Rapid Sport Rundown

The amazing thing about sports is that they never fail to provide for great conversations. Forget the actual game, we just want to skip ahead and get into conflict-filled discussions that are sure to follow. So I'm going to do my best apply the everyday conversations into this sports rundown. There are several topics I could obviously choose so I did my best to narrow it down.

To start off let me discuss the topic that is driving all sport fans' conversations, the Super Bowl. How compelling is this match-up? You have the potential of Peyton Manning riding off into the sunset if the Broncos are able to win the game. There is also the possibility of Cam Newton completing his own storybook ending to what has so far been the year, or season, of "SuperCam." Another story line, however there are many more, is that you have the number one offense versus the number one defense. So as you can see or may already have known, there are many interesting plots arising from this Super Bowl match-up. I've decided that there since there is nothing closet about my fandom socially, I will no longer be closet about my fandom in my writing. That being said, I am obviously rooting for a Panther win, and at that a blow out. I understand it's the Super Bowl and the majority of fans, viewers, the league, and the TV people want a close game for its entirety. Nope, screw that. I want a blow out, runaway, behind-the-woodshed beat-down in favor of my Panthers.
There are two reasons on my I feel so strongly about having that outcome. The first one being this, Peyton Manning. Don't even try to sell me the cop out statements on how he is old, washed up, can't win his team the game. Because I'm not buying. Go ahead and put me Around the Horn for that topic on the Buy or Sell segment. I'll give Tony Reali a lesson. Okay anyways, my thinking and honest belief is that this game is the Panthers game to lose. So if the game is close the more nervous I will become and the more likely my phone will be going through my wall. I do believe in Cam's growth that he would be able to lead a Super Bowl winning drive, but I'm also equally confident (or respectful) in Manning. I mean how could you not be afraid of a Hall of Fame lock having a chance to break your heart? As for the second reason on why I want a pounding from the Panthers is the fact that so many experts and Twitter coaches have had nothing but hate for a potentially all-time great team. I won't say that if they win they are the best team to ever win a Super Bowl. However if you want to test me, I'm fairly certain I could make a pretty strong argument. I want a convincing win to put the icing on the proverbial cake that all Panther fans can throw into the face of all the doubters. Plus, it would be epic for Riverboat Ron to have a Coach Yost moment with a "Cam, leave no doubt!"
All kidding aside this Super Bowl has great potential. It's early and this prediction is being made with over a week away from the game, but I'll obviously be taking the "thers" by the score of 30-17. I know may have gone a little high with the over/under total and I know defense wins championships, but I also know that a great offense beats a great defense.

Okay moving on from football. Let me talk about the other sport going on right now which is basketball. I'll start with college basketball because let's be honest, the NBA doesn't reach full national attention until the NFL has ended.
 Alright, so in case you haven't been tuned into the college basketball season, Oklahoma is the best team in the country. Plain and simple. Not only are they ranked number in the country according to the Associated Press, but anyone who understands what it takes to be a great team in basketball knows Oklahoma has it all. They have size, depth, and they can shoot you right out of the gym. Oh, not to forget, they have the best player in collegiate basketball right now in Buddy Hield and he shows up to play EVERY game. My man is averaging 26/6/3. NEWS FLASH, that's pretty good. I won't go as far to saying go ahead and give them the trophy, because this is college basketball, upsets happen almost as much as Stephen Curry hitting a three-point shot. On top of that, there are other good teams lurking behind them, not as many as the media makes it out to be, but still a few that can steal that title from them. One being my Tar Heels. Yep that's right, don't act like I'm not going to leave them out of this blog. The Heels currently sit in the number two spot and it's an absolutely fair ranking, because they are not the number one team right now. Arguably the deepest team in college basketball and if they are to ever start completely clicking, could very well be the best team in country. Right now, even with posting an 18-2 record, there are concerns. Label me as the nitpicking, unappreciative fan, but there are serious hesitation factors looming with the Tar Heels. Ah, lets see, two of their STARTERS are weak spots right now. Marcus Paige and Justin Jackson. Right now Paige would have a hard time shooting himself out of a paper bag. Hell, forget the three-pointers going in how about we start with making wide open layups. It almost seems like he hasn't scored since his 30 point game at FSU. I really feel sorry for him recently because he can't make ANYTHING right now; its tough seeing a senior who has given so much and has had so much success struggle like he is. As for Jackson, he has always been so hard to figure out. I say always yet he is only a sophomore, but he is just too inconsistent. He hasn't found his outside shot at all this year and if it wasn't for his awkward floater he might not have any scoring besides put-backs. You're probably thinking, man with fans like these who needs rivals, but those are just the ugly truths of this team. Of course as a fan and supporter of the Tar Heels AND their players I have the utmost confidence both will turn it around. They are both too talented not to. However, the slightest possibility that these two do not turn it around will sadly (or not so sadly, depending on your fandom) lead to this team coming up short of their potential.

