Stream Of The Day 8/16/12

South Carolina- The dog days of summer are dragging right along and some fantasy teams could use an extra punch to improve their playoff standing. Whether it be a roto league, where it makes all the sense in the world to add a pitcher and hope to grab wins and K's to add to your yearly total, or you're a Matchup guy like me and you're looking to get over the weekly hump. Every day we will add a pitcher available in the majority of fantasy baseball leagues.* Be it a strong matchup, a favorable venue or a unique scenario that I'll describe, you need to pick up the guy featured here and start him, pretty simple folks. At the closure of every article we will show the results weekly and yearly to show how we're helping both our roto and matchup readers.

First a word on yesterdays pick. Mike Leake, My God. let me preface this by saying, even I couldn't have predicted that. 9 IP, 1 ER, just 4 Hits allowed and 0 walks and 4 K's. I knew the Mets were impatient, but not a single walk?!? Unbelievable. Whats more unbelievable Blanton produced less swings and misses than innings pitched with 6 to 9 respectively. Just great defense, fantastic pitching economy and enough run support to gut punch the already reeling Mets. I hope you guys scooped up the man who was available in 89% of Yahoo Leagues, I know I did and I ain't mad at it. Enough of previous glory, onto the SOTD for August 16th.

JOE BLANTON

Ownership: 24%

Stats

Year: 144.1 IP, 8 W's, 123 K's, 4.61 ERA, 1.20 WHIP

Last 30: 34 IP, 1 W, 28 K's, 3.44 ERA, 0.97 WHIP

Last 14: 11 IP, 0 W, 8 K, 4.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP

Yeah I know those numbers do look way more palatable than Leake's. Look at his K numbers hes ranked just outside the top 30 this year in that category. Blanton by the numbers is almost a must have guy as your 5th  or 6h best starter. The biggest problem with Blanton, the long ball. Blanton is your poster boy for the  Fly Ball Pitcher Alert! Blanton has let up a National League leading 23 Home Runs this year. Yes that is less than greater than 1 every 6.1 innings aka 1 per start. Huge ERA and WHIP that long ball no doubt, but are you ready for the good news? Hello Pittsburgh. 

PNC Bank Park is one of the 10 worst parks in the majors for Home Runs. No one hits homers there. The entire team only has 51 homers in 58 games at home versus 79 in as many games on the road. Only NL MVP front runner Andrew McCutchen has double digit homeruns at PNC. Speaking of Andrew, hes currently the biggest baddest threat in Pittsburgh's lineup and for good reason, but against Blanton hes hitting just .154 with twice as many K's as he has hits. Its safe to say, Blanton has his number. 

Speaking of having someones number, The Dodgers OWN The Pirates. After last nights 9-3 smack down the Pirates have now dropped 9 count em 9 in a row to the Dodgers. I'm getting flashbacks of Pedros "They are my daddy" speech right now as this is just laughable. Dodgers have been firing on all cylinders from the moment they touched down in Pittsburgh and there's no reason for them to stop now. Dodgers should be able to give the thing Blantons been lacking all year in Philly in the form of Run Support. I love a huge game from Blanton today, thinking 6+ K's with less than 3 runs allowed.  Scoop him up now!

Streaming stats on the year: 9 IP,  1 W, 1.00 ERA, 0.44 WHIP




*Full disclosure I use Yahoo for all my FBB leagues so I'll be going off the availability on there.

Stream Of The Day 8/15/12

Welcome to the newest feature on the site, the Stream Of The Day! The concept is simple, the dog days of summer are dragging right along and some fantasy teams could use an extra punch to improve their playoff standing. Whether it be a roto league, where it makes all the sense in the world to add a pitcher and hope to grab wins and K's to add to your yearly total, or you're a Matchup guy like me and you're looking to get over the weekly hump. Every day we will add a pitcher available in the majority of fantasy baseball leagues.* Be it a strong matchup, a favorable venue or a unique scenario that I'll describe, you need to pick up the guy featured here and start him, pretty simple folks. At the closure of every article we will show the results weekly and yearly to show how we're helping both our roto and matchup readers.

