Jimmie vs. Denny

History was made Sunday when Jimmie Johnson won his 4th straight Nascar Sprint Cup Championship over teammates Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon. I don't wanna discount Jimmie's accomplishment at all, it's amazing what he's done and frankly he doesn't get enough credit from the fans, when Gordon won his four you either loved him or hated him, same with Dale Sr. Jimmie Johnson has so many middle of the road fans it's sickening, and for the record I was cheering for him to win this one after Denny got eliminated from contention, simply so Mark Martin didn't win. Jimmie should also be the number 1 driver fan wise in Nascar, but he's not because so many Jr. fans are blinded by the guys non-performance and his dad's performance that they don't get real greatness. If the Bulls ever won 4 in a row and entire generation would walk around with Jordan jerseys forever, hell they won 3 and they were by far the number 1 team. Also, if you didn't like the Bulls you hated them, you didn't go, ahh well it was nice to see them win even though I don't like them. I don't hate Jr. by any means just his "fans" who voted his pit crew the 2nd best in ESPN's little contest they had, 2nd best huh, HARDLY, I'm a fan but I know when my team sucks and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to the Pro Bowl voting and giving Chris Cooley every vote I have just because he's my favorite player. Back to Jimmie, this accomplishment is amazing, for him and Chad Knaus, who by the way has been suspended a couple of time during these championship runs, why no asterik, oh because Nascar fans aren't petty. He won in the old car, won when they ran both cars, and won two in the new car, they guy can friggin drive. He's a corporate guy, always talking about Lowe's, he's good looking, according to my girlfriend also according to her his wife is not. Basically the guy has it together when it matters most and well you can't discount greatness, now if he could generate some opinions of himself, hell the Patriots haven't even won 4 but they are universally hated. In an effort to not sound like a Jimmie fan I will say this, I respect the guy, he's not in my top 5 for drivers I don't like, but I'm thinking he might just crack that next season. Guess what I'm saying is, it's time to start either wearing Jimmie stuff or start hating him with a passion, and well I guess it's time to get my hate gear on. However, that starts next year, I'm super happy Mark Martin didn't win this championship, he is in a two car race for driver I dislike the most with Carl Edwards.

At the top is says Jimmie vs. Denny, so far it's been all Jimmie and Jr. comments. With all respect to Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin, you two were not Jimmie's biggest competition in the Chase. That award goes to Denny Hamlin, in the chase two wins, 5 top 5's, and beating Jimmie on the track 5 of the 10 races. Denny lost the chase by 317 points, he had 3 DNF's, one race was his fault wrecking while in the lead, the other two were mechanical failures. So if he would have kept his head on at California, wear he lost 138 points to Johnson the winner of the race, let's say he just gets 5th at that race, he would have scored, 103 more points than what he did. Then at Charlotte he led laps before problems forced him out of the race, if he gets 5th there he gets 113 points. So, far in those two races he's gained 216 points, and don't try to say he had bad cars, he was leading when he wrecked himself at California and he led 54 laps at Charlotte so top 5 is not far fetched, also Joey Logano got 5th at Charlotte a Gibbs car. So he only needs to gain 101 points from Talladega were he blew up, he would have needed a top 5 in that race as well, and I understand the lottery that is Talladega but still you understand, the guy was close. Don't try to sell me the top 5's he needed are highly unlikely, he only finished out of the top 5 twice in the Chase of races he finished so it's not that far fetched. So, Denny needed a few breaks to go his way, and guess what next year those breaks are gonna go his way, he's been in Cup for 4 full seasons been in the Chase all 4 years, with finishes of 3rd, 12th, 8th, and 5th. This season he doubled his carreer wins to 8, and he's slowly turning into a short track genius, with wins at Richmond and Martinsville this season. He also owns Pocono, so if he can lay claim to 3 tracks he'll be a force to be reckoned with. He's also gaining some respect around the garage for his actions with Brad Keselowski in the Nationwide Series. For those of you who missed it Brad likes to wreck Denny and in the final race Denny spun Brad out, he didn't wreck him like a brat, just spun him out as to say dude I can do much worse to you. Next year, my second favorite owner Roger Penske is gonna have a lot to cars to build with Brad in his Cup cars because all he has done is piss people off and then smile like he did nothing wrong like he's Dale Sr. or something. Guess what kid, your not and you never will be because you are gonna wreck more than Steven Wallace and that takes a lot. So, I'm calling it in November, one year from now I'll be celebrating a championship with Denny. Jimmie will be right behind in 2nd.

