We did not predict any of the week one games. We were too busy protesting. Bean bags and beer sounded like a better idea than getting our predictions in. We were even late getting our fantasy football team together. It was quite a day for our roster of kickers.

Last year we relied on the crystal ball that was broken several times. Even taping it back together with scotch tape did not help.

However we were totally correct in CANADIAN  FOOTBALL!!!!!  Johnny Football still sucks.

We promise not to protest any more weeks. As working for Nike would completely suck.

OUR FIRST PREDICTION OF THE YEAR: THURSDAY NIGHT WEEK TWO

September 13, 2018

RAVENS AT BENGALS

Both teams coming away with first week wins. The Ravens clobbered the Buffalo Bills. I’m still scratching my head over why the guy from Seinfeld is still the quarterback for the Bills.

Mr. Peterman needs to go back to his day job and sell those Urban sombreros. Meanwhile the Bengals came back and beat the Indianapolis Colts in Andrew Luck’s first start since the injury that kept him out of the whole season last year.

Bengals defense will keep them in the game against the Ravens. I loved the running game last week that the Bengals unleashed against the Colts. The only thing is, Green is still the one man wrecking crew in the receiving game. Plus he has fumble issues.  I think Ravens defense will make the Bengals one dimensional and be able to limit the Red Rifle to only a few scores.

I think Joe Flacco gets the job done tonight against the Red Rifle. His new weapons on offense will prevail over the Bengal defense. I think drafting Lamar Jackson put a pep in Joe Flacco’s step. Like a dog with new life after avoiding being put down by the vet. Not sure how long it will last but the Ravens will be 2-0 after tonight.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

Maybe Ryan Pace has the biggest balls of them all when it comes to GMs in the NFL. Maybe he is the type of person that will put all his assets on one number in Vegas and let it ride. This weekend the Chicago Bears made a bold move as they traded for Khalil Mack, a hold out and one of the best defensive players in the league. Most people think Ryan Pace got fleeced by the 49ers just to move up one spot to get their quarterback, Mitch Trubisky. Extra picks the Bears needed were now being used by the 49ers, however the Bears think they have their franchise quarterback. This weekend it took two number one picks to get Mack away from the Raiders. You’re not out of the woods yet as they still have to back up a few brinks trucks to Mack’s bank and pay the man a huge amount of money. The reason why he is holding out.

The Chicago Bears always had a face on their defense. They were known around the league as Monsters of the Midway. Guys Like Dick Butkus harrassed quarterbacks and may have bitten some line-men’s arms and threw dirt in their eyes. Then the eyes of Mike Singletary. Something out of a Superman comic book with the eyes blazing as he comes straight at the running back to crush him to the turf. Then just recently, HALL OF FAMER Brian Urlacher. He used his speed to tackle you on the opposite side of the field and chase you down for dear life until your body made an imprint in the ground and ended up like one of those Police sketches. In the movie The Program, the defensive player Alvin Mack is asked what his job is.

His answer is simple “KILL THE QUARTERBACK.”

Getting Khalil Mack finally solves that problem the Bears have had maybe going back to the Richard Dent days. Mack has already accumulated 40.5 sacks in the league. Finally  somebody that can kill the quarterback.

Without Mack, the Bears were pretty talented last year under Vic Fangio, the defensive coordinator. The Bears got rid of Fox and company and only held on to Vic as his defense was top ten in the league last year. Last year’s  MVP of the defensive was Akiem Hicks who can collapse the middle of the pocket on the defensive line. Finally Vic turned Kyle Fuller into a shut down cornerback as he was heading to be cut after last year, if his play did not improve. Then you have veteran Danny Trevathan, a former big piece of that stellar Broncos defense a few years back. He is a hard hitting linebacker that can pop anybody that enters his zone. With all these names and the flashes of Leonard Floyd who now with the arrival of Mack has some pressure taken off him. Then the number one draft pick from Georgia, Roquan Smith. His speed and his tools he could develop faster with Mack in the line up and play his game and not have to try to do everything. This defense now has to be in the top 5 without asking any questions. In the toughest division in football being the Central, quarterbacks like Rodgers, Cousins, and Stafford are not able now to circle the Bears on the schedule as two wins automatically.

