Loyola High School

Here's the deal. So I remember being in college, thinking "I wonder how Loyola is doing this season?" Then I would search the internet for what felt like 12 years until I was left searching the 35 page archives of latimes.com trying to find the Loyola football score from two days earlier. The main website at Loyola is all good and well for the school, but doesn't do much to help quench the sports thirst of former players and people like me who want more than a scoreline. Yes they had Cubs Sports Online for a year or so but that only got updated for like a year and then dropped, so I thought, what the hell, I'm going to include Loyola in my radio station and make them a big part of it so that people like me will have a place to go for all Cubs sports. Hell, maybe in the future I will be able to broadcast live games over the internet, once this station is up and running. In the meantime, let's recap some Loyola High football.

Loyola High School has also had a tradition of sports excellence, and I'll let the stats speak for themselves:

Football: CIF AAAA/Div I Champs - 1962, 1963, 1975, 1990, 2003, 2005
Basketball: CIF AAAA/Div I-A Champs - 1954, 2002, 2003
Volleyball: CIF Div I Champs - 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005
Cross Country: CIF Champs - 1984, 1985, 2002, 2004; CIF State Champs - 2002, 2004
Track: CIF Champs - 1984, 2000, 2003, 2004
Soccer: CIF Division I/Division II Champs - 1998, 2005, 2007
Golf: CIF Northern Div. Champs - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005
Swimming/Diving: CIF Champs - 1984, 1994, 1996, 1997
Baseball: CIF Champs - 1954, 2007
Lacrosse: CIF Champs - 2006; Mission League Champs - 2007

Now, that's just championships. Most of them are in the top division in Southern California, which I would argue is one of the toughest if not the toughest in the country. I could list all of the runners up, but I already feel like Billy Bob Thornton with some sort of Friday Night Lights crazy football school. It's a little different than that, but the traditions remain the same. Half the team's Dad always seems to have played for the team or at least gone to the school. As you can tell, they are usually in contention every year, in most sports. Football dominates the scene though, as it does in the rest of the country.

Three years ago, Loyola went in a new direction after legendary coach Steve Grady stepped down. Grady had been the head football coach since 1976, and had won 2 CIF championships and done well in every season. Stepping into the role as head coach was alum Jeff Kearin, who started coaching at Loyola High School in 1980. After coaching there for 10 years, he left for the University of Southern California in 1991 under Head Coach Larry Smith and later with John Robinson. Jeff became offensive coordinator at Cal State Northridge in 1995. In 1999 he went with John Robinson to UNLV only to return as head coach at Northridge for 3 years until the program was eliminated in 2001. After that Kearin coached at Brophy Prep in Arizona, until leaving for Loyola in 2005. Kearin had tremendous success in his first season at Loyola, winning the CIF title in his very first year.

Coming off such a spectacular season, last year's season shocked many in the Loyola community. The Cubs failed to make the playoffs last year for the first time in 26 years, leaving fans to wonder what had gone wrong, and most people began to turn to the coach for some answers. Usually, there is a bit of a grace period for a coach following a championship season, something like 3-5 years, where the team can basically underacheive, and no one will blame the coach because he brought the school a championship a few years back. But to fall to such a depth, missing the playoffs for the first time in school history, Kearin basically completely bypassed his grace period.

So how have the Cubbies fared this year? With a lot of questions to answer at the beginning of the season, Kearin has left a few of them unanswered. The team is 2-3, including a devastating loss up north to the powerhouse known as Concord De La Salle (55-14). After regrouping to beat Dana Hills 22-0, the Cubs havn't been anything other than lackluster in losses to Dominguez High School (34-24) and Hart (21-13) in somewhat of a rivalry game. Loyola will try to refocus and save their season against an undefeated (but somewhat untested) Chaminade team this Friday at one of Loyola's many make-shift home fields, LA Valley College. With Chaminade being just up the 101 freeway and technically closer to Valley College than Loyola, expect a pretty good "away" support.

Look forward to more Loyola High School rants and raves to come, including pics and a recap from this week's game against Chaminade.

Interested in covering Loyola High School for Go Blue Radio? Email us at goblueradio@gmail.com . Go Cubs!

Lakers Season Preview

Finally, what you've all be waiting for....a Lakers preview! Brought to you by our new Lakers and NBA correspondent, Dan Noyes. He'll be bringing you game previews, reviews, power rankings, commentaries and more likely than not, a few tirades about the Buss family. Leave him a comment and let him know what you think about Kobe and Co.

"At the beginning of every fall, right around the time I start to forget about another late season Dodger debacle, and when the football season is just starting to take shape, the roundball begins to bounce and I begin to get giddy for another season of Lakers basketball, the one team I support that actually gave me something to cheer about when I was growing up. But how quickly things change. It seems like just yesterday I was basking in the glory of back to back to back championships. Now the Lake Show is just trying to sneak in the back door of the playoffs and avoid being swept by the Phoenix Suns.

Now you may think there are several factors that go into why the Lakers have had such a drastic fall from grace. Coaching, injuries, Shaq, Mitch, etc. etc. But the real reason behind the Lakers' struggles for the past 4 seasons is what me and Derek Fisher like to refer to as the "Curse of Chick." The Lakers legendary broadcaster passed away the summer after their third title... and since then, all we in Lakerland have had to endure is... a sexual assault case, an embarrassing loss to the Pistons in the finals, the trading of one of the top 5 players of all time, a losing season, two first round playoff exits, and the best player on the planet demanding to be traded. I just want it to be known that it’s not just franchises who haven't won in 100 years that have curses. Winners have them too. And now that D-Fish is back in the purple and gold., he and I will try to end the 5 year “Curse of Chick” in 2008. Curse or no curse, let's take a look at where the Lakers 07-08 season is headed.

Who’s Gone / Who’s New

Gone: And thank God, Smush Parker.

New: And thank God, Derek Fisher.

Javaris Crittenton

And maybe Coby Karl, Marc Gasol, or Sun Yue.

Position Overview:

Center: Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown & Chris Mihm

I have always felt we don’t need one “great” center (we had the best ever and traded him), but just two that could put up “good” center numbers. If Bynum has developed like I’ve heard, and if Kwame Brown can stay healthy and catch the ball, and if Chris Mihm can get up to speed; all BIG IF’s, we have the pieces. If the three can combine for 20 points and 15 rebounds a night…I’ll be satisfied. Nothing great, but productive. Personally I say play them all until one proves the job is his.

