Sunday, January 20, 2008
Nevada Caucus
I participated in the Democratic Caucus yesterday - I didn't ask where Sen. Lieberman's section (as I had planned) was since there was a long registration line that was delaying the start. Like me, most of the attendees wanted to get in and get out. We were happy to be patient - just hopeful anytime there was an indication that we could turn in our ballot cards. The 11:30 am start time - not as good of a choice as the Republican's 8:00 am start time. There was some confusion with the process (NV has traditionally been a primary state) but we were done before 1 pm. At the site that I went to, Obama had the majority of the turnout. The number of Edwards supporters was barely larger than Kucinich's. So I can't see him remaining in the race much longer, despite his insistence on participating in the primary/caucus of all 50 states.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Colts
Did Tony Dungy (and the rest of the Colts) look how the Patriots approached the December meaningless games (once home-field advantage was clinched)? Did they remember what happened in 2005 when they backed off? (Lost 21-18 at home to Pittsburgh in first playoff game) Did they remember what happened last year when they had to play hard through ALL 16 games of the regular season to get the #3 seed so they could host the AFC Championship Game if New England was the opponent? (um, defeated NE at home, won Super Bowl).
Apparently not. The Colts lost to a Charger team the struggled to beat 1-dimensional Tennessee at home the week before. The Chargers best 3 offensive players were hobbled. TE Antonio Gates played the whole game with a broken toe. RB LaDanian Tomlinson missed the last 2+ quarters. QB Philip Rivers missed the 4th quarter (though he was still competing against the fans in the 4th).
Peyton Manning led the Colts quickly into the Red Zone after the Chargers took the lead in the 4th quarter. On the 3rd down play, he threw to the wrong guy though. He tried to hit Joseph Addai at the 7 - but Addai was covered. TE Dallas Clark was uncovered at the goal line on the left side - would have bean an easy TD. (A great feature of HD DVR is being able to watch live action a second time and focus on what you want to, not being limited to what the announcers focus on - they never showed Clark uncovered near the goal line). I think the Colts saw it - Clark ran the same pattern on 4th down and was open again - but Charger DL Shawne Merriman was in the backfield so quickly that Manning's only option was to his right - where Clark AND WR Reggie Wayne weren't.
I don't think Dungy's coming back - otherwise the Colts wouldn't have named his successor publicly. I've read sections of his book - he truly seems to be a great man, but if he stays, for the Colts' sake, I hope he watches how Bill Belichick and the Patriots responded to losing the 21-3 lead to the Colts last year. That is the #1 reason why the Patriots attempted to score TDs on EVERY possession. The worst the Patriots could achieve with that result - Overtime. The Colts were Out-Colted by the Patriots this season even though they didn't face them in the playoffs. Look how much like Manning Brady looks now, compared to 2003 & 2004.
Apparently not. The Colts lost to a Charger team the struggled to beat 1-dimensional Tennessee at home the week before. The Chargers best 3 offensive players were hobbled. TE Antonio Gates played the whole game with a broken toe. RB LaDanian Tomlinson missed the last 2+ quarters. QB Philip Rivers missed the 4th quarter (though he was still competing against the fans in the 4th).
Peyton Manning led the Colts quickly into the Red Zone after the Chargers took the lead in the 4th quarter. On the 3rd down play, he threw to the wrong guy though. He tried to hit Joseph Addai at the 7 - but Addai was covered. TE Dallas Clark was uncovered at the goal line on the left side - would have bean an easy TD. (A great feature of HD DVR is being able to watch live action a second time and focus on what you want to, not being limited to what the announcers focus on - they never showed Clark uncovered near the goal line). I think the Colts saw it - Clark ran the same pattern on 4th down and was open again - but Charger DL Shawne Merriman was in the backfield so quickly that Manning's only option was to his right - where Clark AND WR Reggie Wayne weren't.