The Bears are going down a similar path of the Philadelphia Eagles and the LA Rams with the young controllable quarterback. Then spending their money on their top defensive players. Eagles have beaten Brady and the Evil Empire Patriots and are looking to repeat. Meanwhile the Rams went from worst to first and were in the playoffs and look to get further this upcoming season. The Bears surrounded Trubisky with weapons this off season so he can get better after throwing to the worst cast of receivers in the history of the game last season. The new weapons will help Mitch Trubisky develop, but a shut down defense will help a young quarterback more.  Mitch Trubisky now can make mistakes and not feel like he is the only person to rectify the mistake. The defense led by Mack can overcome an interception and Mitch Trubisky will feel like he’s still in the game because of having a shut down defense.

Ryan Pace’s future will depend on these two moves. Last season drafting Mitch Trubisky and this trade for Khalil Mack. They’ve given up a lot to get these two guys. If these gambles do not pay out, heads will roll at Halas Hall.  Can Mack be the savior? With the big contract coming will he be able to live up to that kind of pressure and scrutiny? We have seen flashes of Mitch Trubisky however he has not shown us anything to say he is the Bears quarterback for the next ten years. What about a sophomore jinx?  That is the job of GM, sometimes you have to roll the dice on something that can totally blow up in your face. The Bulls dynasty took a chance on Denis Rodman and that extra baggage led to three more titles. Then the White sox in 2005 signed AJ Pierzynski who had a checkered past but was a big part of snapping an 88 year drought on the south side of town. Mack comes in without any dirty laundry. Just a player that bleeds football. A very rich player that bleeds football today.

Like the AC DC song, WHOSE GOT BIG BALLS, Ryan Pace might have the biggest balls of them all. The Bears have been playing it safe or making stupid moves over the last few decades. The Cutler contract and the extending the contract making him the highest paid quarterback in the land still makes my head hurt. I don’t know if Mitch Trubisky will be better than Houston’s quarterback Watson. Or Mahomes in Kansas City, but Pace knew he needed a quarterback and got one of the top ones in last year’s draft. Chicago has not seen a legit quarterback since Jim McMahon. If Trubisky plays well and with the new coaching staff I like this Mack deal. It could be the one move to get the Bears back in the playoffs. In 2020 perhaps the Bears will be the Superbowl champions, something that we have not forgotten since the ’85 Bears, who are still well known and loved in these parts.

In the 2014 NFL draft, a defensive stud was available at number five. A guy that could wreck havoc on opposing offenses. At number 5 the Raiders snatched up Khalil Mack, whom some say should have been the number one pick. Houston picked Clowney who has been impressive at times however riddled with injuries. Rams picked an offensive tackle who is not even with the team anymore. The Jaguars picked Bortles at quarterback and he is not even good enough to be my back-up quarterback in fantasy football. Bills should have picked Mack especially since he was grown right in your back yard as he attended Buffalo University. You knew him, you watched him, and you still went Watkins. In the end result, then you traded him. Mack is a hold out because he wants more money. Chucky aka Jon Gruden and the Raiders might not be able to cover the bill as they went on a spending spree in the off season. This stupidity now you have to trade him if you can’t convince him to return at the money he was making. The Monsters of the Midway could make a huge statement if they can swoop in and get Mack.

The Chicago Bears are known for their defenses over the years. Brian Urlacher is a recent member of  the hall of fame. Many years as the face of the Bears defense. The ’85 Bears, the best defense of all time. Before that Dick Butkus. Last year’s Bears defense was in the top ten on a crappy team. Now the Bears have a new head coach in Matt Nagy. Who is offensive minded. They retained the defensive coach from last year from the Fox era as Vic Fangio will once again lead the ground troops into battle. They added more pieces to the offense, than the defense in the off season. Getting Mack would be a nice Christmas gift for Vic Fangio’s defense who is missing rushing the quarterback and a face like Brian Urlacher who could lead the defense for the next 7 to ten years.

