoff chances alive. Both teams have issues that need to be addressed. While Denver continues to get solid play from Jay Cutler the injury bug and run defense continue to be an issue, though last week they stiffened up against the run. For Tennessee can they get more from Vince Young? Now I for one am a big Vince Young fan. I hope he gets it turned around, just not against my Broncos.
With the rest of the AFC West losing today the door is open for Denver to sneak in there to tie for the division lead.
At this point in the season I don’t see either of these teams beating the Patriots or the Colts in the AFC, but with a strong run in the last half of the season I might be convinced otherwise… It starts tomorrow night for one team…
posted by Zagnut on Nov 18
What a great end to a great season of NASCAR!!!!!!!!!
Holding on to a 86 point lead with one race to go is probably not very nerve wracking, except when the driver chasing you is your teammate, car owner, and friend, Jeff Gordon. The outcome was rarely in doubt today as they ran the 247 laps at Homestead. Only a few tense moments for Jimmy and Chad and the crew. As usual they handled the pressure great and capped off a championship year.
I’ll tip my hat to Jeff Gordon. Never did he beat the drums of “robbed by points system again!!”. Under the old system he would have coasted to his 6th Championship to move within one of Petty and Earnhart. While I do think the system needs some tweaks, I don’t believe anyone can complain about the outcome. They didn’t change the rules in the middle of the season, everyone knew how this was going to play out….
Now the sad part is waiting until February and the start of the first full schedule with the Car of Tomorrow (COT) now the Car of Today. With the points resetting and starting again at zero every Nascar fan has only a couple of months to get their story straight for the next season. The teams will get to spend the holiday’s with their friends and families and get back to work for another grueling 36 race season.
For Jimmy and the 48 team they will concentrate on how to run the same for the COT, for Jeff and the 24 how do we get and stay ahead of the 48, for the rest of the teams How do we catch up to the Hendrick Teams?
Congratulations Jimmy on the Championship!! and Jeff small consolation in a record 30 top 10’s for the year!! Great job to two of Nascar’s best drivers and teams!!!!
posted by Zagnut on Nov 15
For an award meant to depict the best pitcher for the American League I find it personally amusing that C.C. Sebathia wins the Cy Young over Josh Beckett. Given the domination that Beckett displayed in the playoffs especially head to head vs. Sebathia in the ALCS this award might be less meaningful. I am sure Beckett would rather have the ring, not the point…
posted by Zagnut on Nov 15
Interesting that my first post to this blog is concerning the season finale of what to myself and the rest of the 24 team fans can only be described as Heartbreak Hotel.
Hats off to the 48 team on a fantastic season and a brilliant Championship run.
Hopefully NASCAR will fix this broken system that punishes points racing more than it promotes Winning. I know I know runaway championships are boring (that is what they say).
My vote would be either go back to the original recipe or tweak the tracks run on the last 10 races, limit # of laps that non Chase qualified cars run (i.e. non playoff teams impacting the outcome of playoffs). Would love to see Sonoma on the Chase schedule.
Just a thought.