Mike Leake

Ownership: 11%

Stats

Year: 131.2 IP, 4 W's, 91 K's, 4.51 ERA, 1.34 WHIP

Last 30: 27 IP, 1 W, 21 K's, 6.67 ERA, 1.59 WHIP

Last 14: 6 IP, 0 W, 6 K, 5.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP

Yeah I get it those numbers are terrible. Look closer though, over the last month Leake is inching closer and closer to 1 K per inning pitched and hes currently in the top 80 in that category this year. A power pitcher who lets a lot of guys on base hes not by any means an every start starter. So why on August 15th is he a must start guy, simple, the Mets are in town. Last time he faced them 3 runs allowed, only 1 earned over 6 innings allowing 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. Sure the WHIP there isn't great by any stretch, but if you're holding off on a stream start because of WHIP, turn in your Fantasy card right now because you don't deserve to make the playoffs. He simply over powered a weak lineup in a game I saw in person, as soon as trouble started brewing he found his strikeout pitch and set down a group of impatient hitters. Speaking of the Mets, in their last game against the Reds they got 10 count em 10 men on base, 8 into scoring position and couldn't scratch a single run across the plate. The Mets had chance after chance including runners on 2nd and 3rd in the top of the 9th before Ruben Tejada lined out to the speedy Drew Stubbs. What followed next was the inevitable, Manny Acosta, a man with a .305 BAA, let two runners on before the fat kid from The Big Green, aka. Josh Edgin let up a 3 run home run, on a 1-2 count no less to John Jay. In case you missed it, I just told you the Mets send Manny Acosta and Josh Edgin to face the Reds 3,4,5 hitters in a scoreless game, are we sure Terry Collins isn't tanking for draft picks?

The Resemblance is Uncanny

This is a team in free fall with an abysmal bullpen, that already underestimated Leake once this year in a heart breaking loss. I love Leake to capitalize on the blundering Metropolitans and fill the only stat line he left empty last time with a W tomorrow 

Streaming stats on the year: 0 IP,  0 W, 0 ERA, 0 WHIP

*Full disclosure I use Yahoo for all my FBB leagues so I'll be going off the availability on there.

NCAAM Championship Week Finale

March Madness Baby!!!

New York- Welcome to the best non game sports day outside of the NFL draft, welcome to Selection Sunday ladies an gentlemen. Today is the day we separate the dancers from the also rans. With a hearty list of bubble teams, including 2 from the Big East in USF and Seton Hall, as well as the Pac 12 Regular Season Champion Washington. I'm not gonna step in and try to tell you who's gonna end up in and out, mainly cause I don't care. My call to win the Tourney is Marquette, but mainly because I am a degenerate gambler and I saw the 2nd best team in the Big East at 70-1. I'm here to worry about the list of championship games today. I'm gonna save you some reading time and tell you I'm riding the dogs hard today.

Quick Note, all games are played at a neutral site, the home and away is decided by conference seeding.

Bad Blood

FSU @ UNC (-6)

Gotta love a rivalry game in a championship. UNC and Duke have run the ACC for years now. See right there when you read the word ACC the only things that came to mind were those two teams. FSU is tired of living in the shadow plain and simple. They're 3-1 this year against ACC royalty, with 1 extremely tough loss at home to Duke. Today I see them getting 6 points on a neutral floor with UNC's best defensive player is questionable at best. Lets set aside the fact that the refs were half blind in yesterdays semi final game vs a less talented NC State Wolf Pack. Lets set aside the fact that FSU wiped the floor with the Tar Heels last time they met. Its simple, FSU is a damn talented squad, and 6 is too many for any team other than maybe Cuse or Kentucky to be giving on a neutral floor. Case Closed, Lock of the Day.

FSU to cover with the 6 (And a damn good chance to win outright.)

One of these does not belong

Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (-8)

Look there's no need for a write up here, Kentucky is the class of the SEC. A lot of people will be gun shy laying near double digits on a team that barely beat out Florida yesterday. Those people are idiots. Florida was the only team all year that would have had a shot at giving an L to Kentucky in the regular season. Kentucky was good enough to be the 1st or 2nd best team in my choice for the #2 overall conference this year in the Big 10. Vandy does not belong on the court with the Wild Cats, done and done.

Kentucky Laying 8.

1 point would be too many

St. Bonnies @ Xavier (-4)

The swan song for Atlantic City as the Mid Major that's a lil too good to be a Mid Major, the A-10 moves its conference tourney to Jay-Z's new palace in Brooklyn next year. This year the conference has done the boardwalk justice with one hell of a tournament. At no point of any of the 6 games so far in the tourney has there been a lead over 8 points. This is a conference based on the most over used phrase in sports, parity. I have been riding Xavier hard to this point in the tournament, because like Iona in the Maac or Belmont in the A-Sun, I think they are the only special team in their conference. But with both teams likely in the expanded field of 68 at the least, The only thing leading my decision today though is the spread. 4 points is two baskets, and to be honest I wouldn't be surprised if this game came down to a one or two free throws. Take the points and enjoy one hell of a close game.

St. Bonnies +4 and who knows about an ML win.