With lots of young pieces trying to get established, what a better way to land a player like Khalil Mack to help take the pressure off them. The Bears top draft Roquan Smith would blossom quicker from a guy like Mack on defense. Mack could take double maybe even triple teams that could free up a speedy Smith. Then it would take pressure off Leonard Floyd, another edge rusher who the Bears are trying to get him to carry the whole load. The results have been a few injuries, a recent one last preseason game in Denver.  I don’t care how they spin it, but the Bears need a pass rusher as they threw away the veterans they had from last year who were decent. Mack already has 40 sacks on his resume since he came into the league. That’s a man that can get to the quarterback.  Plus I like the idea of Akiem Hicks making his push through the middle and then Mack coming from the outside. Watch out Mr. Rogers you will be crushed. Then you have, if healthy, Danny Trevathan at linebacker who can put a lick on you. Always lots of ifs when talking Bears. The Mack move would make this defense into the top five and they will need one in what some experts are calling the toughest division in football.

I would give up a number one draft pick to the Raiders to get Mack. I know it will take multiple picks to land him. I don’t trust the Bears using their number one picks in the draft so I’d rather throw them to a sure thing. Plus the Bears have plenty of cap space to fit Khalil Mack right in and make him a  happy camper with a few brinks trucks of gold. Matt Nagy comes from the Andy Reid of coaching. Look at Doug Pederson who just coached the Eagles to a Superbowl championship, a former Andy Reid guy. I think Matt Nagy could develop Mitch Trubisky into a good quarterback and I’m excited as a fan to see an actual offense in Chicago. We see one every 17 years like Haley’s comet. Plus if Trubisky goes through some growing pains, the best cure is a shut down defense in which a team can overcome mistakes by the guy behind center. Yes the Bears need to make it a Mack tonight.

It’s time for the Bears to pull the plug on the Kevin White experiment. Chalk it up to a Ryan Leaf type of bust. Time for Ryan Pace to break up with his very first girlfriend. Quit falling for Kevin White razzle dazzle of which he has none. Thursday night a simple curl route on second and one Kevin White could not haul it in. Right through his hands. I know you can not judge a player on one play. I know it is only one preseason game.  But we have been up and down this road repeatedly.  It’s time to bring Kevin White in back of the shed and put his Chicago Bears football career to sleep.

In 2015, the Bears knew they were getting damaged goods when they drafted Kevin White in the first round. You wonder are these the same people that looked at Cameron Meredith injury in the off season and passed on him. Which the Saints looked at it and they thought he was making progress and right now Cameron is practicing with New Orleans. In 2016, Kevin White came back with a bust out year catching 19 balls for a measly 187 yards. This done in 4 games and he was done for the rest of the year with an injury. Then 2017 season was 2 catches for a whopping 6 yards and he called it a year. In three years he played in 6 games out of 48 in which we know the Bears never have any extra games such as playoffs. Kevin White does not have that burst of speed.  Plus he can not break tackles after the catch. Why does Kevin White continue to get chances?

Teams that make the playoffs usually have quite a few first round picks contributing on the field. Ryan Pace drafted Roquan Smith in 2018 and he is a hold out. They gave away the farm to move up one spot to land Mitchell Trubisky in 2017. The jury still out on his play. Trubisky has some flashes but we find out more this season if he is going to be the number one quarterback for the Bears for a decade. If Kevin White was not a number one pick, he would have been cut a long time ago. He would be hanging out with Johnny Football in the Montreal scene in Canada playing football for those Allouettes.

I know the Bears bumbled the Cameron Meredith situation. I see Drew Brees this season throwing a few touchdowns to the former Bear. If they were going to keep one of their receivers last year in a very weak group, they should have resigned Dontrelle Inman.  Inman had 25 catches 343 yards with one touchdown and makes a very nice tall target especially at the goal line. The Bears are thinking if they cut Kevin White and he finds another team, he will then take off. Yes, Chicago sports has been repeatedly burned by  players leaving and then finding their groove in another town. That is the chance you should take instead of wasting everyone’s time and praying that Kevin White merges from the ashes behind the Shed. If the hold out goes longer with Smith and if he gets an injury early on. Plus if Mitchell  does not take a step forward with this new offense and new coaching staff, the locals will be out out with torches and pitch forks looking to put Ryan Pace in the  middle of the town square. Maybe Pace should be also taken behind the wood shed. Maybe the Bears can get a two for one price.