Week 11 Thoughts

Another week, another loss, oh boy I knew this season was lost but come on dudes, we gotta beat Dallas. If we ever go 2-14, I would hope those two wins are against Dallas, seriously can't stand losing to those arrogant pricks. Didn't watch the game but saw the game winning touchdown on the highlights and what happened to ineligable receiver downfield? Dallas ran the play from around the 9 or 10, I saw a lineman down on the 6, that's crap. The refs didn't lose us the game but at least call it fair. I hope Dallas is real happy, barely beating a team with it's two best RB's on the shelf, and best player as well on the shelf. So, yeah Cowboys fans laugh it up you beat the worst team in the NFC, not named St. Louis or Tampa, by one point, can't wait till December and you guys suck again. Romo blows and so does the rest of the team. P.S. whens the last time you losers won a playoff game? Oh yeah it was when cocaine got passed around the locker room like Jessica Simpson. And for the record Emmit Smith couldn't carry Jim Brown or Barry Sanders jock. Enough bitterness on to the rest of the NFL.

It was nice to actually watch some games this weekend, got a solid day in on Sunday, and watched the first half Monday. Haven't done that in a while, worked last Sunday, and the week before that me and Jess went to the Bears game with Chris. So, it's been a month since I got to watch. Missed some of the late games watching Denny find victory lane, and Jimmie Johnson find his 4th championship, more on that tomorrow.

Got All Day in fantasy so I've watched Minnesota more than any team this season, their good, Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump good.

Seattle, I am so dissapointed in you, I picked you and this how you treat me, your D stinks and do you have a RB? I thought you had like 5 good WR's where they at?

49ers are who I thought they are, and I'm not letting them off the hook, I called this before the year, then they suckered me in, and presto chango their back to who they really are, TERRIBLE.

Green Bay, not sure how your gonna get over the injuries, not so much Kampman but Harris going down is a huge blow, Chaz Woodson is my boy, but he's better at covering the number 2 guy not the 1, we'll see how this pans out.

Can't believe Chris hasn't gone on a rant like mine after the Detroit game, about the Bears yet, I will say this what their doing is dumb. It's like bringing in Jimmie Johnson and giving him a Gremlin to go out and compete with it. Cutler is good, but he needs some sort of talent around him, the Bears have the same problem the Skins do, zero size at WR, Knox and Hester are fast, but at the end of games when you need a play, fast don't do it, size does. They need a big body at WR, maybe a free agent to be from Buffalo.

Didn't watch Indy-Baltimore, not a fan of Baltimore don't really like Ray-Ray he is so annoying and the media just slurps him, don't they remeber he killed someone? Don't get me started on Flacco either.

Pittsburgh and Cinncy I'm gonna treat you like I treat the Ted, go to bed, NOW get in there, and then I'm gonna lock you up until you learn your lessons. Don't bark and whine just sit in there until you know better.

Denver your reminding me of a team from last year, they had a great start and then just couldn't find a way to win a game, oh yeah it was Denver, now I remember.

San Diego your the Anti-Dallas, start out sucky then turn it on as the season goes on, now if only Norv could help you guys in the playoffs.

New Orleans is still amazing, and I'm sure everyone hates them in fantasy, besides Brees you have nobody you can consistantly start and feel good about. If you go with Colston, Moore and Meacham are gonna get 2 TD's each, but if you bench him, he's gonna get 7 catches for 125 yards and a score, so annoying.

