NOT A BAD TIME FOR BAY AREA SPORTS TEAMS!!

Tampa Bay has never been called a sports mecca but as of late, the area boasts some great coverage. You see the Rays Baseball team everynight playing their hearts out trying to win their division for the second time since 08. The Buccaneers Football team is 2-0 with Pittsburg Steelers coming to town this weekend, their first home game that is not blacked out due to lack of attendance. It could be their only televised home game of the season. The Lightning Hockey team full of stars, newly acquired Coach Guy Boucher and GM Steve Yzerman are already creating a buzz with a new owner in Jeff Vinik. Good to see hockey people involved with the transition to championship expectations. Aside from the pro teams locally USF Football program has been nationally televised playing Florida and Plant High School was on ESPN affiliates two weeks in a row. Even though they were drilled in both games it was good to see them in the spotlight.


My softball team plays tonight from the top of the 6th inning with runners on 1st and 3rd with two outs tied at 10. Last week the lights went out on us. This will be our final playoff push as we are dissolving this team after the season. In the upcoming off season, I hope to work on the swim portion of my triathlon training and fine tune my blog. I could really use some sideline passes to some sporting events. HINT HINT.

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IS IT OKAY TO LEAVE THE GAME EARLY? TOM BRADY DOESN'T THINK SO!

Now normally, Tom Brady and I see eye to eye. Today according to Boston Herald.com site Tom had this to say during an interview.....

“The road environment is very different than our friendly home crowd, who when I looked up, half the stadium was gone when we were up 21 points early fourth quarter, which I wasn’t so happy about,”

Now I have been on both sides of the crowd that leaves early in the 4th quarter of football games (and the game 7 of Stanley Cup Playoffs but that's another story)

Usually those who leave early fall into two categories, maybe three.

1. Home team blowing out the visitors.

2. Getting woodshedded at home.

3. Drunk and get thrown out by the 3rd quarter or arrested and thrown in stadium jail(nasty Philly Fan)

Now I prefer #1 and you have to understand that it is quite possible you will miss something monumental such as a record broken or a comeback. Let's face it your team needed you as the 12th man to lock it up! You also miss the hour of waiting in traffic or this, a game that I still think about to this day, every time I see or hear Peyton Manning's name.....

It was October 6th 2003. Huge build up all weekend for the epic Monday Night Tilt at Raymond James Stadium here in Tampa. Colts prolific offense versus one of the Top 5 NFL defenses of all time. Three Keenan McCardell touchdowns by the 3rd quarter had me confident this was locked up. The score was 28-7 Bucs at 3rd quarter end. My buddy Cesar and I began joking about rolling out to beat traffic etc. so we said by the middle of the 4th we would leave to beat traffic. After a good return and a touchdown by the Colts we thought maybe we should stay and watch, it could get interesting. But after after a Bucs 3 and out then a pick 6 by Ronde, we were out! By the time we got back to the car, the game was essentially tied and was going to overtime where Vanderjagt missed the winning field goal but Simeon Rice jumped on the back of one of his teammates so Indy got another chance. As we left the stadium area the Bucs lost on the 2nd chance kick and we missed it!
The Bucs also had 25 first downs that game! Wow it's been a while since they have done that.

#2 The woodshed at home. This should never happen. If it does you can listen to all of last season's post game press conferences by Bucs coach Raheem Morris to justify losing at home. All 3900 fans that watched the Bucs last season left at halftime and it could be even worse this year because the Rays are the hot ticket here in the bay area. Well, almost. The Rays couldn't even sell out the Yankee home game (economy).

Back to Tom, I wouldn't call the fans bandwagon or even compare them to the Jets fans, but I would say they were thinking ahead. The Bangles are fun to watch but you know they can't come back to maul you (oh wait!) The game was over. So from someone that has felt the pain of leaving too early, it is worth the gamble of not sitting in an hour+ of post-game traffic. Patriot fans you are great and yes, it is safe to leave early if your team is up big, I said it was okay.

That game was still great wasn't it Cesar?

UNDRAFTED TO UNTOUCHABLE-ARIAN FOSTER A WEEK ONE BEAST, HOW DID HE GET HERE?

Just a little FYI on Arian Foster

Went to Mission Bay High School San Diego, California.
Other notable alum
-Frank Zappa (Rocker)
-Marcus Smith(Buffalo Bills)
-Tawny Kataen (Famous Druggie)

College at Tennessee
-Red shirted his Freshman year.
-Freshman year ran for more than 800 yards game high of 223 vs Vanderbilt
-Known as Fumblin' Foster because of fumbles at key times.

Signed as a free agent by the Houston Texans 2009.
-Brought up from the practice squad Nov. 17 2009
-Posted the 2nd highest opening day rushing yards. Only OJ "Killa" Simpson posted more(250)

He looks like a week one stud or the Colts defense is bad. Make your own assumption.

FANTASY FRENZY: WHO TO START A TOP NOTCH TIGHT END OR A #2 WIDE RECEIVER

When I first started playing fantasy football some 8+ years back, there is no way you could convince me to start a tight end over a decent wide receiver. Times have changed, and so has my thought process. Today's top shelf tight ends are better than most #2 receivers so my draft prep has changed and so has my confidence in tight ends and here is why.