The Ohio State @ Michigan St. (-2) 

If the Big 10 wasn't crazy slow paced, low scoring and frankly boring basketball they would be the best conference in the country. At any point this year 3-4 teams could have been considered the no doubt best team in the conference, and honestly, I could see a number of these teams doing real damage in the dance. What this comes down to is pre-conceived notions. Coming into the year I thought Ohio State was the far and away class of the conference and I will stick with them to get the win here. I will be staying away from this one myself and just enjoying great defensive basketball and make sure to watch Jared Sullinger so you can tell younger folks about how good you knew he was going to be in the NBA way before he got there. Put that young man on the right squad and hes a 22-15 guy with a very high celling. The wrong team (like hes been with most of this year) he will be a sulking baby (like hes been most of this year)... Yup Demarcus Cousins 2.0 ladies and gentlemen. 

Ohio State Laying the 2 and I hope everyone wakes up in time to see Dicky V's head explode during the first ever 1-68 selection Sunday results show. 

John Wodden

Success is never final; failure is never fatal. 

It's courage that counts."-John Wooden

Cheds daily mantra, John Wodden swag.

Ched, Swaggin

New York- Swag just stepped out of the on deck circle and up to the plate. Get ready to step your game up. Welcome to Swag by Ched.

Ghost of Tyree

New York- WOW. I can't believe how crazy this is right now, called the Giants win but to go into the half with a 10 point lead after embarrassing the Packers D is beyond imagination. 30 minutes from a trip to San Fran in January, if we could all be so lucky. Enjoy the 2nd half.

G-MEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNN

New York- Yeah I know I haven't posted a damn thing this weekend going into round 2 of the NFL Playoffs. Normally this would be an issue of laziness. But I say to you that is only half the case here. I've been hesitant to make a play on the Giants Packers game. No game has left me thinking more. Lets get real, 4 points was too much for the 9ers to be getting at home with that defense,  Tebow didn't have a prayer and T.J. Yates is still a rookie on the road vs a defense lead by a felon. The only game that made me wonder against the spread was Packers Giants.

Classic nobody believed in us game last week by the boys in blue, now with the ghost of 07 rearing its head, nobody can ignore these Giants. In a surprise turn of events, people have forgotten the 15-1 defending Super Bowl Champion Packers. What in Gods name do you do with that when the Giants are getting 9 points?

I have no clue whats gonna happen here, but I know that when the weather gets cold and Tom Coughlins face turns red like a decrepit old Red Skull, the New York Football Giants do WORK. The Packers are built for a dome an they're playing in open air in the Midwest. The Packers don't have a real run game which should allow the Giants edge rushers to hammer Rodgers.

Handle Bar Stache: Not creepy since 1973

Rogers on the other hand is mobile in the pocket enough to avoid the rush just long enough. He's done it on the road in January an hes getting his first shot a doing it at home. Add to the mix that the Packers come in healthier than they've been in quite some time and this one is a real head scratcher. 

 07 and 05 Division Rd Flop Honoree
The Manning Face

Really this all comes down to one thing. Its gotta happen to someone. For the last 5-6 years we've had a Heavily favored Rd. 2 home team coming off a bye losing that no one ever sees coming. Since we already covered it wont be any of the other 3 teams this Divisional Round Playoff weekend. I'm going for it here with the G-Men getting the 9 (down from 12 points) at the time of this post.

Prediction: I know I'm getting 9 but you dont take a Road Dog in the Playoffs unless you think u've got it outright.

Giants 37 Packers 30

To take the +260 ML at 38.45 to win 100, get that line here Bovada

Bru-Tang Clan aint nutin to...

New York- Keeping with my promise from yesterday I'm talking Bruins here folks, and By Gosh We've got a slober knocker in Bean Town tonight. The same team that stopped many a Bruins run and denied the greatest hockey player of all time (Blow me Gretzky) from his fair share Stanley Cup glory enters the TD Garden for a showdown with the 2nd place Bruins. Look, I know next to nothing about hockey, but I do know the Bruins beating the Habs in game 7 last year almost a year to the day after the most epic collapse in NHL history was enough for me to ride the bandwagon to pay dirt. The Habs come into tonight last place in the conference, and are making a bid for the worst team in hockey. But just like the Chiefs beating the Packers (had to reference a sport people watch) anything can happen on the ice. Should be a hell of a game with Marchand out for the 2nd of 5 suspended games look for the young man Senguin to up his team leading goal total of 17. Above all look for Tim Thomas to find and excuse to recreate one of the coolest fights in recent NHL memory.  

Prediction: 4-1 Bruins

Fact: Gentlemen prefer blondes

Bru-Tang Clan

New York- Okay so for those who don't know, I'm an outcast in New York. Dear readers, you are talking to one of a few chosen people who claim allegiance to The Red Sox Nation while residing in enemy territory. Ill give you time to pick your jaw up off the floor. Done? Good. Now this leads to many questions so let me rip through the easy one. I am a die hard Jets fan to the point where I'd like to make Fireman Ed the God Father to my first son.