Rex Ryan stop crying like a little bitch, you are so damned annoying, oh and I remember why now, your from Balitmore. Cry cry, your the one who started talking shit about New England don't you know Bellichek takes losses and shit talk about his team out on the people who say it. Look at the undefeated year, spygate comes out, he's pissed at the whole league and then kicks everyones ass. It's what he does, so shut up and win a game. This just in Sanchez just threw another pick, JETS Suck.

Atlanta, I don't even wanna be friends anymore, damn you.

Didn't see much of the Arizona game but really Matt Leinhart is not good.

Houston we need to start winning games we're supposed to, come on now, I want you guys in the playoffs, I can't help it always kind of been a Texans guy, want to see you do good. Also, wanna see Andre Johnson get in the playoffs, the guy doesn't talk just does his job and kicks ass every week, I know my step-brother Greg likes him too, seems every year he drafts him in fantasy.

Tennessee believe I called this a few weeks back, put Vince in and see what happens.

What happened to LenDale White, did he blow a knee or something, I get Johnson is good, but dude everyone takes a breathier, where you at fat boy?

Now, the game of the week, that's right Detroit vs. Cleveland, oh BABY what a game, wish I could've watched it, so do the fans in Detroit!! Game was blackedout for those who missed it. All I can really say, where the hell is the D? 24-3 Cleveland leads and Drew Stafford brings them back, then at the end of the game, pass interferance in the end zone. Cleveland way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Not to mention Stafford get killed on the play, then can't play the next play until Man-Genius calls time out and allows him back on the field. What you thinking, I guess the guy couldn't pick his left arm up but still I'd take my chance and let a cold Culpepper beat me not an adrenaline filled Stafford, who threw the game winner to MY BOY Brandon Pettigrew, had this guy from before the season ask anyone who plays fantasy with me, I think he is gonna be an elite TE in the league for a long time.

Rivalry

Been a long while, sorry but been busy and haven't really wanted to type on my nights after work. I got this whole week off so expect at least 1 post a day. Today's topic the best rivalries in sports With the passing of the Michigan-Ohio State game on Saturday, not to mention me being in Toledo, Ohio last week, the forefront of the rivalry, and Dallas vs. Washington yesterday. I got to thinking what is the best rivalry in sports. To break it down I'm gonna pick some of the best ones from each sport then give my top ten.

Let's start in college football, to me the best rivalries are in college, you never see guys going from one team to another in college. If pro rivalries mattered as much Johnny Damon would not have a new ring and Brett Favre wouldn't have 21 TD's and 3 picks this season, sorry had to through out Favre's numbers for those who think he still doesn't have it. So college football is tough to even pick a top 5 in, Oklahoma-Texas, Michigan-Ohio State, Army-Navy, Oregon-Oregon St., Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Georgia, Nebraska-Oklahoma used to be huge, Notre Dame-everyone who hates Notre Dame, Harvard-Yale. Those are just a few I'm sure I missed some maybe locally Iowa-Iowa State, but this game is only huge in these borders and it's not a hate thing like Michigan-OSU. Wisconsin-Minnesota is the same thing, huge to the people involved but not outside the borders of each state. To talk about how huge a rivalry is kind of arbitary, I mean if you ask a dude in Texas he's gonna say UT-OU is the biggest, but if you talk to someone in Georgia I'm sure they'll tell you the cocktail party is the biggest. So, you kind of have to take a look at what the games mean, frankly Mich-OSU often decides the Big Ten, UT-OU typically decides the Big 12 South. UF-UGA sometimes decides the SEC East but admit it Tennessee being down lately ads to the rivalry. This weekend the Civil War in Oregon will decide the Pac-10 but it often does not. The best rivalry in college football is Michigan vs. Ohio State, the game means something every year and the closest one I can think of to it it UT-OU, and that game for Oklahoma wasn't the biggest one for it every year until it got seperated from Nebraska.

College Basketball has one rivalry that is way way above all the others, Duke-North Carolina is by far and above all others. The two teams regularly win the ACC regular and playoff championships. Almost 3/4 of the times they play someone is ranked number 1, so there you have it. Nough said, I can't even think of another rivalry that basketball is bigger than the football one.