Forwards: Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Brian Cook, Maurice Evans, Vladimir Radmonivic & Ronny Turiaf.

While it may not be the deepest or most talented group in the league, the unit can be effective, again IF healthy. Odom is coming off a second shoulder surgery and will miss all of camp. But when healthy he is easily our second best player and is the lone other Laker who can create his own shot….

Walton must prove he is durable enough to last an entire season playing big minutes. He started off well last year but fizzled after coming back from an ankle injury. Walton is an excellent passer who understands the offense and the game in general.

As for the reserves….Cook is always a threat from the outside but needs to be more consistent and take a pay cut….Evans is athletic and a good defender. Mo was one of the pleasant surprises from last year….Vlad Rad’s hand was hurt even before his snow accident and he couldn’t shoot. I’m hearing that he’s healthy now and I’m praying that he might actually make a shot or two this season (and the following 3 he is signed for).…Turiaf is easily my second or third favorite Laker. He provides instant energy on and off the bench. It is clear his 4 years in college served him well, even to the point last year where he was better than Bynum and Brown.

Guards: Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar, Javaris Crittenton, Sasha Vujajic, & ??????

Kobe Bryant remains as the best overall basketball player in the city, state, league, country, world, you name it. The best there is, period. However he is a bit of a prick so he’s had trouble finding teammates who are both talented and willing enough to play along side him. And as recently as this summer, Kobe felt that his current team didn’t fit one or both of those criteria. He has since apologized and only time will tell how sincere he was. All I know is that he wants to win. And he certainly has the ability to take the team a long way if he can find that ever elusive balance of scoring and involving his teammates.

When I found out Derek Fisher was getting out of his contract in Utah I almost started doing back flips. I instantly knew he would be signed by the Lakers. He always was and will be a Laker (and will forever reside in my living room posing in mid air after releasing that 0.4 second shot against the Spurs—autographed no less). Fish will provide a steadying force on and off the court. He is professional, respectable and above all knows how to deal with Kobe. The Lakers are counting on him to distribute, play defense, and hit his jumper with relative consistency. Whatever happens, he is clearly an upgrade over Smush Parker.

The crew of back-up point guards returns with one more added to the bunch. An apparently much improved Farmar is back. Jordan was kind of thrown to the wolves last year but held his own.…You can always appreciate Sasha’s effort, but no matter what happens I always seem to end up yelling “What the $@#!? SASHA!”....The rookie Crittenton comes in fairly highly touted. He is athletic, tall and is a natural PG. However we all know how Phil feels about rookies.

There is one roster spot available and it will be settled during camp. Early reports on George Karl’s son is that he has nice stroke. All are long shots fighting for a spot on injured reserved (until Kwame gets hurt).

Pre-Season Goals

The Lakers’ training camp started last week in Hawaii, but the team can ill-afford to take a vacation when they are in the islands. A lot of questions remain about the team, and this preseason will be an indicator if whether or not Laker fans should even bother tuning into a telecast this season.

The number one burning issue is health. The Lakers did well last year when healthy, well enough that they made no moves this off season because management actually likes their "healthy roster" and thinks they can actually win. Big questions still remain. Lamar Odom is still recovering from shoulder surgery and K-Lame Brown is still working his way back from ankle surgery. Although neither should miss time in the season, not having the time to get in shape and develop with their teammates will hurt. In addition the Lakers can ill afford any more injuries during camp.

The other question surrounding the Lakers as they approach the season involves their star, best player, and often times their worst headache. Kobe Bryant demanded a trade and blasted the organization this off season (and can you really blame him?). I know he's since retracted, but some things are just not forgotten. I know when #24 walks on the court he is a cold blooded killer and just wants to win, but when Andrew Bynum drops passes and Luke Walton gets beat for a lay-up how will he react? Will he be the team leader we need him to be, or will he run to the papers and demand that moves be made? Only time will tell, and it will also tell how long Kobe will be wearing a Laker’s uniform.

What to Expect

After an off season that garnered more attention for the tirades and rants than it did for free agent signings and blockbuster trades, the Lakers most likely did not put themselves back into championship contention.

However, as bad as this may sound, I actually understand what Mitch and the boys are doing. Winning takes time. You must learn to lose before you can win. The Lakers teams of old got swept from the playoffs for years before they finally won. This Laker team is no different. The core of the team has made it to the playoffs twice and lost. If we were to rebuild, it would take at least three or four more years for the new team to grow, mesh, build, fail and then finally succeed. For now we are hoping that the current team stays healthy and takes the next step, not the finals step, but at least win a playoff series step.

The window of opportunity to ride the best player ever is actually quickly closing. Kobe can no longer afford another rebuilding project. The Lakers did that. Maybe it could have been done a little better, but it’s done. We now have to ride it out and see if Kobe can embrace his teammates, see if Phil can teach and will them, and finally see if anyone wants to go along for the ride (Lamar?).

I see the Lakers finishing 6th in the West at 46-36 and advancing to the second round of the playoffs after pulling a first round upset. It's not the Finals that we have come to know and expect, but it’s a step in the right direction and enough to keep number #24 around for at least one more year.

Watch out for my Pre-Season NBA Power Rankings coming up next week."

-- Dan Noyes

Who's The Boss?

With the Yankees loss last night, the baseball world may not know how to cope with the lack of Yankees exposure in the national media. At least Boston is still around, so expect to be on Red Sox overload over the next few weeks. The Yankees loss will bring a lot of change for that club, starting with the manager, Joe Torre. George Steinbrenner made the ridiculous ultimatum, with the Yankees down 0-2 in a 5 game series, that either the Yankees somehow win 3 straight games, or Joe Torre is gone. After 12 years with the Yankees and 4 World Series, that's how this guy gets treated? I know the Yankees are expected to win every year, but come on. This guy could easily win the AL Manager of the Year award for bringing the Yankees back into the playoffs from out of nowhere, and then he gets the ax at the end of the year. I understand that if I paid as much for a baseball team as Steinbrenner goes, I would expect a bit more than a first round exit, but I still think you don't do somebody like that, especially when he has been the face of the organization for 12 years.