 

 

When a team wins a championship in a sport they usually have some superstars on their team. Many championship teams need role players, unsung heroes. Guys that step up and play beyond their own career stat line. Every championship team fights through the injury bug. However you always see some young guy or even a wily veteran on these teams play out of their minds to help the team .  It’s like they feed off the way the team is playing as they know something special is going on and they want to be part of it.

In the strike shortened season of the NHL in 2013, I remember one guy that stood out the most that played out of his mind. Since the strike shortened the regular season, I remembered the NHL scheduled all the games in bunches. When you’re playing ice hockey every night it gets very exhausting as one position especially the man between the pipes the goaltender. Blackhawks already had a number one goalie in Corey Crawford. However the number two that year was Ray Emery. A wily veteran who came in had the season to remember as he went 17-1. I almost watched every game that season and he started off 10-0 behind the net before he got tagged with a loss. That was the year the Black Hawks came out the gate and won a whole bunch of games in a row to set a NHL record without losing a contest from the start of the season.

Like Billy Joel’s song only the good die young as Ray Emery was found dead last Sunday at the young age of 35 years old. Ray was a Hamilton native and was visiting friends. The group decided to take an early swim. They decided to head to the Royal Hamilton yacht club in the very wee hours of the morning perhaps to watch the sun rise. Ray plunged into the waters of the harbor and did not resurface. His body was found at some point in the afternoon. When you hear of people passing that young, it makes you think about how life is so precious.

Ray Emery was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2001. Before he came to the Black Hawks, he had a great career between the pipes. In 2007, he led the Senators to the Stanley Cup only to be ousted by the Ducks that year. He played in 287 games in 11 seasons total. He played for the Senators, Ducks, Black Hawks and then went to the Flyers. In 2007, he had a bout with goaltender Marty Biron of the Buffalo Sabres. Both players scrapped as they drop the gloves in one of the most memorable goaltender fights of all-time. Then during that melee he also took on the Sabres forward, Andrew Peter. During the whole bout, Emery was smiling and chuckling to himself having a good ole time. Emery actually was a two time Bill Masterton Memorial trophy finalist which is dedicated to hockey sportsmanship.

In 2010 Emery was diagnosed with avascular necrosis.He fought through a few hip injuries. He had that great work ethic… first one to practice and last to leave. When he did help the Black Hawks that year win the cup, he posted 1.94 goals against average which earned him the Vezina trophy which many back goalies do not even sniff this trophy. His hard work and efforts landed him a better payday with the Flyers. The Black Hawks had their hands tied with the salary cap and no way could be able to afford Emery. After the Flyers, Ray Emery headed to the AHL and played between the pipes for the Toronto Marlies. Hip injuries got worse and he eventually had to hang up the skates.

Forever Ray Emery will be remembered for his play in my world as a Black Hawk.  He goes down on that list of all those Black Hawks that were let go during their dynasty run because of the salary cap. Those great Bull runs had Steve Kerr and John Paxton coming off the bench and being sharp shooters. The White Sox playoff march in 2005.  The longest inning of all-time in the playoffs, it seemed to me. Orlando Hernandez aka “EL DUQUE” got out of a bases loaded jam against the Red Sox. Ray Emery is one of those unsung heroes of Chicago sports.  In 2013, watching both goalies night after night rotate and just become a wall for the opponents while Kane and Toews piled up goals and wins for the team was something very special. Ray Emery will always be in the hearts of all the Black Hawk fans.