The NFL has a few rivalries, all are divisional it seems. Whether it's Dallas-Washington, Green Bay-Chicago, New England-NY Jets, Denver-San Diego, Oakland-Kansas City, Green Bay-Minnesota, Me-Andy Reid. The last is so one sided it's not even funny I own the Walrus so much he doesn't even know who I am. Let me first put a boot to a couple other ones, Indy-New England, not a rivalry until 8 years ago, Indy has sucked until Peyton happened and same for New England with Brady, a rivalry has to be older than 8 to take over some of these others. This also goes for Ravens-Steelers, I get it their defensive minded teams that beat the crap out of each other but really the Ravens haven't been around very long. The best, not sure what's the best, I'll go with Green Bay-Chicago over Dallas-Washington, these reasoning for this is the proximity to the teams, and the fact that both sides take it seriously. I know Dallas acts like the Skins aren't as bigto them as they are to us, yeah yeah whatever. GB-Chi is quite the deal, when I was a kid two guys bet on the game and one had to walk from the Illinois border to Monroe with the opposing teams jersey on if they lost. Not sure I'm making that bet with a Cowboy fan. Brett Favre happened to add to this rivalry by playing for long in GB and the Bears having about 50-60 different QB's in that time frame. This season it's kind of taken a backseat to the Vikings but Packer fans will admit that they'd rather have Favre in purple than blue and orange, you can admit you can.

MLB has some goodies, and since it's the oldest sport it has some of the oldest rivalries, Yanks-Sox, Cubs-Cardinals, Dodgers-Giants, Phillies-Mets, Royals-league minimum payroll. I know the media goes ga-ga for the Yanks-Sox, personally I'm more of a LA-SF guy simply because it goes back to New York, and both teams moved to Cali at the same time. Cubs-Cards is pretty cool simply because the Cardinals hate the Cubs, I'm almost a defacto Cardinals fan since they hate the Cubs as much as I do. Simply put, smaller markets, less media coverage, makes this rivalry better than anyother.

The NBA has one rivalry, it's LA-Boston that's it, the two most winning franchises in the sport, Jordan's Bulls vs. Zeke's Pistons was huge, but only at the time. If the NBA could it would have the Lake Show play the Celts every year in the Finals.

So my rankings go like this for a top 10 rivalry in team sports. From 10-1
Yanks-Sox, only because their payroll fights in the off-season compare to the games they play in the regular season.
Cowboys-Redskins, everyone loves Cowboys and Indians, and it seems like each year the lesser of the two teams seems to rise up and take one from the better team.
The Iron Bowl, Auburn-Alabama, conference contenders from one of the most storied college football states in the nation, also they got nothing else beside Nascar in Alabama.
Lakers-Celtics renewed a few years ago, but nothing compares to Bird-Magic in the 80's.
Notre Dame-USC America's team vs. California's team, this is a great game every year, and both teams leave their hearts out on the field every game.
Bears-Packers the two most storied franchises in history and the original rivalry of the NFL, if only Halas and Lombardi could coach both teams forever.
Texas-Oklahoma neutral site game, seating 50-50, decides the conference, if not national, title every year it seems.
Cubs-Cardinals, hatred from both sides, border battle, the fact the Cards seem to win a world series every once in a while.
Duke-UNC, the closest of all the rivalries, seperated by what 7 miles? The fans are nuts about it, the Cameron crazies take it up a notch, and how many great players have played in it.
Michigan-OSU, this season not really much of a factor the last 6 years, same story after the game, but before that this rivalry was back and forth a lot, and the 10 year war between Woody and Bo is probably the best 10 games in the series, check it out.

So that's it, you got a problem send your hate mail to Andy Reid.