The Yankees will also have a few big name free agents, not to mention Alex Rodriguez' contract allowing him to opt out this year. The Yankees are getting younger and younger, and have a good group of young pitchers that have just come out of their farm system, and a core group of young fielders who have produced this year. I don't feel like taking the time to name them, but look for the Yankees to go a little younger with their roster and possibly let some of their veterans go.


So what's gonna happen with A-Rod? Obviously, no one can offer him what the Yankees can offer him in an extension, which is what the Yankees will need to do if they want to keep him. If he opts out, I highly doubt that the Yankees would then try to sign him. If he opts out, it's probably because a deal is already in place somewhere else. I think it's about a 50/50 chance whether he stays or leaves. I don't think the money is as big an issue as it used to be, because there are other teams out there that will pay him similar money, I think the big issue comes down to whether or not he wants to stay on a changing Yankees team, or if he's had enough of the New York scene.

In the meantime, Frank McCourt (Dodgers Owner), please get on the phone with Scott Boras and whoever Joe Torre's agent is. The Dodgers need a third baseman, and Torre would be about 10 million times better than Grady Little. Little is utterly terrible as he showed the world again last season, and needs to be swept under the carpet. The Dodgers have a high payroll, but it's nowhere close to what the Yankees pay. The Dodgers are second in attendance, but not second in payroll. I know we don't want to become the Yankees, but as Boston has shown, you need a big payroll to win in this game. Signing A-Rod would dramatically help the Dodgers, and I would almost guarantee a play-off series victory with him and Torre. Let's go McCourt, make it happen. Alright, no more Yankees talk for a while.


MLB Predictions


Rockies over Diamondbacks in 6

Red Sox over Indians in 7

Rockies over Red Sox in 7

First Music Post!

I know, I know. This is supposed to be a radio station and all we've had so far on the blog has been sports. Well, here ya go, our first ever music posting, brought to you by our new music correspondent, Andy Cuadrio. He'll be bringing you reviews on new music, updates from the music world, as well as some full fledged rants about music. Enjoy!

"Hello all. It's a pleasure to able to a part of this magnificent blog. It was truly an honor to be asked to give my piece of mind every week about the gorgeous world of music. But before we get started, I must get something off my chest: I know absolutely nothing about sports. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Ziltch.

I know what you're thinking. It's embarrassing. But it's cool. I understand that I'm a 21 year old University of Michigan student who honestly cannot explain a game of football if his life depended on it. I'm that guy who will sit through a football match with a group of guys and pretend like I know what's going on. Or when someone comes up to me and they assume that I'm a Wolverines fan they'll go on for hours about how great UM is, and I'll politely nod my head and agree with everything they say. The hard part comes when they ask me a question. Let's observe the following conversation:

Football Fan: "Hey buddy! Did you see Mike Hart's 14-yard gallop in the first quarter, which led to a 31-yard TD pass from Chad Henne to Adrian Arrington? It made Hart Michigan's all-time leading rusher!"

Me: "Oh yeah…that was awesome!? (awkward voice crack). But it kinda sucks that Mike Hart killed all those puppies. How can someone kill innocent animals?"

Football Fan: What are you? Fucking retarded?

Me: ….(slight head nod).

See what I mean? Well you see, back in my glory days, I was the short, chubby kid with glasses and braces who was picked last for everything. You know you're in bad shape when the rejects pick you last for their teams. Very traumatic but whatever. I got over it. So if you were expecting me to talk about how the Tigers will probably win the Super Bowl this year, don't even fucking talk to me. Now, if you want to buy me a cold beer and talk about the latest volume of Jock Jams, then you might have the best conversation of your life. Now with that said and out of the way, hopefully we'll all be open to what I have to say about our musical culture. (Yes, even if we have to talk about the beautiful Britney Spears, or even the Spice Girls reunion tour. Just kidding…?)


Do you ever get that feeling about a certain song or musician, that whenever you hear his/her song, you just wish they would go away and never come back? You know, just ship them off to an island so we'll never have to see them again. With God on our side, luckily they'll be eaten by a shark or starve to death. Just a thought. On my own personal island, Avril Lavigne reigns as queen. She sucks at life. I want her to suffer like Tom Hanks did in Cast Away. When she tries to make her escape on her homemade raft, hopefully she'll go under and we'll never see her again. Watch this video to truly see how bad she sucks.



Who likes Dashboard Confessional!?!? I did…until they released their horribly awful album, Dusk and Summer, last year. I must say, I was extremely upset. They failed me. They were there for me during my teen years. They helped me through my heart aches and what not. They were my best friends. They let me down. Fortunately for them, they released their latest LP The Shade of Poison Trees. If you are, or were, a Dashboard fan like myself, I think you're in for a pleasant surprise. With this album, DC returned to their roots: A more broken down, acoustic form. Although we will never get that true Dashboard (or shall I say Chris Carrabba) sound that we grew to love in our teenage years, this is the next best thing. So here it is: we're friends again. They'll be there for me when my heart is broken. They'll have a good cry with me. Thanks guys. You're real pals. I heart you.


Any one in particular on your island? Thoughts on the Dashboard album or any new album as of late? Let's discuss. Take it easy."

-- Andy Cuadrio

Week 5 NFL Picks

The best thing about professional football, is that every team has a chance of winning on every Sunday or Monday. It may not seem that way, but every the bad teams find a way to win at least once a year, and the really good teams find a way to lose at least one game every year. The parity in the NFL is what makes it the most popular sport in the US, because every teams fan base knows that no matter how bad they really are, they still may win because the teams are pretty even. This also makes the NFL a tough league to bet on, because the spreads are usually very small and heavy favorites often lose. Check out the Vegas spreads some time and look at the difference between college and pro football. This week in the NFL, only 4 games have a spread higher than a touchdown, so they are expecting every game to be close, every week. It's always more fun when your team has a chance to win. On to the picks, home teams in caps.


SAINTS (-3) over Panthers

The Saints have been a completely different team this year than what they were last year in their inspiring run to the NFC Championship Game. Reggie Bush has been found out for what he is, more of a 3rd down, screen or receiving back rather than an every down running back. The lose of Deuce McAllister will hurt them tremendously, and force Bush to be the main running back. He's shown his inability to run between the tackles and has been very ineffective in the passing game this year. Carolina has been up and down this year, relying on Steve Smith to carry the load for them. With Delhomme out and David Carr starting, the Panthers will try to run the ball with Foster and Williams, while the Saints will stack the line and force Carr to beat them. We saw how well that worked out for the Panthers last week.....


