Florida vs. Georgia, Texas vs. Texas Tech, NFL, NBA

Before I get to talk this week's games, I'd like to bring up last week's. First, what happened in that Penn St./Ohio St. game? I know it was a defensive game, but I don't think either team's defense is that good.

Do you think Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, USC, Florida or every other top team not in the Big Ten won't light both of these teams up? I certainly don't think so.

Penn St., I applaud you for ramming the ball down Ohio St.'s throat with Daryl Clark out and score late to seal the game. But that won't cut it when it counts. Enjoy your bye week. You'll need it.

Florida Vs. Georgia

Florida is winning this game big. I'm talking running up the score stuff. Remember that entire team celebration you guys did last year when you beat Florida?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj_yqJtmE2w

Basically the only reason Florida isn't undefeated is because they missed an extra point against Ole Miss. Their average margin of victory is 35 points. Demps is averaging nearly 12 yards a carry and Tim Tebow has been playing well.

Side conversation: anybody else think he will carry the Florida tradition of quarterbacks and be absolutely terrible as a pro? I sure do. Long live Danny Wuerffel.

Texas Vs. Texas Tech

If you told me that Texas won this game big or lost big, I would believe you. If you told me Tech won big or lost big, I would believe you. Tough game to call. This isn't the usual Texas Tech team and this isn't the usual college football anymore.

Texas has played 3 tough games in a row. They barely pulled that one out and their schedule "easy" after this game. Tech has been building up for this game and licking their chops. They're ready enough, they're good enough and they're at home. I'm taking Tech to win this one.

The rest of college football looks a bit uneventful, unless one of the top teams blows it. I think the Nebraska/Oklahoma game could be interesting out of pride, but Nebraska ain't what they used to be.

NFL

There are 17 teams with either 3 or 4 losses at this point, and 16 are playing this week. We're (pretty much) at the halfway point now. These teams need to define themselves and get to or get over a .500 winning percentage.

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Brett Favre was the goat and then the hero of last week's game. Buffalo struggled in that loss Miami. Chad Pennington threw for 300 yards! That doesn't bode well with the Favre passing attack. I'll take the Jets in this game.

Green Bay at Tennessee

Well, Tennessee put me in my place last week. I knew their defense was good, but I didn't know it was that good or that mean. Ouch. Their smash mouth offense and timely passing attack is tough to beat.

That said, Tennessee, 8-0? No way. THIS is the week that Kerry Collins stinks it up. It HAS to be. Just has to be. Remember when everyone was trying to sell us Jake the Snake Plummer in his Denver days? Same story. Green Bay gets win number 5.

Miami at Denver

Denver got smoked two weeks ago. Miami looked pretty good against Buffalo and passed their way to victory. Unfortunately, Denver had a timely bye week to get their offense read and maybe pretended to draw up a defense during it.

I like Denver in this game simply because Denver is a tough place to play. Miami is tough though. Maybe that AFC isn't so paltry after all, huh?

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

This game should be a blowout. Problems for Dallas: Romo's out, Brad Johnson's in, T.O., suspect defense, and so on. New York just had that comeback win against Pittsburgh (in Pittsburgh). They're the defending champs looking to smack Dallas around.

When divisional teams play each other, all bets are off, especially in the NFC East. I picked against Dallas last week, but I won't do it this week. They seem to have an identity at the moment (run the ball, short passing game, their defense played well last week). Dallas it is. You heard it here first. And of course, I'll be wayyyyy wrong.

New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts

Do you remember when this game was serious prime time? In just a year, it's actually kind of sad. The Patriots are 5-2, but without Brady, this game doesn't have the same feel. And the Colts are just trying to get back to .500 and get in the playoffs.

The Colts just aren't very good right now (key words, "right now", they still care me). They could very easily be 1-6 (thanks to that sorry Vikings game and the Sage Rosenfels Air Show). They've got way too many injuries. Manning hasn't found his timing quite yet. Marvin Harrison isn't himself. Bob Sanders and Joe Addai might play, but they're beat up.

The Patriots win another close game in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Pittsburgh at Washington

I like this match-up. The Redskins play like the Steelers used to with a heavy running attack and an opportune quarterback. The Steelers have "gone rogue" you might say. They're spreading it out, allowing sacks, not running as consistently as they used to, etc.

Funner to watch, but not Steeler football. But...The Steelers blew it last week with that bizarro safety snap thing. They should have beaten New York and they're going to beat Washington. The 'Skins just aren't dynamic enough and the Steelers D will force Campbell to finally make a mistake or 3. Steelers it is.

NBA thoughts:

I'll be nice and say the Lakers looked scary good. I watched both of their first two games and their second time was pulling off some serious showtime. That team can run and gun and even played a little defense (won't happen in June, but I said I'd be nice, for now).

I was told Greg Oden is Sam Bowie 2.0. That's an insult to Sam Bowie. At least he played 5 full seasons (along with his injury-plauged other seasons). I just want Oden to play and have a long career (or at least a play 20 games for crying out loud), but man, he was limping around even before he hurt himself.