My son is gonna be a BOSS!

The question of basketball is a touchy subject, my allegiance goes to the Knicks not by default, but because Reggie Miller is up there with The Dark and Nap Time as things I most feared and hated as a child. I still root for the Celtics when the Knicks are out but I think that's because KG is just a beast, Scalabrine made me believe white boys can ball and cause they're so hardcore Irish.

Hockey is the one sport I flip flop on hardcore. I've been to one Rangers game in my life. I was too young for the 94 team to have a real impact on my life and didn't care enough when we got Gretzky. I liked the idea of Avery's Army but they dumped him. I still root hard for the Rangers in the playoffs, but I can't name 5 players. On the flip side Tim Thomas is my personal hockey hero.

Dude with the beard in the background, so Epic.

Look I'm not a self hating New Yorker, it just that a guy like Tim Thomas can come out of nowhere, a career backup and run shit through the Stanley Cup right down to crushing his Save Percentage prop. I love the Bruins for the same reason the Oklahoma City Thunder will hold a special place in my heart for eternity, because when they brought on the duck boats last year I cashed in for around 3 grand. Their Stanley Cup run last year was akin to a Disney Movie for a gambling junky like myself and for that I still play Dropkick Murphys version of Nutty as my wake up alarm to get me fired up for my day.

This song made Paint Ball played by others cool, just saying.

Add in one of the most fun lines in hockey between Bergeron, Marchand and Seguin and you've got my new favorite hockey team. The one thing I can't stand about dynasties in sports is that the team gets lazy. Look at Kobe, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol last year, tell me they were motivated for a single game of the Mavs series and you sir or madam are a liar. Same thing with the 07 Pats, they had the champagne on ice starting in mid November than this happened. 

I will use any excuse I can to play this clip.

The three guys on the Bruins second line treat the game with child like excitement. Gotta love that. Marchand recently had his first hat trick, Seguin is a ballsy young prick who's already won a cup but couldn't legally drink the champagne and Bergeron is the leader of the bunch putting his mates above himself to tally up wins. These guys play like young kids out on a pond, looking to have fun and win above all else. I know the Rangers are on a hot streak and this Broadway Fedora thing seems to have legs, but they just don't have a Bru-Tang Clan bunch and that sucks. For more proof on how awesome the New England members of the Original 6 are check out Marchands  Running Diary of the Season.

I rooted for the Blue Shirts in The Winter Classic, which was glorious, and I will jump back on the band wagon if the Brown Bears collapse, but as of right now, if for no other reason than to bust Matt's Balls, this blog reports from Bruin Country. Old Time Hockey baby!

Creepin Up The Chart!

P.S. I added two more items to my Christmas/Birthday (Whichever comes first) List. 

Mitchell and Ness, just try and hate on that.

This should appeal to any hockey fan or guy with fashion sense.

                                     

AWESOME THING I MUST HAVE pt. 2

New York- Note: This is a new running feature I'm starting that will entail the new and fun things I find that I must have, but am probably too lazy to search Amazon for. These are the types of things I see and wish were already in my apartment, and forget about after 2-3 minutes. That's right dear readers, you are all being subjected to my sticky notes, I hope you enjoy.

Yup its real, whatever you write it puts on a piece of toast. Throw out your sticky notes cause telling me to take the trash out on a toasted PB&J has aout a 70% greater success rate. Imagine starting your day off with coffee, a bowl of cereal and a freshly buttered piece of "You're fucking awesome" Toast. Well imagine no longer, just get the Toast Messenger. I have yet to actually find one for sale, but I'm convinced they're real. In case you do find one I'm adding it to my Christmas/Birthday (whatever comes first) List so hook it up.

Timeflies

New York- So as I covered in the post about Artists I want to hang out with Cal and Rez are some cool dudes and Timeflies is the shit. I figured what better time to post their Cotton Bowl video than during the funeral for college football following last nights debacle of a title game.

In case you missed it, there were guys in Iowa State colors running around while your adrenaline was spiking. I don't need to tell you that the build and drop straight up owned music last year, but this has got to be the best example. They've hit the turning point for most new artists where their music can be played over sports highlights and have the entire experience be enjoyable. I'm especially glad that I only spotted 1 Big 10 uniform in the whole video. Songs like turn it up deserve the big boy passing offenses of the Big 12 and Pac 10. Gus Johnson losing his mind on the back end is the cherry on this delicious end of work Sundae enjoy.

Also in case you missed it or are questioning whether or not to root for these guys, i point you to Exhibit B.

