Thursday, November 02, 2006
Five Thoughts from Early November
It is an interesting time of year in the sports world, isn't it? The college and pro football seasons are heating up. The start of November means that teams are now on the inward half of their schedules. While a disappointing World Series concluded the 2006 year in baseball last weekend, the NBA and NHL seasons are now underway. With all that in mind, I offer you five thoughts on the sports world. 
1. I have lived in Northwest Ohio for most of my life and never have I witnessed such excitement and publicity this far in advance of the Ohio State/Michigan game. The Border War, as it is referred to around here, has people fired up like never before. At bars around town, visual displays of support for one team or the other elicits a reaction from most everyone else present. With each team enjoying a cupcake schedule over the next few weeks, it is a certainty that each team will be undefeated for the November 18th showdown. Michigan's defense, one of the top units in America, against Heisman frontrunner Troy Smith and the Buckeye offense had people in these parts passionately debating who will triumph well before Halloween. A friend who works at The Buckeye and Wolverine Shop, an area shop that caters exclusively to the rivalry, informed me that patrons are in an absolute frenzy, making preparations for the game. I can only imagine the fever pitch of area fans when the week of the game finally arrives.
2. This Sunday, the Patriots battle the Colts. It seems the NFL schedule-makers can't get enough of this matchup. Each year, the teams square off, despite realignment in 2002, which separated the two teams into different divisions. The game pits the superhuman talents of Peyton Manning against Tom Terrific and the Pats. Despite Manning's gaudy statistics, he has been oft-criticized for not winning the big game. Golden Boy Tom Brady meanwhile has three Super Bowls to his credit. Manning finally broke the hex the Bill Belichick-coached New England defense had on him last season in a 40-21 Colt triumph. Manning is 2-7 in his career against Bill Belichick's Patriots with a quarterback rating of 86.1, compared with a career quarterback rating of 94.3. Seemingly the two best teams in the AFC, Sunday night could be a preview of the AFC Championship game. It will be fascinating to see how each team responds in what has become a heated rivalry. I will be especially curious to witness the reaction of Peyton Manning should he struggle against a defense that is much improved from last year.
3. Does anybody besides me wonder what happened to the NBA? I loved the NBA when I was younger. Watching Michael Jordan play filled me with unbridled enthusiasm for the sport. Now, I feel like a great majority of basketball fans feel disaffected by the current NBA. The games seem a showcase for individual talent with isolations seemingly every time down the court. I admit that this is only part of the story here because the Pistons and the Spurs have established dominance the last couple of years by playing with a team first attitude. Does the league lack star power? I don't think so. I loving watching LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and other too. But I guess for me, neither player possesses the ability Michael Jordan had for mystifying the crowd. Nor the charisma.
4. Talk about a bizarre Week 8. I was shocked by the play of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Carolina Panthers last week. The Steelers might have extinguished their playoff hopes with a dismal performance in Oakland. After a Week 7 loss to the Bengals, I was willing to forgive the Panthers. I felt like the Panthers had fallen to a talented team on the road. Their loss to the Cowboys at home on Sunday was inexcusable. I guess they will settle for mediocrity in Carolina. How does a defense that appears so dominant on occasion get picked apart by a quarterback (Tony Romo) making his first career start? The Bengals lost another home game that I thought they would win. They squandered numerous chances through the first two and a half quarters, leaving the Falcons the opportunity to make defensive adjustments. Cincinnati rarely plays with any sense of urgency. The Bengals and Panthers need to play to their potential. I was pleasantly surprised with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their defense regrouped splendidly against the Eagles in Philly. I am not sure how much faith one can have in a team that loses by twenty points to Houston. Still it was an impressive win.
5. Is there a better time to be a fan of a baseball team that didn't win the Fall Classic than the week following the World Series? Rumors fill the sports pages about blockbuster trades and potential marquee free agents joining your squad. Conversations around the office go something like this: "I know Nomar spurned us last year but I heard his agent say that he wouldn't rule out coming to Cleveland. You know what his lifetime batting average at Jacobs Field is..." Or "Bonds and Leyland are best friends from back when they were in Pittsburgh together. It's basically a done deal. He is coming to Motown baby..." And then there is the momentous trade or free agent signing rumored, involving the Yankees during the Winter meetings as reported by ESPN's Jason Stark. Personally, I can't wait. I hope the Indians bring back Jody Gerut.