Jaguars (-2) over CHIEFS

I know, I know, the Chiefs looked a whole lot better last week in their comeback against the Chargers, but I am still not ready to believe that this team is any good. The Chiefs run game has been anemic and has forced Damon Huard to try o win the ballgame for them, and he is not capable of doing that. They only reason the Chiefs won last week was because their rookie wide receiver Dwayne Bowe utterly destroyed the Chargers. I don't expect a rookie wide receiver to carry a team like that every week, and especially against a very good Jaguars defense. The Jaguars will play good defense, run the ball with Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor, and Garrard will only have to complete a few passes for them to win. Not by much, but the Jags take this one.


Lions (+3.5) over REDSKINS

I like what the Redskins are doing this year, playing Jason Campbell and letting him struggle if he is going to struggle. The thing is, he hasn't really struggled, even if he hasn't been too consistent. He has a great arm and can let it fly on deep passes to Santana Moss and Antwaan Randel-El. The 'Skins defense is stout and they have the one-two punch of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts in the run game. So why aren't I picking them? Because they are coming up against "God's Team" in the Lions. Jon Kitna has supposedly single-handily converted 20 Lions to Christianity. That's got to be some kind of record. But in all honesty, the Lions are starting to click offensively, especially in the passing game. Roy Williams is a legitimate stud at wide receiver and rookie Calvin Johnson has looked good too. Combined with getting 3.5 points this week, and the Lions are the pick.


Falcons (+8) over TITANS

Now, the Titans have looked good this year, and I trust Vince Young over most of the QBs in the league, and especially over Joey Harrington, but 8 points is just too much to pass up. The Titans defense has played well all year, and looked especially good against the Colts. Vince Young has carried this team on his legs and will continue to do so. The Falcons have looked horrendous at times, but are coming off of a win last week against Houston where they actually played some good football. That isn't a glowing recommendation of the Falcons, but hey, when in doubt, take the points.


TEXANS (-5.5) over Dolphins

Both teams are coming off of losses last week and are looking to bounce back. The Texans looked good before last weeks loss, where as the Dolphins layed down last week and didn't even put up a fight. I know Daunte Culpepper was fired up for some pay back action, but come on. The Dolphins didn't even show up to play football. The Texans need Ahman Green and Andre Johnson back, and this team will have a good chance to make the playoffs. Even without them this week, the Texans are just a better football team than the Dolphins.


STEELERS (-6) over Seahawks

Everyone and their mother will be taking the Seahawks with their 6 points today. I genuinely think that the Seahawks are one of the most overrated teams in the NFL, and just really aren't that good. Hasselback is very inconsistent and without a great line this year Shaun Alexander isn't that great either. Remember when he was unstoppable? What happened? On the other side, the Steelers have a little bit more defensively and I think Roethlisberger will do just enough this week. The line is a bit ridiculous, but I think the Steelers win by a touchdown.


Browns (16.5) over PATRIOTS

Yes, I am picking against the Patriots. I know they have demolished teams, and the Browns aren't exactly a good team, but come on, 16.5 points? This isn't college football, and the Browns have enough going on offense with Braylon Edwards and Jamal Lewis to score a few points. The Patriots may just be looking ahead this week and let the Browns creep up on them. It won't be an upset, but the Browns will cover.


Cardinals (-3.5) over RAMS

How are the Rams consistently favored every week before this week? Did they finally just get found out? How could people not have known this two weeks ago? They are terrible, and are now starting Gus Frerotte. In Arizona, the Cardinals will be starting Kurt Warner over Matt Leinart, which I think is a good move for them. Leinart isn't as great as everyone seemed to think last year, and the Cardinals need someone who can throw the ball out to Fitzgerald and Boldin and let them make plays. The Cardinals just have too many weapons for the Rams to handle.


GIANTS (-3.5) over Jets

The battle of the crappy New York teams is upon us. Who can suck harder this week? The Jets are starting Chad Pennington, and that gives them the best chance to lose every week. The Giants are getting Brandon Jacobs back this week and look how that defense flew around last weekend against Philly. Don't tell me that Pennington will have any chance at all of avoiding any pass rushers. He can barely move, barely throw, and shouldn't be a starting QB in the NFL. The sooner the Jets figure this out the sooner Jets fans will stop being put on suicide watch.


Bucs (+9.5) over COLTS

Similar to the Pats/Browns game, 9.5 points is just too much to pass up in this situation. Yes the Colts are good and can conceivably score a ton of points, but the Bucs defense is as good as it ever was. I don't get why teams get rid of Jeff Garcia either, he only wins games. Look at Philadelphia last year and the Niners before that. Garcia just knows how to win games and I don't understand why this guys is such a journeyman.


Chargers (+1) over BRONCOS

Simply put, the Broncos cannot stop the run and the Chargers have LT. If Norv Turner doesn't give LT at least 40 touches, LT may actually harm him. Seriously, has there been a worse front office decision in recent memory than the Chargers hiring Norv Turner. This guy is so bad that the fans were chanting for Marty Shottenheimer last week. The Broncos have too many injuries to overcome this week and still can't figure out how to tackle anyone. They are two plays away from being 0-4, and have a tough schedule in front of them. With Henry's future in doubt, the Broncos will be looking to reload for next year.


NINERS (+3) over Ravens

Here we go again.....when in doubt, take the points right? I cant figure out if Trent Dilfer is a good or a bad thing for them. The Niners were everyone's sleeper pick this year, and the bandwagon peaked a bit early with them. They certainly haven't lived up to their pre-season potential and the jury is still out on Alex Smith as an NFL QB. This will be Gore vs. McGahee all day, with this game possibly ending in a tie. Who knows. Take the points.


PACKERS (-3) over Bears

"Brett Favre is back!" Well......a little bit. Yes he has been great this year and has everyone talking about him and how much he's changed and buckled down, watched more film, and taken less chances. Here's the thing though, he hasn't taken more chances, he's been the same as he's always been, but he's just thrown less interceptions. The past few years you could tell if the Packers won by looking at the box score to see how many INTs Favre had thrown. None? Probably a win. 2-3? Probably a loss. With the Bears secondary depleted, look for Favre to have another good game. The Bears are in desperate need of a good QB, and let me just say that Brian Greise isn't the answer either.