Moving on from my college basketball rant, you have the NBA. The NBA is struggling this year as a whole. Outside of four teams there is NOTHING and I mean NOTHING. No intriguing story lines and certainly no competitiveness. You have the Warriors, Cavs, Spurs, and Thunder as the only teams who can save the NBA from absolute boredom and quite frankly those last three teams I listed are all playing for strictly relevancy. The Warriors are flat out making a mockery out of the rest of the league. I will go as far as saying that the league just needs to cut the season short and go ahead give them the trophy. I am hope I'm wrong for entertainment sake, but I don't see them not repeating. The Golden State boys are literally hurting the league through their greatness right now. Curry will never get old though, he is someone aspiring players can relate to and on top of that his cerebral shooting is an absolute show to watch. Honestly, the only hot topic outside of the masterful performance that is Warriors basketball was the recent firing of David Blatt.
Bare with me here because the stance I have on the situation is one I would imagine most basketball will not agree with. The problem with the Cavaliers is Lebron James and there are issues on both fronts. Let me start with the "King." James is hurting the Cavs by ego, brand, and posse. I don't believe James is intentionally being a dictator towards the organization, it simply his stardom and power that cause this to happen. Do I believe he flat out said that he wanted Blatt fired? My belief in the goodness of man tells me no, but that is something that could be debated over and over again. James has literally blackmailed his hometown team. He has signed back to back one year deals which business savvy for Lebron, but also puts a handcuff on the organization. It is pretty much telling them we have to keep Lebron happy by any means necessary so that he re-signs. Meanwhile, it causes the organization to not fully focus on winning. Also, look at Lebron's career, from the early years in Cleveland to Miami and now back to Cleveland he has had issues with his involvement and the coaches there. Does the media make stories to drive the drama? Of course they do, but I won't completely excuse James from this glaring problem. To quote Lebron's boy Stephen A. Smith,"if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it ain't a damn mongoose!" Well lets hold that same standard for Lebron James. Now, the same can absolutely be said for the Cavs, Dan Gilbert who runs the organization is a successful businessman, but his actions towards James when he first left is biting him in the ass now. The Cavs have handcuffed themselves into having to cater to Lebron. Listen, am I reaching when discussing this issue? Possibly. But do not be ignorant to the fact that these underlying problems could lead into the Cavs coming up short of their goals. A peace meeting and delegation of powers needs to be had by the Cavaliers organization and Lebron, because at the end of the day Lebron is a player and management is management. It's time to act like it. I would love to see Lebron give his team the championship they have been longing for, but his actions, as well as others, are holding the process back when it comes to reaching that goal.

Thanks for taking the time to read, I have more work already lined up and plan on posting blogs closer together. Thank you for your support and feel free to leave comments or suggestions! My goal is to provide entertainment to my readers, even if it just means I'm your bathroom reading!
Take Care!

Why this is the WORST bowl season in a very long time...

Ah, bowl season, usually a great ending to the college football season whether your team wins or loses. Key word there? USUALLY. Work with me here and really think about what is about to be said regarding the absolute garbage that came from this particular bowl season. Before I tell you exactly why this is the case go ahead and bash me for my saltiness over the absolute butt-whooping's that both UNC and Florida got and deserved in their respective bowl games. Okay, hope that was fun, now that that's out of the way let's be realistic about how awful this bowl season was.

Aside from the first week of the bowl season which had a few good performances there was nothing that the average college football fan could get excited about. The bowls were terribly matched up, the scheduling of the games was embarrassing, and the actual games were just miserable to sit and watch. Of course I say this as I sit here and watch the Christian McCaffrey show, but use this game for example. I understand why these two were matched up in the Rose Bowl; tradition, Big Ten vs. Pac 12, yadda yadda you can save that for someone else.

This game proves that the College Football Playoff Committee and bowl selection committee simply dropped the ball instead of letting it happen on its own for New Years. This match-up should be Ohio State vs. Stanford. Be honest, everyone had enough of Iowa after the Big Ten Championship game that more than likely put the viewers into a comatose state of living. College Football tried to be politically correct and "reward" Iowa for their year instead of looking at the actual material that was going to be put on the field. It wasn't smart from a business perspective and obviously not from a football persepctive. I could honestly make the argument that this is should be Michigan State vs. Stanford, but I will spare you from that. 

That is my one and only example that I will elaborate on regarding the undesirable match-ups, but for fun my other examples would be San Diego State vs. Cincy & LSU vs. Texas Tech. Just really think back and look at the match-ups, I'm certain you will find it depressing. 

Then you have the scheduling... Who in their right mind thought it was good idea to have the College Football Playoff games on New Years Eve? I agree sports run most of society and definitely education, but NYE is a day where you can never change tradition. People are simply not around their TV's on NYE, the only time they are is when the ball drops and even then people are too drunk to really acknowledge what is going on. Last year the CFB Playoffs were on January 1st and had ratings that can only be topped by the Super Bowl, but no, let us put it on NYE so we can dilute the many traditions that the people of this great country have had for many years. The College Football Playoff executive Bill Hancock even had the gall to say this, "I really feel like we're going to change the culture of New Year's Eve in the country." Really dude? You might be able to change a couple NYE cultures, but you aren't ending the NYE parties, you aren't ending the family gatherings and you certainly are not ending the amount of alcohol consumed. When people drink, they do not want to sit in front of a TV, drinking is a social activity and NYE provides people the one day where getting highly intoxicated to the point of embarrassment is socially acceptable. So best of luck to you Mr. Hancock, money talks so I'll look forward to going back to my original New Years tradition. By waking up hungover and watching the best college football games of the year on the first of January.
The final piece to the travesty that was the college football bowl season is the quality of play by the teams themselves. I already addressed the performance of both of my teams, UNC and Florida, but there were other poor showings throughout the bowl season. I don't know I might just be nitpicking or just bitter on how my teams did, but this year felt like a disappointment on the overall product. There were bright spots, very far and in-between, but bright spots nonetheless.
Now, I understand that bowl season is not yet over with and who knows, maybe we get a national championship that people will talk about for years. But for now, we have to settle with a below average bowl season. Many aspects of this bowl season can be fixed, the actually play of the teams cannot, but simple marketing and business strategies will fix the poor fan experience from this years forgettable bowl season. I understand that hindsight is 20/20 however, we have these professionals making these decisions, let us at least get it right. Anyways, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a great New Years, because through it all, those are what matter the most this time of the year. Get ready for a blog reviewing this college football season as well as providing some predictions for next season!