Try to hate on em. I dare ya.


P.S. Great move by the Big 10 locking down Gus Johnson, sure the move may have cost him his job at CBS and ruined March Madness but someone had to get us through the college football regular season and this is the only dude I want to get me through another 3 yard run up the gut. This guy could get me amped up to watch paint dry. Put Gus Johnson on a USO tour and the U.S. would win every conflict were embattled in within the next 3 months.

2 Broke Girls

New York- Alright its Monday night and you somehow haven't broken your TV by throwing a shoe at it during the Steelers disaster or Mark Mcguires continued omission from the Baseball Hall of Fame so what is there to do? Well you could watch the BCS National Title game which I refuse to write about, but you would be asleep faster than your grandfather watching Matlock R.I.P. (Holy Crap, Andy Griffith isn't dead yet?!?) reruns. Or you could tune into C.B.S. brain melting half hour of bliss, 2 Broke Girls.

Now I know what you're thinking, you eat red meat, you enjoy sports and explosions and Dr. Pepper 10, how could you in good conscious watch such programing? The answer is simple, I need to tune out watching a fictionalized NYC and How to Make it in America is gone R.I.P. When I get home from a night of eating wings at a dime a pop I want something I get to turn my brain off and stare at. Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs do the trick.

Do I always know whats going on? Hell no. I know at one point, they had a horse, they live in Brooklyn and you guessed it they're broke. There's a wise cracking black dude behind the counter who's older than dirt, a tiny lil Asian man who apparently runs the dinner they work at and a skevy Eastern European dude who hits on chicks in a fashion I strive for. There's also a fun bit of supporting characters like an out of it mother of 2 who applies fake tans to infants, a "street artist" also known as a broke bar tender and once again a freaking horse. I do know they have silly mad cap adventures and a lot of snarky comments towards hipsters and that suits me just fine. Plug it in your DVR and enjoy, as far as I can tell the only running plot is the amount of money in their savings account which is tallied conveniently at the end of every episode. I didn't catch it from the beginning and you don't have to either, thats the beauty, no commitment needed. Give me predictable jokes and a laugh track and I'm good most nights. If there happens to be bonds formed with the characters its a plus in most cases but here I enjoy popping in getting my kicks and bailing out no strings attached, kind of like a running 1 night stand, except without the crabs. Can't go wrong there, enjoy dear readers. 

P.S. Kat Dennings is that special kind of nerd hot, like she would make you feel really bad about it, but would eventually sit down and play Halo or read comics with you. Shes like a curvy Kristin Bell, except when she does Romantic Comedies they remind me that Michael Cera may have a decent career after all and they don't make me want to bludgeon Josh Duhamell to death.

Playoffs??!!??

New York- Wow, 1 for 1 already (I made it a rule, its not madatory to make a selection when 2 rookie QB's meet in a plyoff game, trust me its for the best.) Looking to go 3 for 3 this wild card weekend.

Who Dat? Who Dat? Who Dat said dey gone beat dem Saints??? Honestly dont knowif anyone will at this point but my first contender from the playoff preview looked damn good against one of the best D-Lines in football. Hell the Saints covered the -13.5 with relative ease and only brought their A game for the second half. I credit that win to the shee fact that you give folks from Nawlins a reason to start partying early (tailgating) by game time they will be a rowdy raucus mess of hummanity. The Saints have won every prime time home game by about 1,000,003 points. If the double upset occurs next week and both the 9ers AND Packers are sent home (which i think is a damn good possibility) the road to the Super Bowl takes a U-Turn back through the Bayou meaning the Saints defenitly for real.

Falcons @ GIANTS (-3)

Like every other sports blog out there the home team is in caps and you know what that mean, Matty Ice is being forced to play outdoors, in January, against the most clutch 4th quarter QB of all time. Say that back to youself one time and tell me you honestly feel comfortable laying a dollar on the most unprove comodity in the NFL, Matt Ryan. Everyone bags on Marino for not wining a ring, Matt Ryan is considered borderline elite and he has yet to notch a January win. The Falcons are the most left handed running team in football and that means theyre going to give Michael Turner the ball and hope he doesnt get his arms and legs ripped off by this man.

Dude is defenitly related to the Cracken monster from pirates of the caribean. Just a freightining mess of arms and legs storming through your O-Line, I would be suprised if Turners head is on using anything but duct tape. Roddy White lea the league in drops, Julio Jones is still a year away from bing the player they need him to be and the Giants are the one team in the playoffs that can get excelent pass rush without blitzing as their ends are that good. I don't see it being a blow out, but the Giants will tack on a late score and cruise to he finish line, onto Title Town for a rematch with the cheese heads.