Be sure to watch the Celtics play the Bulls Friday night on ESPN. Derrick Rose looked awesome in his first game and the Celtics are ready to defend that title. That was an emotional win against the Cavaliers.

I loved that Hack-a-Shaq moment and Poppavich giving Shaq the thumbs up. Shaq, hit your free throws man! It's cheap, but if you can't hit your free throws (at least more than half of them), I can't feel sorry for you. The Hornets looked great against the Suns tonight, by the way. I miss James Posey.

We've got a Rockets coming out of the West prediction on my comments list (Tim) and man they looked good tonight. Artest almost got involved in a fight, but that seemed to fire him up and he went on a scoring binge. If he doesn't murder anyone, the Rockets really could take the West. The Lakers coulda used a guy like that.

World Series

Congratulations to the Phillies for winning the worst series in recent memory (I won't say all-time; hyperbole like that is uncalled for). The Rays weren't able to duplicate that power display that they pulled on the Sox.

You can go ahead and dismiss the "they'll be back talk." Remember the Rockies? Didn't think so. They'll crap the bed next year and then the team will split up, signing lucrative deals elsewhere.

Let the Manny-Mania off-season begin.

So tell me know what your picks and thoughts are so I can go ahead and disagree with you.

~Vic

The NBA? Already?

After the Red Sox lost game 7 to the Rays, I thought to myself, "well, at least I'll be able to get some stuff done." I switched over to ESPN and saw the ad promoting "Celtics/Cavs and Lakers/Portland, opening night, NBA on TNT!" So much for getting anything done.

I'm so happy the NBA regular season means something again. Had the Celtics not had the best record in the league, which led to home court advantage throughout, they would not have won the championship. They didn't win a road game until the third round for crying out loud.

Moral of the story, teams like Detroit and San Antonio can't just coast through the regular season. And this season, there are a lot of hungry teams.

Out west, New Orleans, Portland, Utah and Houston want it real bad. The Aging San Antonio Spurs want to make that final run. The Lakers were absolutely embarrassed in game 6 and I'm sure have revenge in their hearts.

Speaking of the Lakers, you're hearing a lot of hype about them right now. And deservedly so, with the potential to throw 3 7 footers out at one time (Bynum, Odom, Gasol). But unless they stopped being soft and if Bynum actually plays the whole season, I'm not buying it.

They will have a great regular season but I just feel the Lakers were exposed in the Finals.

So who do I like in the West? The Spurs are going to win the West, as much as it pains me to say it. Don't forget, they made it to the Conference Finals last year. I know Manu's hurt, but no team is better at the above mentioned (and hated) cruise control regular season than the Spurs. Watch out.

In the East, it has to be the Celtics. Don't think that Pierce, Garnett, Allen and crew are getting fat and happy over one championship. The last one was about redemption, but those guys are competitors. Between the hunger to repeat and the awesome home crowds, the Celtics won't be stopped.

The big question is the loss of James Posey. They really wouldn't have won without him and Posey just may help the Hornets win one.

The Cavs will fight to the death again, but I just don't know what more Lebron can do for his team and who else is going to pick up the slack. Lebron needs to chill on the 3 pointers as well, unless he learned to shoot them 2 weeks ago.

So, to recap, Celts/Spurs finals. And yes, I will be wayyyy off, as usual.

Tonight's Picks:

I like the home teams. Celtics over Cavs (TNT), Chicago (can't wait to see Rose) over Milwaukee (WGN) and the Lake-Show over Portland (TNT).

I can't wait to see Oden in his first game as well as Derrick Rose. And I can't wait for more Isiah Thomas stories this year. What is going on with that guy??

Big Sports Weekend

There are a lot of big games this weekend. We have Game 3 of the World Series (is anyone watching it?), Penn St./Ohio St., Texas/Oklahoma St and the Giants/Steelers match-up to look forward to.

World Series:

The World Series between the Phillies and the Rays reminds me of the Sox/Rays series. Phillies won game 1 but the hard-nosed Rays came out and won game 2.

Hey, Ryan Howard, when there are 10 guys sitting in short right field, don't hit it to short right field. Enough already. Big Papi didn't (couldn't??) go to left field and it hurt the Sox. Hit the ball the other way. You sure as hell have the power to.

The Rays hitters hit for power and come through clutch, so I see them roughing up Jamie Moyer and his 30 mph fastball. I like the Rays in this series (in 6), but hate them for beating my Red Sox.

College Football:

I'm excited for the Penn St/Ohio St football game. I know the Big Ten has suffered some painful BCS losses recently, but I'm still a sucker for their conference games. I love the tremendous pride these teams have when they slug it out.

Not to mention everything at stake in this particular game. Penn St. wants to stay in the National Championship picture and Ohio St. wants to get back into it.

I see Ohio St. keeping that home winning streak alive (Penn St. hasn't won there since '78) and getting back into the National Championship picture (and getting smoked in their BCS game, but we'll save that prediction for later in the season). Penn St. seems to shrink in the big games these past few years. They always play tough though, so this game will be close.

The other big college game on my plate is Texas and Oklahoma St. Texas wins this one big at home. I think because #6 Oklahoma State is playing so well, Texas will be more prepared for this game than they have been in the past. That said, I HOPE Texas loses. Big. Huge. Bring down the BCS!

