BYU Vs.Utah

First off, let me apologize for my lack of writing.  I have been working like crazy, which for me, means that I've been playing games and watching sports during my off time.  Secondly, I apologize to my fellow Ute fans for not helping rub it in to the fans of the team down south.

So, for the first time in my memory, Utah has dominated BYU in both football and basketball.  Utah went undefeated and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl when BYU ended their "Quest for perfection" with a losses at TCU, Utah, and an embarrassing loss to Arizona in the Vegas Bowl.  That was the wonderful season that is football.  Next came basketball, which most Ute fans were thinking "When does football season start?"  With early losses to Southwest Baptist (who?) and Idaho State, we were all saying "At least we have still have football bragging rights" (for now).  Yet, Utah pulled it together with a steady stream of wins starting with the mighty Bulldogs from Spokane, Gonzaga.  Their RPI is 9th in the nation right now.  Which, to those of you who don't know, is a mathematic equation that results in strength of schedule.  Not an opinion of one guy who thinks that Alabama beating Ole Miss is better than Utah beating TCU. It takes into account all of your opponents and their opponents and figures out who has had the toughest schedule.

Also, Utah is in the drivers seat in the MWC.  They are two games ahead of everyone else, most notably, BYU.  Now, BYU made up a game with incredible defense down the stretch and beat Utah tonight.  Utah has to go into the dreaded Pit and play New Mexico, who is also playing well.  If Utah can pull that one off, they will win the MWC regular season title and be in the first spot in the tourney.  

However, Utah still has a chance to go one up on them on a neutral court and this time won't be caught off guard by the zone.  Here's hoping that they meat again in the MWC tournament finals!!  GO UTES.

What a Game!

Gone are the days that you can say "the AFC or NFC championship is really the game."  Over the past few years, the fore thought blow-outs have had very different results.  The Giants beating New England is probably the pinnacle of them all, yet this years game offered a similar feeling.  However, I was watching in a room with my In-Laws, mostly Steeler fans.  That added a lot to the intensity of the game.  It was amazing to watch an elated crowd get deflated with one pass.  One of the younger ones even threw a yellow flag (bought with a matching challenge flag) in hopes the refs might see holding or such.  Another Terrible Towel was thrown at the TV, either in frustration or hoping to trip the wide open Larry Fitzgerald.  It was amazing to see and made me glad that I had made other plans for Superbowl XL.  I get the same way.  The touchdown pass to Holmes in the back of the endzone (he did catch it!) was another amazing thing.  The room was a stunned silence of un-acceptance even after the line judge signaled TD.  It was only after several replays of the catch that the room erupted in elation.  Even the Cowboys fans in the room were jumping up and down.  It was amazing, even better than last years upset that everyone was routing for.  It was, for me, the exact opposite feeling than Superbowl XL, although a similar result.  The Steelers are an iconic organization.  They are what all other sports franchises should want to be.  Not because they have an NFL record 6 Superbowl Championships, but because they win with consistency. 

 They hired Chuck Knoll in 1969 and turned their ugly history around.  Under Knoll, they won 9 Division Championships, 4 Conference Championships, and went 4-0 in SuperBowls.  They had a rough patch in the 80's, but the Rooney family was loyal to Knoll and he didn't leave until he retired in 1992.  They turned their attention to Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Bill Cower.  He led the team to 8 Division Championships, 2 Conference Championships, and went 1-1 in the Superbowl.  Losing to the Cowboys in 1995 and beating the Seahawks in 2005.  Now, under Mike Tomlin, another young Defensive Coordinator, they have continued there success winning yet another Superbowl.  Congratulations to one of the most successful and classy organizations in all of sports.  My hat is of to you...it's still a Seahawks hat, but it is still off in salute to you.  Now only if Paul Allen can follow the Rooney family...

It's Basketball Season?

In a way, this may just be one of the most boring sports weekends of the year.  I know, some of you are saying, "but Mr. Sith, what about the great sport of basketball?!"  And I'll agree, basketball is a great sport that I love to watch and get passionate about.  In fact, it's getting into the meat of the season, but we're not there yet.  College basketball is in the part of the season where you might start paying attention, maybe.  

Here's the deal, nobody can argue that football is king.  College football is over with some great bowl games this year (GO UTES!).  The major problem with this time of year, every year, is that the three major sports that are still playing right now (NFL, NBA and NCAA Basketball) are in a down time for their season.  This is the only weekend in the NFL season that there is no football.  In the NBA, everyone is waiting for the All-Star Game.  In fact, all the sports radio, podcast's, blog's and print media can talk about right now is the All-Star Game.  Here locally, it's all about why Deron Williams is not an All-Star yet, and will he be by the time the game comes around.  In NCAA Basketball, you are starting to here the "bubble" (shiver) word.

In this world where football rules all sports, nothing gets any acknowledgement from the majority of fans until the King lays down his scepter for the year.  After the Superbowl, most fans scratch their heads and say "um...now what do I watch?  Who to route for?"  

I admit that I am one of those fans who watch the NBA with an attitude that it's not yet important.  And College Basketball?  How many wins does your favorite team have?  Don't look, just say it.  That's what I thought.  Nobody knows right now, nor do they care.  Next week, you are going to start hearing things like "must win for the Cougars" and "can the Utes pull off the upset and get in the tournament".  

But right now, everyone is calling their booky and putting their hard earned cash on whatever team they think might win, or at least cover the spread in the Superbowl.  On the radio today, I hear things like "can the Arizona Cardinals offense put up enough points against that amazing Pittsburgh Steel Curtain?"  People are asking themselves and others about the 'Cards and if they even stand a chance.  There is a full week before the game.  NBA has 14 games on the schedule this weekend.  NCAA Basketball has a slew of games every weekend.  Still, people are saying "Can Pittsburgh push the 'Cards around like they have everyone else this post season?"  So, to all you basketball fans, you can't yet talk about how the Jazz might not even make the playoffs at the water cooler yet.  Because Jim, the accounts manager in the next cubical, is thinking of how he can convince his wife that the Cardinals are a sure bet and that the hundreds of dollars he bet on them will net him thousands.  Just be patient with him, it will all be over in week.  And for all you live and die with Football guys, the NFL combine is Feb. 18-24 and will be broadcast on the NFL network, so you only have to wait two weeks for a fix.  Than you have to wait until April 25th for the draft.  After that is an even longer wait until the start of the College Football season in September.

Eagles find another way to lose a big game

The Philadelphia Eagles, under Andy Ried, have been to five NFC championship games.  They are an astounding 1-4 in that time.  The one that they did win, they choke away the Superbowl to New England.  I have heard a lot of comparison's to the Buffalo Bills of the 90's, who went to 5 AFC championships in a row.  The Bills however, were 4-1 in that time, although 0-4 in the Superbowl.

If you ask me, I would rather have Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Don Beebe, Cornelius Bennett, and Bruce Smith than Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and crew.  McNabb Continues to not impress me by throwing behind wide open receivers, over throwing running back's and a hesitancy to run for yards.  Andy Ried's offense isn't much help, even Arizona runs the ball a little.  When we look back on the career of McNabb, what are we going to see?  I will see the same thing that I see now, an over-rated QB that has never lived up to his potential.