Yanks

First off I want to say congrats to the Yankees. Its been a while and their back and I'm fine with that. I am a Cubs and Mets fan and not a huge Yanks fan by no means but I'm glad they are back. Maybe its I'm sick of the Red Sox. Maybe I think as twisted as it seems baseball needs the Yankees winning more than anything. Everybody needs somebody to hate and for baseball its the Yankees. People are mad they spend and get the best talent but really we all are just jealous we can't spend the money that the Steinbrenner family can. But as long as they can spend the money on the tax then why the hell not. Money can't buy happiness? Ya right. You know whatever works and gets the job done. As long as theirs no salary cap its the way it will be. Looking at their lineup great story lines all around. Jorge as been behind the plate since I've been a kid. Getting towards the end just cool he hung around to get one more. Texeria did what he was supposed to do. Big run producer one of the better young guys in baseball. Hey at least they spent money on young guys instead of over the hill guys. Robinson Cano had a career year. Solid just gets lost with all the big names around him. The batter number 2 Derek Jeter. His life is a story alone. There are only two guys in a heart beat you would want to be. Jeter and Tim Tebow. Poor poor Sox fans what do you think now with an Idiot in pin strips winning the series? I think its great! Bet thiers a few Sox fans at the pub right now crying saying why. Awesome! Melky running center was very close to being a Brewer in the off season for Mike Cameron. Swisher really is a guy that's hard to hate does a lot of little things that helps a ball club out. C.C. who would want em? Wait I remember you didn't want to be their? How you feeling now? A.J. isn't it great how a guy that's been losing for years and now on a winner is way different. He was as cool as the other side of the pillow the whole year. Pies in the face after every game. How can you not love it? Pettitte way to come back. Watching all those games back in the day he was the most consistent. He always won when they needed him. Last but not least A Rod. There is a huge monkey on the loose right now formally owned by Alex. That monkey is like Godzilla I'm sure you can see him. Congrats to the best player of my generation. All in all they are champs what a fun team to watch. They really deserve this. Best team after June and they dominated. Now the question is when will I finally hate them?

Week 8

Wow a whole week between postings, either we're incredibly lazy or been very busy. Personally been a little of both, didn't have internet for 2 days, and when I got home on Wednesday just wanted to forget the NFL weekend. Well the Skins had the bye this week, hate the bye week, so I gotta lead with something else. I'll go with Denny Hamlin, last week showed what he was made of winning in Jimmie's house Martinsville. Pretty happy with that showing Denny set a career high for wins in a season with 3 and showed what could've been had he not had those two mishaps in the previous races. Then today rolls around, having a decent race, he was as high as first and as low as 29th just moving around and having fun, then caplouey engine goes and our day is over. Well, sweet, an already boring ass race and now my rooting interest is gone, needless to say I wasn't very attentive the last few laps. Jessica was not very happy with me because I just kept saying who cares. Well the race was horrible, multiple times all the cars on the track were in a straight line nose to tail, that's not racing that's a parade. Things didn't get interesting until with 5 laps to go something got boggled up and Ryan Newman took a ride on his roof pretty scary. The scariest was when he landed with his rear end right on Kevin Harvick's windshield. Well Ry-Guy ended up on his roof and it took about 10 minutes to flip his car over and cut off the roof for him to get out. I've made plenty of fat jokes about Ryan in my day, but Nicole Ritchie couldn't have gotten out of the car without cutting the roof off. Well, Jamie McMurray went onto win after another huge wreck happened on the restart, not sure who finished where or how the last wreck happened but either way Nascar has to fix this crap. It's redudant and bad racing, you can't go 475 miles of boring with everyone all packed together and then the last 5 laps everyone starts racing and wrecks half the field. Not sure what the answer is but this was not awesome. Onto the NFL thoughts of the day.

Redskins, Patriots, Saints, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Cinncy all didn't play today good scheduling NFL, that's a lot of fans left with nothing to do. Once again bye weeks are dumb, and the schedule this week was once again horrible. Accept for Green Bay vs. Minnesota more on that later.

49ers why do you hate me, I give you love and more love and now I look like a fool. I'm out no more Kool-Aid for me.

Colts are still good, could've used some more points today.

Balitmore took it to Denver, at home, not sold on the Ravens but they needed a win today and got one.

Denver you can't win them all, bounce back next week.