1. I have lived in Northwest Ohio for most of my life and never have I witnessed such excitement and publicity this far in advance of the Ohio State/Michigan game. The Border War, as it is referred to around here, has people fired up like never before. At bars around town, visual displays of support for one team or the other elicits a reaction from most everyone else present. With each team enjoying a cupcake schedule over the next few weeks, it is a certainty that each team will be undefeated for the November 18th showdown. Michigan's defense, one of the top units in America, against Heisman frontrunner Troy Smith and the Buckeye offense had people in these parts passionately debating who will triumph well before Halloween. A friend who works at The Buckeye and Wolverine Shop, an area shop that caters exclusively to the rivalry, informed me that patrons are in an absolute frenzy, making preparations for the game. I can only imagine the fever pitch of area fans when the week of the game finally arrives.
2. This Sunday, the Patriots battle the Colts. It seems the NFL schedule-makers can't get enough of this matchup. Each year, the teams square off, despite realignment in 2002, which separated the two teams into different divisions. The game pits the superhuman talents of Peyton Manning against Tom Terrific and the Pats. Despite Manning's gaudy statistics, he has been oft-criticized for not winning the big game. Golden Boy Tom Brady meanwhile has three Super Bowls to his credit. Manning finally broke the hex the Bill Belichick-coached New England defense had on him last season in a 40-21 Colt triumph. Manning is 2-7 in his career against Bill Belichick's Patriots with a quarterback rating of 86.1, compared with a career quarterback rating of 94.3. Seemingly the two best teams in the AFC, Sunday night could be a preview of the AFC Championship game. It will be fascinating to see how each team responds in what has become a heated rivalry. I will be especially curious to witness the reaction of Peyton Manning should he struggle against a defense that is much improved from last year.
3. Does anybody besides me wonder what happened to the NBA? I loved the NBA when I was younger. Watching Michael Jordan play filled me with unbridled enthusiasm for the sport. Now, I feel like a great majority of basketball fans feel disaffected by the current NBA. The games seem a showcase for individual talent with isolations seemingly every time down the court. I admit that this is only part of the story here because the Pistons and the Spurs have established dominance the last couple of years by playing with a team first attitude. Does the league lack star power? I don't think so. I loving watching LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and other too. But I guess for me, neither player possesses the ability Michael Jordan had for mystifying the crowd. Nor the charisma.
4. Talk about a bizarre Week 8. I was shocked by the play of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Carolina Panthers last week. The Steelers might have extinguished their playoff hopes with a dismal performance in Oakland. After a Week 7 loss to the Bengals, I was willing to forgive the Panthers. I felt like the Panthers had fallen to a talented team on the road. Their loss to the Cowboys at home on Sunday was inexcusable. I guess they will settle for mediocrity in Carolina. How does a defense that appears so dominant on occasion get picked apart by a quarterback (Tony Romo) making his first career start? The Bengals lost another home game that I thought they would win. They squandered numerous chances through the first two and a half quarters, leaving the Falcons the opportunity to make defensive adjustments. Cincinnati rarely plays with any sense of urgency. The Bengals and Panthers need to play to their potential. I was pleasantly surprised with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their defense regrouped splendidly against the Eagles in Philly. I am not sure how much faith one can have in a team that loses by twenty points to Houston. Still it was an impressive win.
5. Is there a better time to be a fan of a baseball team that didn't win the Fall Classic than the week following the World Series? Rumors fill the sports pages about blockbuster trades and potential marquee free agents joining your squad. Conversations around the office go something like this: "I know Nomar spurned us last year but I heard his agent say that he wouldn't rule out coming to Cleveland. You know what his lifetime batting average at Jacobs Field is..." Or "Bonds and Leyland are best friends from back when they were in Pittsburgh together. It's basically a done deal. He is coming to Motown baby..." And then there is the momentous trade or free agent signing rumored, involving the Yankees during the Winter meetings as reported by ESPN's Jason Stark. Personally, I can't wait. I hope the Indians bring back Jody Gerut.
# posted by Nate @ 9:03 PM 