 

It was Red Sox nation that called their hated rival, the Damn Yankees, the EVIL EMPIRE. They would throw money at the high level free agents like they printed their own. Then Boston saw their own football team, the Patriots, pick up big names every year to help Tom Brady collect Super bowl trophies. It goes on in every sport where the rich get richer. In the NBA, the Golden State Warriors look like they are in no rush to stop winning championships. You would wonder when they got Kevin Durant, how they could fit another superstar on this dream team. Lebron picks the Lakers. The Warriors respond with a CHECK MATE  and sign DeMarcus Cousins. Looks like the Warriors trumped the King once more.

DeMarcus Cousins has been a star player for years with the Sacramento Kings. Yes’ Sacramento still has a team. Those Chris Weber days where the Kings should of taken down the Lakers in the playoffs. Had them on the ropes but Kobe and the big man prevailed to eliminate the Kings. Only time I believe watching NBA basketball that I saw the Kings a few seasons that they actually were a good team. Now they are crappy like they have been most of their existence. They had DeMarcus Cousins, however he was a giant headache and they traded him to the Pelicans. Last year DeMarcus Cousins was still playing great basketball however he suffered an injury. This injury was a set back in his free agent year as he might of had more offers if he was totally healthy.

However it might of been a blessing when the Warriors came calling. The Warriors have won three titles in four tries. They still have a talented team with or without Demarcus Cousins. They have brought back Kevin Durant who was a huge addition they added a few seasons ago. They extended Steve Kerr as their head coach. What else do you need? A center. Only position they had over the four finals that has been a rotating position with someone new, someone old or plain someone else. Now you add Demarcus Cousins and it’s like the fabulous five. This starting five the Warriors will have, could be the best of all time.

The biggest question is, will DeMarcus Cousins become a giant headache for the Warriors? Could DeMarcus bring down the Golden Machine from voicing his displeasure from not getting the ball enough? Will his slow play fit in the fast paced game of the Warriors? Steve Kerr has played for Phil Jackson. When the Bulls added Denis Rodman, Phil Jackson was able to handle his type of personality and Steve Kerr witnessed how Jackson handled things.  I see the same things translating through Steve Kerr from one of greatest coaches of all-time.  Plus veterans like Curry and Durant should be able to handle Cousins if he gets out of line. Cousins could adjust his game to adapt to the Warriors’ speed of their play.

Overall, bringing in Cousins is a huge move and it should win another title for the Warriors. Cousins only took a one year deal. Which is a win win for the Warriors. If Cousins does not work out, they could cut him or bench him. However for DeMarcus Cousins, this is a big opportunity to expand his bank account. This one year deal is only a five million dollar deal. If DeMarcus plays like the all star that he is, it can earn him riches next season when more teams will have cap space and more teams will be out looking to spend big money at Menards. In DeMarcus Couisns’ world, he could help the Warriors win a championship, then next year he can earn the big bucks and try to knock out the Warriors. Perhaps join Lebron James and the Lakers. Oh that NBA drama you gotta love. If only they can improve the play on the floor and actually make a traveling call.

King James is heading to California.

CALIFORNIA ACCORDING TO ARCHIE BUNKER

“California is full of nuts and fruits. Every fruit is a little nutty and every nut is a little fruity.”

“God is going to dump California. He’s just waiting for the last of the crazies to get there.”

It’s another new chapter in Lebron James’ world. It involves leaving Cleveland for the second time. Lebron opted out of his contract, became a free agent and now is heading to the LA. Lakers, not the other team in town. The Lakers will be his third team. This will be another cast of characters. More players will be wheeled and dealt as the King will take his throne in pursuit of another championship while practically printing money in a major market. He will be looking to create another power house in LA like he did in Miami. He made up with the Cleveland fans by getting a team that actually beat the Warriors down three games to one in a best out of seven series.

The second time he left Cleveland he obviously did some growing up. Last time he held an hour long show to make the decision on national television to tell the world he was going to south beach. Him and his friends got together, hatched out a plan and before you knew it, his toes were swishing through sand at the beach. Is this second time leaving Cleveland a stab in the back to Cavalier fans? Is the one championship enough to quiet them as he walks out of their lives for good?  Do you think the Cavaliers had unfinished business as they have been to the finals and lost to Warriors more times than they won? Who do you blame? Lebron not sticking around? Management for not setting him up with enough weapons?