GIANTS 35 Falcons 20

Giants D Line: Over 4 Sacks.
Matty Ryan: Over .5 INT's
Victor Cruz: Over 1.5 times my GF mentions how sexy his Salsa is.

Steelers @ Broncos +9

Look, God had to take Sundays off at some point. I dunno maybe a bolt of lightining rains down from the sky and smites Big Ben for his drunken southern debauchery and failure to obey helmet laws. Is it likely, no, but then again how likely is it Tim Tebow would ever start a playoff game, yet here we are. (For shame AFC West, for shame)

I think its way more likely we see two very strong, hit you in the mouth, but cant take the ball from you deffenses sluging it out. They were both way down towards the bottom in the league in Turnover Differential, in fact only 2 teams were worse than Pittsburghs -13. This is a huge factor when you think of just how much that number means. I dont give you good starting field positon, you give me good starting field position. For all the swiss cheese holes in Green Bays D, they're +24 (A.K.A. good for one and a half a game) in turnover differential, an they can let their offense shut it down for them.

I know its cliche but i think that changes in the playoffs, i think hard gritty determined deffenes win titles. The added caviat in todays league is you need a compotent offense, the 85 Bears migt not even be able to hack it in todays QB friendly era so D isn't quite enough. I think the Steelers are due. Now I know just about everyone rolled their eyes, but I was reading articles in week 6 about how the Steelers couldn't keep playing this well and remain unlucky with the turnovers. Eventually that will have to be true.

And what better time then when paying a visit to Mr. Sunday himself Tim Tebow. We all know the Rudy like story of the home schooled son of 2 Missionary parents who travels the world helping desolate viliages and retaining his virginity. And because we all think life should be a Disney movie we want to see that guy suceed. Look, theres a reason no one like Tebow has been successful up to this point, because this is not a scrapy tale of rag tag 7 year olds who are gonna win it all by doing it their way (we already have the Mighty Ducks thank you very much) This is the damn NFL. Things are done a ceartin way because they work now stop asking questions, go cut your hair and get a job.

Wow sorry sounded like my father for a second there. look Teow is fun and he will make a great TE or Full Back on day, hes a great runner, excelent leader and a great man. Dating my dagter sure, throwing the football in January? Not unless his team is out of the playoffs and hes in the Philipines showing some other poor child the incorrect way to toss the Pig Skin. Tebow has been on the upswing after not turning the ball over at all on his miraculous win streak to averaging 1.33 picks over his last 3 weeks. And were not talking Ravens an 9ers here, 2 of those defenses were the Pats and Bills, neither one of which hold a candle to the Steelers. I think both numbers grow this week as Tebow throws enough INT's to round that average out at 1.5 an the losing streak goes to 4, now will someone wrestle that sniper rifle out of John Elways hands please?!?

Steelers: 28 Broncos: 10

Steelers D: Over 2 Take Aways
Broncos D: Under .5 times they look like they can win it on their own.
Tim Tebow: Over 5 times my GF asks me why they let that terrible white guy throw the football.

Real Sports

New York- Real Sports, not this crap Matt keeps trying to push on us that some drunk Canadians came up with wandering home from a pub. I'm talking about football. Not this pansy ass computer decides who's playing for the title NCAAF crap, I'm talking the NFL. And now that I've insensitively spewed every bit of ignorant hate mongering I can muster about sports, onto the post.

Before we go any further, I should probably mention that I'm a degenerate gambler. Actually I'm a degenerate a lot of things, but gambling is the focus here so I'm gonna leave it at that.  You're talking about a guy who had to hit a 12 team bowl parlay last year so as to avoid the sale of a kidney to a bookie. The type of guy who has strong feelings about Tennis matches, and proceeds to gamble half his net worth on men who's first name he isn't familiar with. For Gods Sake, I learned the rules to ODI Cricket to bet on the World Cup. I'm not proud of these things, but what I am is a winner. I have successfully predicted the winner of every major sporting event in the last year (Except the Womens World Cup, but come on, women, and sports???). The regular season is where I dig myself into a hole, but when it counts I shine. 

Last year  I predicted that The God of Thunder Thor Clay Matthews and Mr. Discount Double Check Aaron Rogers would win the namesake of their franchises most famous leader. I even made a distinction down to the two teams that played in the AFC Championship, I said it would be either the Jets or the Steelers facing off against the Packers for the title. Did I bet it, of course not, I let my bookie convince me that the defending Super Bowl champs had a legit shot. Then this happened.

God I love this video.

