Anniversary Death of an Icon

"You may say I am a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one."  This is what the most popular anti-war activist sang about during his days as a solo artist.  It is a shame that he had to suffer a terrible death due to a violent crazed fan outside of his New York City apartment.  Today, December 8th, marks the 20 year anniversary of John Lennon's death.

Pretty much the most famous Beatle, was shot four times in the back by Mark David Chapman with a .38 revolver handgun firing hollow point bullets.  After the shooting Chapman did not runaway and hide or anything like that but he sat on the sidewalk and started to read a copy of the "Catcher in the Rye."  Chapman pleaded insanity during the court case.  John Lennon was rushed to a New York City hospital although he died on the way there.  John Lennon was pernounced dead on December 8, 1980.

The news of the Lennon's death was not delievered first by any television or radio news show, but by a Monday Night Football game.  The broadcasters of the game caught word of the icon's death and made the fateful decision to deliever the news during the fourth quarter with a few seconds left to go in the game.

John may be dead, but his messages and songs live on forever.  Slogans like "THE WAR IS OVER. if you want it to be." and "All you need is love." You will forever be missed John, and thank you for the many many songs that we all know and love.  You left this earth way to early.

Eat it Ryan, We Know You're Hungry.

Well well well, just a little to confident there are we Rex.  After a Monday Night Football loss to New England I think it is time for the trash talk to come to a halt.  It seems that your not the coach your big headed self thought you were.  Welcome to reality, where you just got destroyed on television before the whole nation by Tom Brady.  Your overrated quarterback's lucky streak has come to a stop and your beloved defense gave up 45 points!  With the Steelers and the Bears still left on your schedule I just have to say good luck and hopefully you talk some more trash so Troy Polamalu and Julius Peppers can take you out to the dump.

Rebirth of An Even BIGGER Superstar

       HE"S BACK!!!! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages......
Micheal Vick is back in action and BETTER than ever.  Not only is Vick doing what Vick does best (scrambling) but he has found an even more accurate, explosive arm to rack up the passing yards.  Vick is second in the league in QB passer rating with a 105, but up until this week he was leading the NFL in passer rating.  Also Vick has 2,243 passing yards so far with 15 touchdowns.

In Michael Vick's nine years as a professional he has never played on the level he is on right now, and its only week 13....  This is a going to be a record setting year for Vick in passing yards, passer rating, passing touchdowns, interceptions, and rushing touchdowns; and he has only played nine games this season.  If he was named the start in week one who knows how good his stats would be.  He would for sure be leading the league in touchdowns, passing yards, and passer rating due to the offensive scheme and the weapons around him.  Ah what could have been.

                                                  

Already Vick is 231 yards from breaking his career high in passing yards, he has set his career high in passer rating, only thrown two interceptions, and has ran for more touchdowns this year than any of his previous nine years.  This has all been done in NINE GAMES!  Vick has lead the Eagles to a 8-4 record and are leading the NFC East division.

It is clear that there is no answer so far for the brilliance of Michael Vick.  He can throw the ball 50 yards down field to a receiver or if the pocket collapses than he has the ability to ran for a huge gain.  So good luck opposing teams and if you spot the number seven for the Philadelphia Eagles.  I wouldn't even bother sending out the defense, it wont even make a difference.

Agents Get You in Trouble, Parents Get You Paid.

The word is in! Havn't you heard the word? No not the Bird is the Word, but that Cam Newton is cleared to play for the SEC Championship game against South Carolina.  Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was accused of accepting bribes from NCAA schools to go and play there.  However the NCAA saw that Cam Newton's father was to blame for all of this as he was quote "Shopping his son to schools."  This is a big deal and violates the rules of college football yes, but i have a problem with this whole situtation.

If you remember back early this summer, Reggie Bush was found to be in violation of NCAA rules for taking money and gifts from the University of Southern California in his college days.  Reggie was forced to be stripped of all records and wins during college and he decided to give back his Heisman Trophy that he won at USC.  What the hell for? No amount of money or gifts helped Bush run for all those yards or score all those touchdowns.  These were accomplishments that he did because he was simply great.

I bring up the Reggie Bush scandle because these sound very similar to me.  Reggie Bush used an agent instead of his dad though.  Cam Newton was relieved of these penalties because his dad was the one doing this without him.  Hello? How do you not know that your dad is putting a for sale sign on your forehead and waiting for the highest bidder?  Cam Newton is guilty of violating rules of the NCAA, just as Reggie was.

What happen to the days where a player was just concerned about playing the game because he simply love to?  Those days were when football was real, worth watching, meaningful.  Not like today with all the rules and greed for money in the game.

Sittin' in Class

It has been 12 full weeks in the NFL and there isn't a clear cut winner in any division in the league.  In the NFC it has been a different team coming out as the favorite each week. In the AFC, there have only been talks of three teams credited with beginning the best in the confrence.
Four weeks ago it was the Bears, week after that it was the Packers, then the Eagles, and now the Atlanta Falcons have been named the best in the NFC.  Atlanta has been playing with the same consistency week in and out. They sit with the NFC's best record at 9-2.  They have only lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, who are leading the NFC East, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are 8-3.  Personally I think that the Eagles are the best team in the NFC. With Vick being reborn as a dominate quarterback again, there are no opponents to stop this high flying offense.
In the AFC the New England Patriots, go figure, are of course the favorite.  Even when they are tied at the top of the AFC East with the New York Jets for best record in the AFC (9-2). Tom Brady just knows how to win games and the defense is alive with young talent.  Wilfork, Mayo, and company stop opposing offenses while the Patriot offense lights up the score board.
Here are how the Playoffs will look for the NFC:
NFC East- Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)
NFC North- Green Bay Packers (12-4)
NFC South- Atlanta Falcons (13-3)
NFC West- St. Louis Rams (8-8)
Wildcard- New Orleans Saints (12-4) & Chicago Bears (11-5)
And for the AFC:
AFC East- New England Patriots (14-2)
AFC North- Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
AFC South- Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
AFC West- Kansas City Chiefs (11-5)
Wildcard- New York Jets (13-3) & Baltimore Ravens (12-4)