Last season I picked up multiple tight ends off waivers only because I had to start one. They were horrible! They were also on bad teams or second tier at their position. Chris Cooley literally beat me two weeks giving me losses and also opened my eyes for the following years draft. I looked at the position similar to a kicker but not this year. I picked up Shiancoe in the 7th round and Cooley in the 8th. Even though we are no longer required to start a tight end I drafted the two that I feel are primed for big seasons. Shiancoe gave me 14 pts last night as Grandpa Favre gave him many targets and Cooley now has Donovan McNabb tossing him the rock. If the matchup are right I have no problem starting both as receivers and if they both work out I plan to trade one for an extra draft pick next season.

On a side note, my running back was not there for me in the first round so I picked up Carson Palmer in the first round in hopes of trading him for something decent by week 3 or 4. This could backfire but oh well. Have a great fantasy season and stay tuned for Fantasy Frenzy posts on Tuesdays!
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College Football Week 2: USF vs. UF In the SWAMP this Saturday!!

Florida, Florida State and Miami the big 3 in the sunshine state of Florida. USF an up and coming school located in Tampa, Florida. The location is more like west central Florida but that name does not have the same ring to it. The University of South Florida, yes that South Florida that beat Florida State last year and the same South Florida that was ranked as high as No. 2 in the polls in 2007. The Bulls went on to get woodshedded by Oregon in the Sun Bowl but that was 07 and a different team. The Bulls and new coach Skip Holtz will once again be in the conversation if they can pull off one of the largest upsets since Appalachian State beat my Wolverines at the Big House a few years back. This team has been around since 1997 beginning in Conference USA and now reside in the Big East.

THE BREAKDOWN
QB
I must say that the Gators looked a bit sluggish with Redhawks of Miami, Ohio. Definitely not what we are accustomed to here in Gator Country. It is safe to say that the Bulls have a chance if they can get pressure on quarterback John Brantley as he lacks the element of escape.
USF Quarterback BJ Daniels must play out of his mind, Florida has an elite secondary in Janoris Jenkins as well as Will "The Thrill" Hill and Ahmad Black. What I say is run the receivers downfield and let BJ run if the seams are not there. Not that easy because USF has no QB depth, their backup QB is wide receiver Evan Landi 3rd on the depth chart is a Freshman from Jesuit High School here in Tampa.

RB
Florida junior Jeff Demps and Emmanuel Moody and Sophomore Mike Gillislee are all fast and averaged over 6 yards per carry last season. Demps' speed will be of focus as the Bulls have to keep in mind not to get too deep in the backfield. USF will need to fill their gaps and bottle up the speedy backs.
USF backs are a different story. They looked mediocre at best against D-1 AA Stony Brook, with one nice run of 63 yards by Marcus Shaw. Mike Ford was let go for brushes with the law in the offseason, he really let down the program. Mo Plancher is the most experienced of the group and all 4 backs on the roster should be used situationally if that is a word.

WR
Since losing Carlton Mitchell to the NFL, USF is a bit green at receiver with the exception of Dontavia Bogan. Evan Landi had 104 yards for the Bulls against a sad Stony Brook secondary.

For UF Chris Rainey could have a field day with USF secondary. I think we will find out early in the 2nd quarter what kind of game he will have. Remember USF is pretty quick on defense so I expect one of the Gator QBs to check down in the 1st quarter and maybe an occasional shot downfield.

DEFENSE
My prediction: Florida's secondary is top notch and should lock down the receiving corp of USF. This will leave QB Daniels to improvise much like he did in Tallahassee last season.
USF's front seven will play a key role in run stopping and if they are successful, the secondary will need to play all-pro to keep the Florida receivers at bay.

Game prediction is Gators 24 USF 17

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Bucs Coach Arrested For DUI....Let Tampa's Football Season Begin.

Tampa Bay Buccaneer games may be blacked out this season but there should be no shortage of Buc news. When you cannot afford to pay good assistant coaches you get this!
Just days after the league decided to suspended Aqib Talib for beating a cab driver last year, Christopher Mosley Assistant Defensive Line Coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers busted for DUI Tuesday Night. Probably from drinking while watching game film and doing a shot everytime Sabby Piscatelli got burned on a play. The Bucs played like drunk pirates on defense last season and now we know why and it may not all be the Piscatelli Monsters fault. Do the depressed Buc fans deserve this now? Just wondering.