Never said I was a good gambler, just that I know things. This year I am sticking to my guns, and I've got a feeling. There is a total of 12 teams in the playoffs right now. I will start it this way, knock 8 out, right off the bat. Only 4 teams have a shot at this in my mind. Pats, Giants, Saints and Steelers. 2 AFC teams 2 NFC teams. It looks like Matt and I are going to be doing something fun for the playoffs here, so  I'm going to hold off on a true prediction. In the mean time, enjoy watching 3 of the 4 teams who actually have a chance to win this years SB this weekend. 

P.S. Knowing my luck and Gods sense of humor all 3 will lose and I'll be forced to claim I knew it was gonna be the Pats all along, and root for my hated rivals. Hell I may even throw in a 3 team ML Parlay against myself.

P.P.S. Wow, I may need help.

AWESOME THING I MUST HAVE pt. 1

New York- This is a new running feature I'm starting that will entail the new and fun things I find that I must have, but am probably too lazy to search Amazon for. These are the types of things I see and wish were already in my apartment, and forget about after 2-3 minutes. That's right dear readers, you are all being subjected to my sticky notes, I hope you enjoy.

Pop quiz, whats cooler, cutting your finger on A. a measuring tape B. a piece of paper C. a Ninjas Throwing Star. Take your time, I can wait. Okay for all of you who picked anything other than C, please report to Social Services to pick up your helmet. For everyone who isn't mentally challenged these are the band aids for you. Got in an accident with lawnmower, nope, you were attacked by a shark. Cut yourself shaving, maybe it was cause you were riding a motorcycle through a ring of fire at the time. Look, chicks digging scars is a myth, chicks dig the story behind scars. The 3" slice I have on my left bicep came when I met a thorny bush and gravity simultaneously on a steep hill. But according to half the women of East Stroudsburg  PA. it came when I was saving my little sister from a gang initiation and one dude was packing a switch blade. Its about damn time a Band Aid company did my lying for me. Now i can just plop down the price for these adhesive strips and call it a day, dignity in tact. And if I happen to be wearing one over my left eye to deal with a nasty jousting wound and it gets me laid at a Renaissance fair, well that works for me.

Muscians I wanna hang out with

New York- Okay so I'm a little late to the party to break down a best of 2011 music piece so ill take it a step further. What follows are all artists that I discovered within the last 365 days who's music I enjoy, but more importantly I wanna hang out with. That takes a lot as I generally hate people, yet at the same time fear their disapproval. This has lead to many friendships I wish I didn't have, but we'll save the inferiority complex for the unfortunate soul who does my psych evaluation during my inevitable prison bid. These are artists who's music makes me want to put all prejudice aside and spend time with them cracking jokes and probably trying to pick up chicks. Gotta give a ton of credit to baby bro for most of these, because of all his many faults, taste in music is not one of them Before your ADD kicks in ill move onto the list.

HOPSIN

This dude has lost his damn mind. I first heard him as a feature on the Tech N9ne track Am I a Psycho? with B.O.B. Here he is with the King of Independent Hip Hop Tech himself. You should know something is a lil off with a guy when he makes a reported devil worshiper look the normal one in the picture. From what I can tell hes a suburban Cali kid who makes up the craziest stuff he can think of from his childhood bedroom. In the time before YouTube he would be just another pimple faced quiet type who would probably get arrested for beating up an old lady at a cross walk. Now he gets to rap about his fantasies involving Nicki Minaj naked and blowing the minds of hipster rap fans to the tune of millions of views. Definitely a dude I wanna buy a beer for and see what happens.

Dylan Owen

Every high school has a Dylan Owen. That dude who goes to your nearest major city and performs at comedy clubs at 16. He writes poems to girls he wants to bang, and actually does through with it. He's the type of dude who knows what he wants, puts the work in an gets it. Definitely, the type of dude I wanna kick it with and have a chat with. Dude would straight up motivate me, hes lived out just about every dream hes had to this point in his life. If we could all be so lucky I would already have a swimming pool filled with Kool Aid at all times, but I'm no Dylan Owen. It doesn't hurt that hes a fan of real rappers right now, some of which are on this list. Kids just a cool up and comer I recommend to everyone I speak to. 

Mac Lethal

Now, most people know Mac either from his days at Rhyme Sayers with Atmosphere and his boys, or from the 8,000,000 YouTube videos he has talking about crazy white boy things. I personally got on him off the Dylan Owen album, a feature that was supposed to validate D.O. not the other way around. Its crazy how things work out, but I'm glad they did. I latched onto Mac and fell in love with his ridiculous cadences. He is a battle rappers wet dream able to spit bar after bar after bar of potent punchlines in a 1 minute round. It would be hard to beat him if you could understand every word. I don't know about you but as a suburban white boy I got really turned to Rap by Eminem and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Em made his career from battle rapping, and Mac seeks to do the same. For that reason alone I would love to hang out with him just cracking jokes and looking for the best way to calculate punch lines. If he could do that while making pancakes that would be dope too.