I don't think Dungy's coming back - otherwise the Colts wouldn't have named his successor publicly. I've read sections of his book - he truly seems to be a great man, but if he stays, for the Colts' sake, I hope he watches how Bill Belichick and the Patriots responded to losing the 21-3 lead to the Colts last year. That is the #1 reason why the Patriots attempted to score TDs on EVERY possession. The worst the Patriots could achieve with that result - Overtime. The Colts were Out-Colted by the Patriots this season even though they didn't face them in the playoffs. Look how much like Manning Brady looks now, compared to 2003 & 2004.
BCS Reflections
It's a little late, but here are my thoughts:
Illinois-USC Rose Bowl - Why was 3-loss Illinois in this game? Why was Erin Andrews working for the RADIO team and not the TV team? USC didn't deserve serious consideration for the poll championship - you can't hide that 24-23 home loss to Stanford no matter how hard you try?
Hawaii-Georgia Sugar Bowl - We saw that Hawaii didn't belong in the chatter for poll championship. Being completely overwhelmed by Georgia might have been the final straw for HC June Jones - though I'm not sure he (or anyone else) can rebuild SMU (though he will have more money) since it's not in a BCS conference (it was in the SWC in the old days, now it's in mid-major C-USA). Georgia - if they had defeated Tennessee, they would have had their chance against LSU in the SEC Championship Game. The format for reaching the BCS Championship is clear - win them all or you need help. Georgia lost a couple of times and needed too much help.
Kansas-Virginia Tech Orange Bowl - Kansas rebounded well from their loss to Missouri to show they could compete (they didn't play Texas or Oklahoma in the Big 12 regular season or any good non-conference teams) against a quality opponent.
Oklahoma-West Virginia Fiesta Bowl - the next time that Oklahoma makes the BCS, they should be forced to play the Big 10 Champion. When was the last time that this team played well in a BCS Game? I think the answer is 2000.
LSU-Ohio St. Championship - the Tigers had a home field, speed, and talent advantage and decisively beat the Buckeyes. Ohio St. should start a BCS series w/ Oklahoma in the bowl that historically averages the lowest ratings. Ohio St. was fortunate enough to face Charlie Weis' Notre Dame squad a couple of years back, or else its recent BCS performance would be level with Oklahoma's. LSU - congrats to them for surviving the season the best and winning the championship.
Illinois-USC Rose Bowl - Why was 3-loss Illinois in this game? Why was Erin Andrews working for the RADIO team and not the TV team? USC didn't deserve serious consideration for the poll championship - you can't hide that 24-23 home loss to Stanford no matter how hard you try?
Hawaii-Georgia Sugar Bowl - We saw that Hawaii didn't belong in the chatter for poll championship. Being completely overwhelmed by Georgia might have been the final straw for HC June Jones - though I'm not sure he (or anyone else) can rebuild SMU (though he will have more money) since it's not in a BCS conference (it was in the SWC in the old days, now it's in mid-major C-USA). Georgia - if they had defeated Tennessee, they would have had their chance against LSU in the SEC Championship Game. The format for reaching the BCS Championship is clear - win them all or you need help. Georgia lost a couple of times and needed too much help.
Kansas-Virginia Tech Orange Bowl - Kansas rebounded well from their loss to Missouri to show they could compete (they didn't play Texas or Oklahoma in the Big 12 regular season or any good non-conference teams) against a quality opponent.
Oklahoma-West Virginia Fiesta Bowl - the next time that Oklahoma makes the BCS, they should be forced to play the Big 10 Champion. When was the last time that this team played well in a BCS Game? I think the answer is 2000.
LSU-Ohio St. Championship - the Tigers had a home field, speed, and talent advantage and decisively beat the Buckeyes. Ohio St. should start a BCS series w/ Oklahoma in the bowl that historically averages the lowest ratings. Ohio St. was fortunate enough to face Charlie Weis' Notre Dame squad a couple of years back, or else its recent BCS performance would be level with Oklahoma's. LSU - congrats to them for surviving the season the best and winning the championship.
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