Why the Lakers? The present Lakers team does not have enough talent to beat the Warriors or Rockets and that’s with Lebron.. Plus now you have moved to the Western Conference which is much harder to get to the finals in. Lebron and the Cavaliers had it easy in the Eastern Conference with all the watered down teams, half of them can’t even float to save their own lives. Does Magic Johnson have a plan? Will Lebron be GM as in Cleveland and recruit players? He texted Kevin Durant to come to the Lakers when he opted out of his contract. However Kevin gladly resigned with the Warriors as he knows where his bread is buttered.

Imagine the Lakers and Lebron James have a plan. Like when the Cylons came back with their plan in Battlestar Galactica. The Lakers signed Lebron for a 4 year deal. Lebron has 153.3 reasons why he will stick to the LA plan which comes out to 153.3 million dollars over those 4 years. Plus the Lakers are a huge market unlike Cleveland. Space Jam 2 is in the works because another thing LA has is Hollywood. Plus being in a top market, a well known team like the Lakers will have him like Scrooge McDuck swimming in pools of money. I think the Lakers will surround Lebron with young talent. It might not be year one, but at some point over this 4 year deal, LA Lakers will give the Warriors a run for their money.

Cleveland fans are probably walking around the streets like zombies. They are probably angry. However they are happy looking at the 2016 championship the Cavaliers brought home mainly because of Lebron James. They continue to pace around the arena with mixed feelings inside. Do you feel betrayed by the man who ripped your heart out of you once? Are they comfortably numb feelings as fans of Cleveland got to see a 52 year sports drought in their own city end because King James came back and saved the town? The Clevlanders still have the Indians. Hey, the Browns I predict will win six games this season. That would end their perfect football season of winning nothing last year except a delightful parade to celebrate a perfect record.

If I was living in Cleveland I would be pissed off. I don’t think I would have welcomed him back the first time, with that terrible way of making a choice of what team you wanted to play for. Many moons ago I liked the Lakers. From Magic Johnson and James Worthy and the pilot in Airplane that had that great hook shot over. I think he went by Roger Over. Then the Lakers had the rapist and the big man that could not hit a free throw and they went on and won multiple championships. I did not care for Kobe and Shaq and the former Bulls’ coach Phil Jackson. This will be another Lakers team I will hate with Lebron always leaving when the going gets tough. He’s like the kid that takes the ball and goes home because it’s his ball and he’s mad because it’s not going his way. Lebron would abandon ship with the women and children. While Michael Jordon would find a way to still beat you by patching up the ship while it sank. I will say Archie Bunker is correct that California has just landed the KING NUT.

Some believed the Bulls were going to make some noise in the 2018 NBA draft. Some believed they were going to trade up to get one of the top players on the board. Many thought they were going to be able to land Michael Porter Jr.  The Chicago Bulls had the number seven draft pick and they played it safe in picking Wendell Carter Junior from Duke. It’s a safe pick that is indeed not sexy. Most teams will draft the best player overall. While some teams will draft players at positions they need. The Bulls were in need of a center and that’s why they scooped up Carter Jr instead of taking a gamble on Michael Porter Jr. who could be one of the best players in the whole entire draft. Did the Bulls drop the ball not taking Michael Porter Jr. ?

Michael Porter Jr. did eventually get picked at number 14. He will join the Denver Nuggets and most likely be red shirted his first year in the NBA. Michael Porter Junior has shown the world his talents since high school. He is a gifted and very talented basketball player. However his problem is he suffered a back injury being on the court playing for University of Missouri. In November, he had an invasive back surgery called L-3-L-4 microdiscectomy to treat herniated discs in the back. Michael Porter Jr. did return to the court March 8th in the quarter finals of the SEC tourney and also played in the NCAA March Madness tournament. He played In two games and he came off the bench only for precautionary reasons. His Senior year in high school he averaged 36.2 points per game along with 13.6 rebounds leading his team to a perfect season. The kid racked up all the awards from Mr. Basketball USA to McDonald’s All American. Plus what he did in the Nike Summit leading the USA team over the World Select team scoring 19 points in 23 minutes. The achievements on his basketball resume go on like Santa’s naughty and nice list.