Miles Fisher

Try to tell me you don't like this track. I know I tried to convince myself I hated it the first time I heard it. But once again baby bro rears his pretty boy head and I'm stuck with this song on repeat for days in my car. The beat is infectious, the lyrics so bubbly and simple. It's a cover for Christs Sake, but dude straight owns it. I know none of his other work, or if he even has any, but this video where he nails Christian Bale to a T and rocks out American Psycho status makes me want to give this guy a glass of red wine, throw on some Huey Lewis and compare business cards. Well that and if I do try to pick up chicks with anyone on this list, hes option #1.

Timeflies

Speaking of being late to the party, it took me a year to get into my high schools Dylan Owen. I'm an unabashed homer, but even if I wasn't it would be hard to omit Cal and Rez. These dudes OWNED 2011 from an independent standpoint in the sense that I've paid to see them twice and bought their album, legit can't say that about any artist other than Tech that's pulled that off from me int he last 5 years. P.S. Tech is now doing tracks with Lil Wayne, just sizzlin. These dudes are fun, funky fresh and I make it a point to find the hottest girl I can at their shows and discuss how pretty Cal is and I've seen these same girls frantically searching for whether or not the band left yet WHILE THE HEADLINER IS STILL PERFORMING. Dudes can def pull groupies, which is more than enough justification to want to chill with him. Unfortunately, I don't get to hang with him cause hes to busy having his music play at the ending highlight reel for the Big 10 Championship to show up to our townie Secret Santa party, but I do get to talk smack to him in 2 fantasy leagues so that's gotta count for something right? 

Greatest Pick Up Of All Time

New York- Let me break it down for you, Tony Robins can kiss my ass, Deepak Chopra is vastly overrated and Dr. Phil is a fucking joke. The greatest motivational guru of this or any generation is Gordon Bombay. Now you may remember Emilio Estevez fondly from his days in the Brat Pack or as the guy with the unfortunate beard during Charlie Sheens talk show interventions, but in my mind he will always be the dude with the perfect hair who lead the Mighty Ducks to glory.

Why is this relevant, you may be asking? well you're reading this so you should know how much this man means to me, but more the the point here, Gordon Bombay left all single men with the greatest pickup strategy ever. You may have a skeptical look on your face right now, "but Harrington, I don't have his perfect hair or dreamy bedroom eyes, how can I possibly get laid by using the teachings of the Bombay?" At which point I want to smack you for being so small minded. Gordon Bombay is a state of mind. Fact. As long as you have his scrappy tenacious spirit in you, you cant go wrong. 

So I found myself New Years night, out in the hell hole known as White Plains on a date that my boy Mcdiddles somehow latched himself onto. I had to do what I had to do to get him off in the corner making out with a stranger, this was after all New Years, the one night of the year I can make it clear that a girl will have 364 more days to regret sleeping with me. That's when the lifestyle promoted by Gordon Bombay reared its beautiful head and the best plan I could think up on short notice came to fruition. Much like any other time I face a problem, quacking filled my head, that night, I used it and the greatest Mighty Ducks inspired pick up ever.

                   

That's right dear readers, I invited a random group of hot strangers in very tiny dresses and silly hats to come over and chat with myself, my boy Mcdiddles, and the chick I was on a date with. I got all of us huddled together in the cold and made the introductions. I asked what dreams and goals we had, what we aspired to. I asked questions of what limitations each of us would put on our personal greatness for this 2012. I made the point that if this is as the Mayans predicted our last year, that we should live it to the fullest. Each of us threw out a goal, be it sky diving or trying out for a modeling contract. Then we all agreed, us 8 more or less strangers to hold each other to that promise. And I told them why we had to do this "because ducks fly together". I then recited that whole speech about 90% accurate, got everyones hands in and started quacking. I'd like to say I was surprised when 3 legit DIMES and a couple 8's were all quacking with their hands in a circle, but such is the magic of Bombay. Tell me you didn't get pumped up to do whatever miserable little chores you have to do today after watching that. Of course you did, Its the Mighty Ducks damnit. I'd also like to say I was shocked when I got time to enjoy time with my date as Mcscruffin got the hottest ass of his life, but, once again, this is The Mighty Ducks were talking about, and bitches love Disney movies. Harness the power of the Bombay for good dear readers, and always find the right ducks and fly together. 

P.S. How Effin HOT have the chicks from the Mighty Ducks become?!?

Connie Moreau

          

 

Julie "The Cat" Gaffney

 

                                 

P.P.S. Shes now a Yoga teacher, and my future wife.