Speaking of Denver heard they're giving Brandon Marshall his fine money back, why? I thought that went to charity, it should still go to charity like he needs 73,000 dollars more than a charity.

The Texans starting to play like I thought they could this year, nice game.

Where did Ryan Moats come from? Not complaining played Steve Slaton in two leagues so him not playing much helped me out a lot.

Dallas still sucks wait till December they'll show it.

Once again J-E-T-S Jets Jets, L-O-S-E lose lose, what the hell is up with this team, pretty sure they were overachieving at the begining of the season.

Miami well your still Miami with a gimmick offense that some how gets it done, but you need a real offense to be a real contender.

Who are the Giants? Much like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop, the world will never know. I stand by this always have, Eli sucks.

Can't wait for the worst coaching match-up ever in the playoffs, Brad Childress vs. the Walrus with a headset, how many stupid challenges and retarded screens will called that game.

STL in W column nobody should lose 'em all, atta boy to Vince and the Titans too.

Chris Johnson is really, really good.

LDT found the endzone twice today, very nice.

San Diego when playing Oakland try to win by more than 8

Are my eyes deceiving me did Jake Delhomme go a whole game without throwing a pick, it happened, it really happened. I haven't been this shocked since, well since ever.

Fire Jim Zorn, had to throw that in there.

Onto, the game of the day, something I labeled Brett Bowl, let's get the breakdown.

I almost did a running diary of the game Bill Simmons style but decided against it, and the race ran long so I missed most of the first quarter.

Brett's biggest weapon has 28 on his jersey and Brad Childress can't forget this.

Brett's second biggest weapon is gonna be an all-pro at the end of the year is he keeps this up, Percy Harvin is turning into guy I never thought he could be. Brett was looking for him on that crossing pattern almost every 3rd down.

Green Bay why you kicking it to Harvin?

Why does Minnesota seem like they forget how to play football a half way through the 3rd quarter. Seriously after Green Bay seized momentum after the TD off the fumbled kick, Childress play calls go like this screen fail, pass play, fail, pass play, fail, punt. You have All Day give him the ball all day, or at least on 1st or 2nd down.

Green Bay, you need help on the O-Line, Rogers is good but damn he's on his back way to much.

Speaking of Rogers, dude throw the damn ball, and the play calling, if your getting sacked constantly, move the pocket and let A-Rod throw on the run, he's pretty good at that.

Who is this guy that played LB at UCLA and is now the biggest threat inside the 5 for Green Bay, 3 TD's in 2 games what a stud.

One officiating thing, why are we protecting QB's so much, A-Rod needed a pink jersey on after that "roughing the passer" call, I know he's not the only one but seriously do QB's need to wear dresses?

How about Brett making sure Greg Jennings is ok. That was pretty cool, say what you want Packer nation but Brett still cares about those guys.

That brings me to my last point, Packer fans, Brett has nothing against you or your team. His beef is not with the players or fans, his beef is in the press box all alone. Brett's beef is with Ted Thompson. He still cares about the fans and don't give me this crap if he did he wouldn't play for Minnesota, he wants to play for Minny to do what he did today, beat Ted Thompson twice. He threw 4 td's to show Ted he still has it. I understand you wanna be bitter but don't forget those 16 seasons he gave you, and that trophy in the stadium he brought back. If he said this years team is the best he's ever played on, let it go, he needs to build this team up. I'm not for sure, but I'm almost certain he said the team 3 years ago, that made the NFC championship game was the most talented team he's played on. That '96 team was great, but don't get it twisted how's it gonna sound if Brett goes, well this team would be any team I've been on accept the 96 team? That not's very inspiring. I'd like to thank the media for blowing that comment out of proportion and bringing up a bunch of guys only people from Wisconsin remeber, like Gilbert Brown and Mark Chmura. I mean how much did it take to get LeRoy Butler on camera? Probably not much. So the booing today unnesasary, throwing away your Brett memorabilia unnesasary, disliking the guy in general is not needed. I understand he put on the purple, could be worse he could be a Bear.