The Bulls and other teams passed on this kid because they believe that his back probably will not hold up in the NBA. The Bulls brass are probably still being haunted by all of the Derrick Rose injuries he suffered after coming into the league like gang busters and winning an MVP award in the process. Both Gar and Pax wake up in cold sweats at night thinking about all the multiple Rose comeback attempts that fell short. Perhaps the Bulls brass’ jobs are on the line and if the Porter Jr. experiment did not get out of the lab and blew up, things could get ugly for them. The Bulls and other teams will always say they did not like the doctor reports on Michael Porter Jr’s back and they will have their excuse for the future on why they passed on him.

I think the Bulls should have gambled and taken Michael Porter Jr. First of all, the Bulls are in a rebuild during which you have time to sit this kid for a year and help him get his back stronger with right training and diet to take on the long grind of a NBA season. Second, this draft was very weak with only a few players that can make an impact right away. Plus you have a few years that no one is getting pass the Warriors or Lebron’s newer team. With only a handful of teams that are above the rest you have time to tinker and gamble to come up with a future squad that can wreck havoc over the league for years to come. Plus, I do not believe John Paxson and Gar Foreman’s jobs are on the line. Working for the Bulls you can hold on to those jobs like the pope. You do need guys like Wendell Carter Jr.  for all the dirty work they do. I love those types of grinders that get the rebounds and play defense. However you do need a super star that can score anytime he wants to. In this league you need more than one. Will the Nuggets rise up in the west with Michael Porter Jr. leading the charge? Will the Bulls and other teams have egg on their face like the Portland Trail Blazers when they passed on Michael Jordan? If the Bulls did draft Michael Porter Jr. they would have found a way to shoot themselves in the foot the way they operate things.  The Bulls brass is running the organization like a lemonade stand.  Porter would have been the biggest lemon if Paxton and Foreman got their hands on this kid.  Now at least he has hope for a bright future with the Nuggets not suiting up in Chicago.

Washington D.C. has not had something exciting happen to their town in a very long long time. Eight long years with Obama and his care packages. The battle royal with Hillary versus Trump as they fought with each other, biting one another. Scratching and pulling hair like two school kids at the bike rack after school. Then the latest tragedy of Trump in the White house. With him meddling into all the sports leagues. Such as throwing big time fuel on Kaeepernick and his kneeling for the National anthem. This caused backlash across the league. It could have been a subject that would disappear on it’s own. Now it’s become more slimy and gruesome, Now you have championship teams boycotting going to the White House to meet that despicable man who is running this country.  These are the dark days of Washington D.C. I can’t even see the local badminton intramural team coming for a visit.

Besides the raunchy smell of politicians in D.C.. the sports landscape has not fared well either. Georgetown still suffers from the Princeton upset in March Madness years and years ago. Then the Redskins have been nothing since the 1990s. Only topics are a name change and getting rid of the Redskins who have played like deadskins. Besides not being able to strike a multiple deal with a franchise quarterback, less of topic to chat about since Kirk Cousins finally departed the DC area and headed to Minnesota. Georgetown and the Redskins are dinosaurs as their history was the talk of our capital. Now they are old clunkers found on the road dead.

The Wizards, Nationals and the Capitals are the three teams that are talked about. However with all the talent these teams have acquired over the years, how come when it comes to the playoffs, they have just fallen on their faces? The Nationals have been a pick to win the World Series every year. Even with Dusty Baker sucking on his swizzle stick, people thought it’s coming soon. The pitchers. Bryce Harper, one of the best young players in the game. However it’s the same old story, the Nationals create mistakes they can’t overcome and watch the Cubs move on to the next round. Dusty gets fired but they went cheap and replaced him with Davey Martinez. Which it could work well. However with Bryce Harper’s ticket out of town coming after this season, it could set their team back a few years. Could be sent to the scrap yard with the Skins. Same with the Wizards who can’t get past round two in the Eastern conference which is very weak. I think people talk more about the few years Michael Jordan came out of retirement and played for the Wiz, over the current teams. Can the Wizards add a player that could put them over the top to be able to get them to the next level? If Lebron James leaves Cleveland, the conference could  be wide open. Could the Wizards beat anybody representing the West? Or do they need to wait until the Warriors break up the band. This could be another Washington franchise heading to the junk pile.