Cowboys (-10) over BILLS

Yes I know it's 10 points and I've taken the points on almost every spread over 7, but it's the Cowboys against the Bills. It's just supposed to happen. I could not even know who was starting and tell you that the Cowboys will win. Throw in the ridiculous Cowboys offense with Romo and T.O., and the Cowboys will win by over two touchdowns. Speaking of Romo, has there been a better story this year (other than Favre)? Everyone loves the guy (including T.O), he throws up crazy fantasy numbers and he's dating Carrie Underwood. What's not to like?

Our Carr is a bit old, we need one with Les Miles

I, by far and away, have the least amount of hatred for Lloyd Carr out of anyone I know. I will let the statistics do the talking for me....116-38 record in his 11 year and 5 game stint as Michigan's head football coach, and that puts him among the winningest active football coaches in the NCAA Division I-A. His teams have won five Big Ten titles and one national championship in 1997. In addition, Michigan had been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for all but nine of its games under Carr. He became the first Wolverine coach to win four straight bowl games, beating Auburn, 31-28, on New Year's Day at the 2001 Florida Citrus Bowl, after leading Michigan to victories in the 1998 Rose Bowl, 1999 Florida Citrus Bowl, and the 2000 Orange Bowl. He has finished no lower than 4th in the Big Ten, and that happened in his second year as the head coach, in 1996. Carr has a .500 or better winning percentage against every one of Michigan's rivals, including a 9-3 record against Michigan State and a 9-2 record against Penn State. Even with these impressive numbers, Carr can't seem to find any support from the Michigan faithful. It seems that Carr has been on the fans' hot seat for the past 6 years, with countless "Fire Lloyd Carr" websites and t-shirts that can been seen every football Saturday. So what's the big deal? Why does everyone hate him?

Michigan fans expect to win a national championship every year, or at least be in contention for it. Although it appears that Michigan has don't that the past few years, they have ended every season on a sour note, and have been overpowered, over matched, and over coached in their late season "championship contender" games. Carr has a 5-7 record in bowl games, and has lost 5 out of the last 6 bowl games. Michigan has won 1 out of 4 Rose Bowls they have played in, and have lost each of the last 3 times they have gone to Pasadena. Michigan was dominated in both Rose Bowl appearances against USC, when it looked like the teams were fairly evenly matched before the games. Bowl games (especially the games around New Year's Day) are when all of the football watching country tunes in and finds out who the best teams are. When Michigan consistently lays an egg in their bowl game, it doesn't tend to sit too well with Michigan fans and their pride.

Now the biggie.......Carr has a 6-6 record against Ohio State, and he pulled off a couple of upsets early in his head coaching career that kept Ohio State from winning the national title. But Carr has lost 5 out of the last 6 games against Ohio State, and has been visibly and thoroughly out coached by Jim Tressel. This more than anything has the Michigan faithful up in arms and ready to take Carr out to the woodshed. The Appalachian St. loss and Michigan's inability to handle anyone who has a spread offense or a running quarterback (ahem, Vince Young running all over us in the Rose Bowl, Troy Smith last year, Dennis Dixon this year) have only reinforced what most people already knew: Michigan needs to enter the 21st century of college football. No more underachievement, no more stagnant offense, no more conservative coaching, and definitely no more being out coached in the big games. Michigan has the talent, now the coaching just needs to catch up.

So what do we do? Where do we go? The best thing about this whole situation is Lloyd Carr's contract. Michigan reworked Lloyd Carr's contract in 2003, extending it through the 2007 season with automatic one-year rollovers and stipulating that, at its conclusion, Carr will be appointed an associate athletics director. In other words, Michigan can usher Lloyd Carr into a front office role, without having to fire him from the head coaching job. This is a move that befits his records and his accolades, and one that I would personally like to see happen. That leaves an opening after this year for a new head football coach. All I ask from Bill Martin, Michigan's Athletic Director, is to please please please please please not promote from within. I know Ron English is getting a lot of publicity lately but he is not a head coach. He can't even get his defense to make a freaking tackle. Mike DeBord can't seem to call a third down play where a receiver actually runs a pattern past the first down marker. How many times did Braylon Edwards and now Mike Hart bail out the play calling? Can't think of a good play? Throw it up to Braylon and have him single-handedly make a spectacular catch. Can't come up with a new pass play? Hand if off to Mike Hart and have him carry 7 defenders for 20 yards. How many of those "immediately throw the ball to a receiver who takes one step and turns around" plays can we run for 1 or 2 yards before they stop calling that play? At times it's unbelievable how many times the entire crowd knows exactly what play will be called next.

That would leave Michigan looking for outside coaching prospects. With the list too numerous to name, I will make a case for the one guy who has stood out to me and made me think that this change can and will happen: Les Miles. Les Miles is currently the head football coach at LSU, but has deep roots in the University of Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan where he was a two year letterman under Coach Bo Schembechler from 1974 to 75. In 1980, Miles returned to Michigan as an assistant coach under Schembechler. He left Michigan in 1982 to coach at the University of Colorado with Coach Bill McCartney, but he returned to Michigan in 1987 and, for the next eight years, helped lead the team to eight consecutive winning seasons and bowl appearances. In 1995, Miles became offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State University and during the 1998 through 2000 seasons he was the tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys. Miles returned to OSU in 2001 as the head coach, and joined LSU in 2005. Miles has a 26-4 record at LSU and has consistently won big games and bowl games. When was the last time Michigan did something like this:



Ummmmm, the answer is never. Just look at how the players and coaches react to him on the sidelines. You can just tell that they love playing for him and that he is the type of guy that can connect with his players, and keep things fresh and exciting. Miles has also done very little to hide the fact that he would love a chance to be the head coach at Michigan. He is an honest guy and tends to show that during interviews. He doesn't say outright that he won't leave LSU for Michigan, and he does leave the door very open with some of his quotes. LSU athletic director Skip Bertman has always known that this was a possibility when they hired him, which is why he wrote up the contract in which Miles must pay $500,000 to leave before his contract expires at the end of 2011, and $1.25 million if he leaves for Michigan. That shows that Bertman has been scared of this happening from the beginning. There is no question that Michigan would cover that cost for him if he ends up being hired, it's just that it almost seems inevitable when you include something like that in the contract.