NFL

The Tampa Bay/Dallas game is definitely on my watch list. Unless you're a Dallas fan, there's nothing better than watching this train wreck of a season. And come on, it was so predictable.

What did Jerry Jones think was going to happen when he signed T.O.? What did he think was going to happen when he signed Pacman Jones? And why bring in Wade Phillips? That guy has no influence over this team. Say what you will about Parcells, at least he had the Cowboys focused on the games and kept T.O. in check (sorta).

So yeah, Tampa Bay wins this game. By the way, did Jon Gruden overhear Garcia calling him "Chucky" or something? Why did Gruden bench him earlier in the season? Strange...

The Pittsburgh/NYG game is the game of the week. As much as I hate the Giants for beating my Pats, why do people keep doubting these guys? I know Pittsburgh is at home, but New York is looking to bounce back after that loss to Cleveland and mash these guys.

Look for lots of Brandon Jacobs and Plaxico Burress, who probably wants to scorch his old team (if he's not busy driving his kid to school for 3 days, or whatever that strange story was all about). Also, let's keep track of how many of Eli's passes SHOULD have been picked off but either seem to get dropped or fall JUST in between 11 Pittsburgh defenders.

The Indianapolis/Tennessee game on Monday night should be a good one. I like Indy in this game. Kerry Collins is absolutely due for one of his 4 INT games and Peyton Manning and crew were embarrassed in Green Bay last week.

Oh, and one last game. I have to write about the New England game. Not just because of my bias, but because, well, because of my bias. St. Louis went from the joke of the league to knocking off two NFC East "powerhouses."

Of course, the NFL is the league where experts and pundits don't hop on the wave when it's forming but love to hop on waves when they're about to crash. What does that horrible analogy mean? I'm not sure. But New England will remind the Rams that just because they're better with out ex-coach Scott Linehan, they're still not good.

What are your games to watch and what your picks? Let me know~

Vic

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Become a Vegan (or at least a vegetarian)

Recently, thanks to my lady and all of the books/material I've read, I decided to become a vegetarian (and then a vegan).

What were my reasons? If I was taking a test, I would say "all of the above." Here are the reasons, in a nutshell:

1. Cruelty: Animal cruelty is out of control. We've seen the commercials with forklifts shoving cows to their feet so they can get butchered. This happens because laws state that a cow cannot be killed unless it can stand on its own.

Cows have to be "stunned" by a metal bolt before getting slaughtered. Unfortunately, the meat industry overload and a lack of training, employees, etc, the "stunner" misses its mark quite frequently. The cow has to be stunned and stunned again. You get the picture. If not, find some video online.

That is not even the beginning of the horror stories.

2. Health: Meat and dairy products are just plain unhealthy. How many tons of meat recalls do you hear about every day, week, month, etc.? Did you know that milk products can actually CAUSE osteoporosis? Did you know milk is linked to cancer, thanks to bovine treatments?

I've lost 25 pounds since becoming a vegetarian (and then a vegan) and have never felt better.

3. Political: Between ads targeting children, the joke that is the USDA, the meat and dairy lobbyists in government, there are many reasons to "Trust No One." We're just being plain old duped. The standards for food overseas far outweigh the disaster of a system we have here. And it's not for not knowing. It's to save pennies.

4. Environmental: For you green freaks, yup, eating meat and consuming milk is bad for the environment. The high demand for cattle leads to deforestation. Cow gas also leads to the a larger output of methane gas, adding to our Global Warming problem. So on and so forth.

5. Excess: Eating meat is bad for many reasons, but do we really need sausages and bacon for breakfast, hamburgers and chicken wings for lunch, and steaks and hot dogs for dinner?

Look at the American diet and the obesity epidemic we face. This meat craze has led to the unbalanced diets we now have.

Sorry if this post is long and sorry if it's a bit vague scientifically or lacking in the anecdotal sense.

For in depth reasons, read Skinny Bitch (Hilarious, but really hits home), Fast Food Nation (one of the most comprehensive books I've ever read about anything), and The China Study.

Visit these websites, read those books mentioned (or, if you don't feel like reading them, ask me about them, I will be glad to tell you!) and raise your awareness of what you're putting into your body.

http://www.vegan.org/

http://milksucks.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Study

First Post

Welcome to my wonderful page. My wife once told me, "I know you love the sound of your own voice, but will you shut the $#@! up and listen to me?" Unfortunately, I can't hear my voice now, but this is the next best thing. Until I start my podcasts and video blogs in the future, of course.

Don't be alarmed by the "adult content" warning when visiting my page. This is not a porn site and I will not be cursing like a sailor. If anyone actually visits this page, they may leave comments that are not pleasing to the ear, or to the eye, since you will be reading it.

I don't like small talk, but I do love having intellectual discussions/arguments, hearing other opinions and voicing my own. It's a great way to learn (and get really frustrated).

I mentioned a few topics in my heading (politics, sports, movies, etc.), but really I will talk about ANYTHING.

An actual topic post will come soon, so relax already.

Thanks for stopping by~
Victa

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