Something finally changed and it was on the ice, not the field when the Capitals finally overcame the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was like finally beating the bully that has tormented you for years. No Capital team during the Ovechkin era has made it past round two. Alex Ovechkin is the Capitals superstar like Bryce Harper is for the Nationals. After the Penguins, the Capitals rolled through the playoffs and made it to the Stanley Cup to face the Las Vegas Golden Knights who have existed only for one season. The Golden Knights won the first game. So you’re thinking more dark clouds forming over the Capital. Thinking a team who was not a team at this time a year ago is going to make history. Now you will be on the bad side of history. However something changed and the Capitals prevailed and won four games in a row. Which won them their first Stanley cup. Finally a Russian helping the city win something that is good for the city. Now we wait to see if the team in Trump’s backyard, stops over for tea at the White House.

 

 

The Charlestown Chiefs and the Syracuse Bulldogs have been going at it again. This time it’s not their usual rumble on the ice to win the championship.

Both teams have squared off again. However they have been predicting playoff outcomes in the NHL playoffs.

First round both teams were perfect with their predictions.

BULL DOGS 4

CHIEFS       4  after first period

STATS:

BULL DOGS GOALS (PREDICTIONS) : DR.HOOK (BRUINS), OGILTHORPE (LIGHTNING), SCREAMING BUFFALO (CAPITALS) ROSS MAD DOG (PENGUINS)

CHIEFS GOALS (PREDICTIONS) THE HANSON BROTHERS (SHARKS), DUNLOP (PREDATORS), BRADEN (GOLDEN KNIGHTS), KILLER CARLSON (JETS)

Second round both teams switched conferences.

BULL DOGS TOOK THE LEAD

AFTER SECOND PERIOD

BULL DOGS 6

CHIEFS 5

STATS:

BULL DOG GOALS (PREDICTIONS) LUSSIER (GOLDEN KNIGHTS) GILMOUR (JETS)

CHIEFS GOALS (PREDICTIONS) LEMIEUX (LIGHTNING)

JOHNNY UPTOWN MISSED IN HIS PREDICTION.

THIRD PERIOD

Chiefs need to go perfect and hope the Bull Dogs faltered

NOT THE CASE

BOTH TEAMS SWITCH CONFERENCES LIKE SWITCHING NETS AFTER EACH PERIOD OR ROUND.

BULL DOGS BRING IN LAST MINUTE GOON DAVE SCHULTZ AKA THE HAMMER AND HE PUTS THE TEAM UP BY TWO GOALS (TWO PREDICTIONS)

STATS:

BULL DOGS GOALS (PREDICTIONS) THE HAMMER (CAPITALS)

THE CHIEFS WERE HELD SCORELESS. MORRIS WANCHK’S PREDICTION JETS OVER GOLDEN KNIGHTS DID NOT WORK OUT

THE FINAL

BULL DOGS 7

CHIEFS 5 FINAL

BULL DOGS GO PERFECT IN THEIR PREDICTIONS TO OUST THE CHIEFS 7-5 IN PREDICTION OF NHL PAYOFFS AND WIN THE FEDERAL PINT

SINCE THE CHIEFS COULD NOT SEND IT TO OVER TIME WE HAVE A STANLEY CUP WINNER PREDICTION

NO WORRIES IT’S  BROPHY FROM THE PRESIDENTS WHO WILL PREDICT THE STANLEY CUP WINNER

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VERSUS LAS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

JUST DON’T CHECK BROPHY AGAINST THE BOARDS IF HE’S WRONG. HE’S DRUNK AND HE MIGHT PISS HIMSELF ON A HARD HIT.

BROPHY HAS PREDICTED GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN SIX (4-2)