Michigan needs a new coaching staff, and with a very good senior class graduating this year, it just seems like a good time to make that change. Whether or not Michigan goes with Les Miles won't be clear until after the season, but I for one will be a Les Miles supporter. Now, if they don't make a change AT ALL, my Michigan posts may just become a little more harsh.....





Don't hesitate to leave us a comment and let us know who you think the next Michigan head coach should be!

MLB Playoff Predictions and Preview Part 2

Now on to the ALDS. As a Dodgers fan, I tend to follow the National League a bit closer than I do the American League, but it's not too difficult to follow the AL because all you ever get on ESPN is Yankees and Red Sox news. I am also somewhat biased against most of the teams in the American League playoffs, but I promise not to let that get into the way. It's hard not to be biased as a West Coast sports fan when you mainly get great highlights from East Coast, mostly AL, teams. The Red Sox and Yankees dominate the news, so it's easy for someone 3,000 miles away from that area to resent that. And don't get me started on the Anaheim Angels ( I refuse to call them the Los Angeles Angels, they're not even in LA County!) The match ups are good in the AL, and should have some high scoring series.


ALDS
Red Sox/Angels







Both teams went 7-7 in their last 14 games, and sort of cruised into the playoffs. The Red Sox held off the charging Yankees, but gave up enough of their lead to put a lump in a few Red Sox fans' throats. Even though they finished with the best record in the majors, it just didn't feel like that. They got out to a big lead in the division which gave them enough space to win it even when they weren't playing too well. They maybe took their foot off of the gas a little bit, possibly looking to the playoffs a bit too soon. The Angels won the AL West by 6 games, and no one in that division was too much of a threat. The Mariners were close at one point in the season, but the Angels thoroughly trounced them and showed their dominance. The Angels definitely put it in cruise control down the stretch, and looked to rest some of their stars. In terms of momentum, neither team comes in especially hot. Momentum Edge: Even


Offensively, both teams are stacked. They each have a legitimate star, as well as proven hitters and young up and comers who have played very well. Unfortunately, both teams also have a few injuries that are going to impact their offenses. Gary Matthews Jr. has been left off of the Angels playoff roster. Should they beat the Red Sox, he will be eligible to return. That means that Chone Figgins or Reggie Willets will be playing center field. This impacts them offensively but even more defensively, which I will bring up later. Vladimir Guerrero has an imflamed right tricep muscle, and it is unclear how much that will effect him. Obviously, without Vladdy, the Angels are done. I think it will force him to be the DH, which again will only impact them defensively. It's tough to out-do the Red Sox offensively, with Big Papi, Manny, Varitek, Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew, Youkilis, and Coco Crisp. Drew has stepped it up as of late but most of Red Sox nation wants Jacoby Ellsbury to start in his place. Ellsbury has played well and knowing J.D Drew from personal experience, I wouldn't trust Drew in the playoffs. The only concern in their lineup right now would be Manny. Manny hasn't been Manny, especially in September. The Red Sox offense is not quite as good as they used to be, and the Red Sox will need Manny to produce for them to win it all. Offense Edge: Red Sox


Defensively, both teams are shaky. With Matthews Jr. out, and Vlad possibly being limited to DH only, that leaves Figgins and Willets playing right and center field respectively. With an ageing Garret Anderson in left and a new catcher, the Angels just aren't that good defensively. It doesn't get too much better in Boston, with their outfield play being almost unbearable. It doesn't get too much better in the infield, with Lowell and Youkilis being a bit slow for their position and Lugo having a nightmare season defensively. Defense Edge: Even


Starting pitching is where this series gets interesting. Josh Beckett(20-7) and John Lackey(19-9) are very similar pitchers. Both have overpowering fastballs, both have the same attitude, and both are not afraid to knock someone off of the plate. You could almost have these guys switch uniforms and get the same performances from them. After Beckett, the Red Sox will throw Daisuke Matsuzaka(15-12) and Curt Schilling(9-8). The Angels will counter with Kelvim Escobar(18-7) and Jered Weaver(13-7). Dice-K has had an up and down year, and is really a mystery at this point trying to predict how he will react to the pressure packed playoffs. We all know what Schilling (and his bloody sock) can do, but he has definitely declined this year and his age may show. On the flip side, Escobar has had a fantastic season and Weaver has shown spots of brilliance, as well as a bit of consistency. It's tough to go against the experience of the Red Sox pitching, but I think the Angles are up to the task. Starting Pitching Edge: Even


This is where I think the series will be won and lost. Nothing but questions out of the Red Sox bullpen, with the Red Sox really only having one reliable reliever in Jonathon Papelbon (1.85 ERA, 37 SV). Monsieur Gagne (3.81 ERA) has been anything but his old self after the Red Sox traded for him this summer. Okajima (2.22 ERA) has a "tired arm" and who knows what they can get out of him. The Angels at least have Scot Shields (3.86 ERA) who can hold it down before they turn it over to K-Rod (2.81 ERA, 40 SV). They also have Darren Oliver (3.78 ERA) and Dustin Moseley (4.40 ERA)who have been consistent. As I said earlier, this is where the series will be won and lost, and there are too many questions with the Red Sox bullpen that won't be answered in time. Relief Pitching Edge: Angels


Most of the sports pundits (and ESPN) have written this series off as a Red Sox victory. Here's the thing about the Angels, they don't go away and they find a way to win with guys you've never heard of. Mike Scioscia is one of the best managers in the game, and they have consistently won playoff series over the past few years. They will need to find a way to score some runs, but I think they will be able to do so late in games off of the Red Sox relievers. Final Prediction: Angels in 5



ALDS
Indians/Yankees






The Indians finished tied with Boston for the best record in the majors. They've been right on the cusp the last few years, and with a core group of young players they finally put it all together this year and had a fantastic season. The Indians won the AL Central by 8 games, and still finished with a solid 11-5 record over their last 16 games. The Yankees on the other hand put pressure on the Red Sox for the AL East, and comfortably wrapped up the Wild Card by 6 games, and finished 11-5 over their last 16 games as well. The Yankees had a little bit more to play for down the stretch, and are feeling pretty good about how they finished the season. The Indians basically just stayed the course and played consistently well all season, but didn't really play for anything down the stretch. Momentum Edge: Yankees


