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Equilibrium

A couple of weeks ago, I was watching an NFL pregame show, and in between the usual banter about RG III, Tim Tebow, and the Eagles (just three things in the NFL people need to shut up about), there was a comment that caught my attention. One of the announcers noted that the AFC had only two teams with a record above .500, the Ravens and Texans, who coincidentally would play later that day. So at first glance, as he noted, it appears the 'balance of power' has shifted to the NFC, in part due to NFC teams playing in larger markets (which is also a ridiculous statement).  Anyway, I'd like to fast forward two weeks and shit on this dude. As the standings sit today, both conferences have 7 teams with records above .500. So, clearly, fuck him. However, this announcer has two good excuses at this point. First, he made his comments during week 7, meaning most teams had played a total of 6 games, which despite being enough of a sample to judge the balance of power in the leag
Recent posts

On NCAA Football Rankings

First of all, let me start off by saying I fucking love college football. I can watch 18-22 year old men run up and down the field all day (please tell me how gay you think that is in the comments). And I am more than blessed to have been able to enjoy the greatness of the Rose Bowl for every UCLA home game this season. But to sit here and pretend like I am satisfied with the way we rank our college football teams in this country is something I cannot do. The root of my frustration with the system in place finally offered up a poignant example this season, just in time for my newfound fandom with the UCLA Bruins to be ripped out from under me by the bloodthirsty devils that rank our nation's college football teams. The story starts in the beginning of September: As I sat at home for the month of September, awaiting the inevitable start of my college career, I had plenty of time to analyze, read, and hypothesize every aspect of the college football landscape. After 2 weeks of UC

Let's Start it Up

The original inspiration for this blog was my cousin, a man who himself, during college, wrote a blog about sports. However, unlike the analytical master I have proven to be during my tenure as a blogger, he relied, perhaps to better results, on his wit and vulgarity. This lead, unfortunately, to his inability to continue his blogging career, once he got a stable job, and had a necessity for a clean image. When I began my writing, I had a similar dilemma, as I hoped my blog would look good on college applications, and thus was unable to use much vulgar language. Well now that that whole process is over, I'd like to welcome you all back, and get some things of my chest: Fuck those motherfucking Detroit Tigers , you goddamn abusers of the MLB system. A team should get like a 1-0 lead in a series for having a regular season record 10 games better than the other team. Because my Oakland A's were more than fucking deserving of an ALCS birth this year. So Justin Verlander can s

When the Stars Line Up

From 2010 to 2011, Alex Smith gained one receiver, Braylon Edwards . The 49ers backfield gained rookie Kendall Hunter , and the defense acquired rookie linebacker Aldon Smith . There have been some other changes to the 49er roster, but can these fairly insignificant pickups really account for a 9-1 record in week 10, after going 6-10 last year and missing the playoffs in the lowly NFC West? The real change, although it is hard to prove, is coach Jim Harbaugh . Initially, I will note, that other than play calling and technique, I find very little sympathy for people who argue that coaches really make a significant difference in the NFL. And I know that I'll get shit for saying that, but let it go for the time being. After all, one can hardly call Harbaugh a revolutionary college coach, after he basically one the lottery with Andrew Luck and Toby Gerhart leading the Cardinal offense. So for now, imagine Jim Harbaugh has not really accomplished anything. So what makes him such a

Sympathy

 I am a faithful fan of the California Golden Bears . I watch Bears football through thick (and it has been very thick as of late), and thin. But when they lose, and subsequently lose bowl game hopes, it begins to become tough to care about any college football. Whereas an Alabama Crimson Tide fan can constantly be involved in their teams season and games, I am forced to continuously hope that Stanford will lose, simply out of spite. And as I have watched my fanhood wither this season, so has my interest in college football games other than #1 v. #2 matchups... Until last night. At around 3:30 (on the west coast), I texted an acquaintance of mine: " Wisconsin Michigan St ? ur house?" At this point I will concede that this was a high-profile game, and being a sports fan, it does make sense that I would be interested in this game, but it was my subconscious Badger disposition that struck me as odd as the game unfolded. I found myself hoping that Russell Wilson would make

Don't Worry, Nothing's Changed

So, despite the lockout and many other off-season ordeals, the largest change in the NFL seems to be that crazy kick return rule. The average dim-witted NFL analysts was shocked to learn that despite the ball being placed 5 yards up from last years 35-yard line, there were 8 kick return touchdowns in week 1. Of course, in any week, 8 kick return touchdowns is significant, but those extra five yards, I chose to argue, make no difference. So let's start by looking at a couple of examples: So I know these are both Percy Harvin , who is an amazing kick returner, but let's look at one other similarity between these two plays: Harvin beats the last defender with his incredible speed with about 30 yards to go before the end zone. Thus, would it have really mattered if the ball was 10, 20, even 30 yards closer to the offense. I say no. I for one, understand the idea of a shorter kickoff. The many blindside hits and concussions caused by kickoffs are dangerous to the sport, and

We're Back

Yes, I realize it has been almost two months since I have posted on this blog. Yes, I realize plenty of important things have gone on in the world of sports that I could have chosen to write about in this time; but, as professional basketball and football both chose to take breaks this summer, I simply followed in their footsteps. And as the NFL starts today, with many people having already forgotten about the recent lockout, I hope my hiatus can be as easily forgotten. Thus, let's take a moment to talk about this first NFL Sunday. In incredibly American fashion, the NFL begins it's season today, the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The vast majority of games have already been started,and it's odd to see which teams have already made statements. My absolute favorite outcome of a game today is the Ravens 35-7 romping of the Steelers. Although I was unable to see the game, I know that anytime these two teams play, a defensive battle ensues. Yet, somehow, today, the Steelers ju