Everyone knows the Yankees have paid to have the best starting lineup, and on paper they certainly do. A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, Posada, Abreu, and Damon are all-stars, and they younger players aren't too shabby either. They can go for a slump now and again, and A-Rod will need to prove that he can take this team on his back in the playoffs. Don't look past the Indians though, as Sizemore and Hafner are legitimate studs. Add Victor Martinez and the Indians can definitely score runs. It's now or never for A-Rod, and I think he gets it done. Offense Edge: Yankees


Defensively, both teams have their hits and misses. Jeter and A-Rod are two of the best in the game, and Damon can patrol the middle, but the other outfielders aren't anything special defensively. The Indians have a great infield defensively and Grady Sizemore is a human highlight reel. Defense Edge: Indians


Like the other series, the starting pitching is where this series starts to get interesting. C.C. Sabathia(19-7) will likely win the AL Cy Young Award, and Fausto Carmona(19-8) isn't too far behind him. Together they have won 38 games this year, the most by any two teammates. If this series goes five games, the Yankees probably will see the two pitchers start three times, which doesn't bode well for them. Jake Westbrook(6-9) will likely start the third game. The Yankees will counter with Chien-Ming Wang(19-7), Andy Pettitte(15-9), and either Mike Mussina(11-10) or Roger Clemens(6-6). Wang has had a spectacular season, but the rest of the rotation looks like it's 2000 again. The old arms won't be enough for the Indians young guns. Starting Pitching Edge: Indians


The Indians bullpen will need to step up if they are going to win this series. The Indians bullpen's ERA is 3.77, fourth-best in the league. But they will be playing the Yankees, who can win a game in one bad late inning. The Indians bullpen is lead by lefty Rafael Betancourt(1.47 ERA), who is holding the opposition to a .183 batting average, and has nine walks and 80 strikeouts in 79 1/3 innings. Lefty Rafael Perez(1.78 ERA) has a .187 batting average against, with 15 walks and 62 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. The weak link is closer Joe Borowski (5.07 ERA, 45 SV), who has the highest ERA of any pitcher ever with at least 40 saves. Borowski also had a meltdown at Yankee Stadium when he allowed six runs in the ninth inning. That is definitely going to be on his mind when he is trying to close a game out in New York. Now, Mariona Rivera(3.15 ERA, 30 SV) is certainly not who he used to be, but he still has a bit of swagger left in him. Kyle Farnsworth(4.80 ERA) and Joba Chamberlain (0.38 ERA) are big, powerful right-handers who have overpowering stuff. Joba has been nearly unhittable, but has shown that he is not super-human. Relief Pitching Edge: Even


The Indians pitching will need to keep the powerful Yankee bats at bay, and Sabathia and Carmona will need to win all of their games to make it happen. I really want to write that the Indians will win this series, I really do. They have the pitching and the bullpen to make it happen. But it's the Yankees. I hate them, and they'll probably win. Final Prediction: Yankees in 5










Final Predicitions:


Yankees over Indians
Angels over Red Sox
Phillies over Rockies
Diamondbacks over Cubs


Yankees over Angels
Phillies over Diamondbacks


Phillies over Yankees

MLB Playoff Preview and Predictions

With the Dodgers participating in their annual tragedy, "stay in it long enough to get people's hopes up and force everyone to set themselves up for the inevitable crap the bed moment during the last few weeks of the season". Which this year played out with the Dodgers losing 11 out of their last 14 games. Obviously I've come to expect this every year, and did everything I could to not jump on the Dodgers' late season bandwagon that claims a few new victims every year. More on the Dodgers in a few months...

Now, normally I don't care about the playoffs of any sport once my team is out of it, but after watching the Padres/Rockies 13 inning wild card playoff game last night, (watching the Padres lose never hurts), I started to get a little excited about the playoffs. So what the hell, here's a preview with my predictions.

NLDS

Rockies/Phillies

Best match up of the first round if you ask me. Both teams are coming off of amazing finishes to the season, with the Phillies becoming the third team since 1900 to overcome a seven-game deficit in September and beat the Mets for the NL East. The Rockies on the other hand only won 14 out of their last 15 games(!), capping it off last night with a thrilling victory by beating Trevor Hoffman in the bottom of the 13th. It's safe to say that these teams have an equal amount of momentum heading into this series. Momentum Edge: Even

The Phillies seem to have an edge with their lineup, boasting last year's MVP in Ryan Howard and this year's MVP candidate, Jimmy Rollins. Not to mention Chase Utley and Aarond Roward, the Phillies have some pop in that lineup. Colorado isn't too shabby either, but MVP candidate Matt Holliday and ROY candidate Troy Tulowitzki will have to carry these young Rockies if they are going to win the series. I know they have Tood Helton, but he isn't the superstar he used to be, but still a very good 3 in that lineup. Offense Edge: Phillies

Defensively, both teams are solid. Tim Kurkjian of ESPN.com called Colorado's defense, "the best in the game". The Rockies made only 68 errors, fewest in the major leagues, 15 fewer than any other National League team. They made 180 double plays, second most in the major leagues. The defense is anchored by the shortstop Tulowitzki, who committed eleven errors on the season. The Phillies aren't too bad defensively, with Rollins at short and Roward giving up his body out in center, they can make plays. Howard is a weak spot at first though, and proved this the other night when he dropped a ball at first and couldn't pick up in, letting a run score. Defense Edge: Colorado

Starting pitching is where this series gets a bit more interesting. Both teams have relied on offensive output to carry them through the end of the season, surviving some poor outputs from their starters. The Phillies look like they are going to throw Hamels (15-5), Kendrick (10-4), Moyer (14-12) and possibly Lohse (9-12). Colorado is going to go with Francis (17-9), Morales (3-2), Jimenez (4-4), and possible Fogg (10-9). Although Francis is a very good starter (even though he's Canadian), but doesn't have commanding stuff or a low ERA. I know he played in Colorado, but ERA can really tell a lot about a pitcher and can sometimes be overshadowed but the amount of wins a pitcher has. Morales and Jimenez are basically new talents and have really yet to prove themselves, especially on a large stage. Hamels on the other hand is a legitimate talent. He has commanding stuff and his Johan Santana-like change up is at times, unhittable. Moyer is ancient but can still be counted on, and Kendrick is much the same as Morales and Jimenez, unproven and the results are somewhat unknown. Starting Pitching Edge: Phillies

The relievers aren't much better than the starters, but have played relatively well down the stretch. The Rockies boast Brian Fuentes, Jeremy Affeldt, LaTroy Hawkins, with newcomer Manny Corpas taking over the closer role from Fuentes. The Rockies' relievers have have stepped up recently, with Corpas earning saves in 5 out of their last 9 games. The Phillies relievers have taken some slack throughout the year, but have also done well down the stretch. The Phillies have Tom Gordon, Antonio Alfonseca, Jose Mesa, J.C. Romero, and Brett Myers closing. All of those guys have been closers at one point in their careers, and have a vast amount of experience in tight situations. Romero also boast an ERA of just over 1.00 in his past 52 appearances. Myers has been hit and miss with a 4.33 ERA but has closed out the important games on their win streak. Too close for me to call. Pitching Relief Pitching Edge: Even


All in all this series should be the best of the first round. Expect a lot of scoring from both of these clubs, especially when the series is in Colorado. Both teams are very even but I expect Howard, Rollins, and the rest of the Phillies lineup to continue hitting the ball well and to carry them into the next round. Final Prediction: Phillies in 5

NLDS

Diamondbacks/Cubs

The other national league matchup can be best described as the "something to prove" match up. The "Baby Backs" have been riding their young stars the entire year, and have proven many a sports writer and critic wrong. Most people thought that the Diamondbacks would tire out, and that their young guys would decline toward the end of the year and slowly drop down to about third or fouth in the NL West. The backs held onto their lead and finished 6-5 down the stretch, not exactly a powerful finish, but they seemed to win every single must-win game during that span. The Cubs went 12-6 over their last 18 games, winning the NL Central by 2 games over the Brewers. Cubs fans (like many Dodger fans) are cynical by nurture, after having endured countless depressing and sometimes devastating losses over the years. This leaves them with that sinking feeling of inevitable doom while watching their team. Surprisingly, they are usually willing to give them one more chance, and often times have a weird sense of unwarranted optimism. The Bartman incident from a few years back seemed to cement their unlucky and doomed status, but the 2004 Boston Red Sox proved that history can be forgotten in one year. By holding off the Brewers this year and winning the division, Cubs fans seem to think that this year may just be the year, as Cubs teams of old would have squandered that division for sure. As for momentum, both teams were counted out at one point this season, and both of them are now dancing in the playoffs. Momentum Edge: Even

On paper, this isn't even a contest. The Cubs lineup includes Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Cliff Floyd, and Jacque Jones. Now, Derrek Lee and Cliff Floyd are certainly not what they used to be, but Ramirez and Soriano should still be enough for them to have an offensive edge. For the Diamondbacks, Chris Young is their only real homerun threat, with Eric Byrnes adding a little pop. But somehow, the Diamondbacks have produced enough runs to win 90 games this season. They may not have your prototypical numbers, but they get it done. Offense Edge: Cubs

Defensively, neither team has shown consistency. The Cubs outfield play has been atrocious, and Stephen Drew has 17 errors at shortstop for the Diamondbacks. The only difference between the two teams is Eric Byrnes, who can pull off a web gem with the best of them. Defense Edge: Diamondbacks


The Cubs spent big money during the season to extend Carlos Zambrano's contract. He's a very emotional pitcher, which has somewhat endeared him to the Cubs' fanbase. He has commanding stuff, but has been anything from stable. He can be erratic, and if you get to him early in the game he is a definite non-factor and will tend to implode. He has been very good lately. He hasn't allowed a run in his past two starts, covering 13 innings. But he had a 7.06 ERA in August, which followed a July in which he had a 1.38 ERA. After Zambrano (18-13) the Cubs will pitch Ted Lilly (15-8) and Rich Hill (11-8), two lefthanders with similar pitching styles. Despite Hill's ridiculous curveball, neither one of those pitchers should be something to be afraid of. On the flip side, the Diamondbacks have Brandon Webb (18-10), who is very consistent and has the ability to dominate every game he pitches. Last year's Cy Young winner, Webb threw 42 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings this year, including three consecutive complete game shutouts. The Diamondbacks will then turn to Doug Davis (13-12) and Livan Hernandez (11-11). Hernandez has the ability to lull you to sleep and throw you changeups all day long, keeping you in the park. He's a proven playoff pitcher and tends not to get shelled. Starting Pitching Advantage: Diamondbacks


Again, on paper, this isn't even a contest. The Diamondbacks led the majors in saves this year, with Jose Valverde saving 47 out of a possible 51 games. Brandon Lyon (2.71 ERA), Tony Pena (3.27), Doug Slaten (2.72) and Juan Cruz (87 strikeouts in 61 innings) all contribute to this bullpen, which, with the lack of offense in Arizona, was the main contributor to their NL West division title. The Diamondbacks were also 32-20 in one run games this year, which usually shows the effects of a good bullpen. The Cubs bullpen has held it together for the most part of the year, and with the emergence of Carlos Marmol (1.43 ERA) the pen has definitely gotten a boost. Bob Howry (3.32 ERA), Scott Eyre (4.13), and Michael Wuertz (3.48 ERA) make up the bullpen, that has shown some signs of improvement in recent weeks. The closer, Ryan Dempster (4.73 ERA and 28 SV) strikes fear into the hearts of Cubs fans everywhere, and is certainly the weakest part of the Cubs bullpen. Relief Pitching Edge: Diamondbacks


After writing this preview, I guess I am more excited for this series than I thought. But mainly just because I want to see what the Cubs can do this time to devastate their fans. Every time I look at the Cubs and their roster, nothing jumps out at me and makes me think that they can win this series. I guess they can continue the theme of this preview and prove me wrong, but I just think the the Diamondbacks pitching will overpower their hitters and the Cubs bullpen will give up any lead that they may have. The Diamondbacks have found a way to win all year and I think that will continue with this series. Final Prediction: Diamondbacks in 4

AL & World Series Predictions coming tomorrow.......