TIGER GET BACK TO YOUR PARTYING!! (Golf needs you)

Divorce is sad and almost always leaves a horrible mess behind. Will it be the same for a couple millionaires that can afford to pay to clean up the mess? What about the kids? I'm pretty sure they will be fine. Tiger and Elin will eventually become civil but it will take time. With that said....Tiger please get back to your old self. Now!!
Tiger's play has taken a hit throughout the divorce proceedings. I get that, and his top ranking is in jeopardy for the first time in years. He lost money like he invested with Madoff. The final payout? Over 100 million to his ex wife who deserves every penny after what he put her through. Not sure why he did what he did but the divorce is over now go back to your shady self Tiger! Please?
This time do it a little different. Pick up some shady sponsors, give out tweets of your text messages. Make that money back and then some. The ratings of his shady stories were through the roof!! Get a tattoo of Scarletts on your shoulders. Where am I going with all this? Golf.
Golf has lost a ton of viewership in your absence and continues to struggle with your foul play. Just get back up and make it happen and I know that all it will take is a little text or phone call or two or three to get you back playing championship caliber golf.
In conclusion, I think what he did was horrible, but I am a golf fan and golf needs Tiger to play better. Today's round is underway and the buzz is that he is playing well at the Barclays. With the divorce behind him, I hope we can once again watch without feeling sorry for a guy who I once admired as a family man. Now I see him a an athlete only!!

MANNY GET BACK ON THE JUICE AND TAKE THE NEXT PLANE TO TAMPA!!

Now that I have your attention..the amazing career of Manny Ramirez is coming to a screeching halt if you haven't noticed. This is primarily due to injuries he cannot recover from because he is probably no longer using steroids. As a long time Yankee Fan I recognized him as a very talented hitter. It was great seeing Manny and Papi in the middle of that lineup in Boston(as long as they were not playing the Pinstripes). I dig is antics and the drama that accompanies Manny in the club house. It's like he has a SLIM SHADY side to him. Just as Barry Bonds didn't really need the JUICE to crush the ball, they need the JUICE to recover from the workouts and minor injuries that come with the need for more bat speed as they age. In conclusion whatever team he makes it to, I hope he doesn't make it to the Yankees and here is why....
From a contender standpoint, Manny will disrupt the needed chemistry that accompanies championship aspirations. I know he helped Boston win the World Series, it came at a cost due to his antics. Tampa Bay has a great chemistry as do my Yankees. So I say it will be great to watch him live here in Tampa if he makes it past the White Sox and lands on the Rays roster for two reasons. It will give the Rays a decent bat in the lineup and will fill more of the seats which will bring in more money to throw at Carl Crawford's next contract. It could also backfire and melt the Rays down and push them out of contention with 3 or so series left with the Red Sox and Yankees. All it takes is Manny being Manny!

2010-2011 FANTASY FOOTBALL FRENZY

Okay, so your fantasy Football draft is probably within the next week if you haven't had it already. After relying on Brian Westbrook the last 6 years I cut him last night just before my midnight deadline. He was great for 7 games a season and numerous 20 plus point performance. To me he is now Westbroke and will take up a roster spot for someone else. Not here.

Anyway, my fantasy league has been around quite a while and my keepers this year are not as solid as previous seasons. Scoring has shifted quite a bit the last 2 or 3 seasons with the use of Running back committees. With this shift, be aware that the receiver return on investment will be much more stable, especially with top tier receivers(unless of course they play the Jets with Darelle Revis if he signs).
My 5 keepers stack up as follows

1. QB Tom Brady-Easy to keep an obvious Top 5 QB I like the idea of Randy Moss in a contract year. I also see Moss as the type that could retire pretty soon. although he is talented, I don't find him being in love with the game only as a job, similar to Sticky icky Ricky Williams..and Barry Sanders.

2. RB Justin Forsett. I like his upside and his schedule. He is in a Committee situation but is the top runner.

3. RB Sticky icky Ricky Williams. I kept him because I just don't believe in Ronnie Brown and Williams was a stud for me last season. Again he talks about retirement but with all his baby mammas asking for money, I can't see him retiring any time soon. That could all change when he gets chiefed up next long offseason!

4. WR Terrell Owens. I traded my 4th round pick in next weekends draft for this head case. It is an all or nothing gamble but I hope the competition between him and Ocho works in my favor. I just hope he has something left in the tank, I need to see him doing sit ups in his driveway to put me at ease.

5. WR Wes Welker. Unreal that he is back already after knee surgery only six months ago. This guy is a scrapper and I may even keep him on my roster when he is 60. I dig his work ethic and I also like his backup Julian Edelman.

I will have a press pass for all USF games this fall..... I will be on twitter from the sidelines..follow me: supadupaD

FANTASY FOOTBALL IS ALMOST HERE! ARE YOU READY? A couple good sites to frequent.

If you're like me, you are counting down the hours to your first fantasy football draft. I have been in one league for about 8 years where you keep your 5 players and redraft another 11 rounds. Over the years I tried participating in other leagues only to experience cognitive dissonance. I quickly realized that it is hard to root for yourself completely as all your players are competing against one another. Forget it. Only one team from now on. Sorry guys but last year was rough having two completely different teams.

Footballguys.com free to a certain point of the season. Killer Statistical digestion.
ProFootballTalk.com somewhat biased kind of the TMZ of Fantasy football but rumor mill is decent.

I frequent these two sites every morning of game day in hopes of seeing scratched players.

After riding the often injured but highly effective Brian Westbrook into the playoffs the last 5 years, I will probably cut him. As of today he is not on a team and had several concussions last season. He will backup someone somewhere. Maybe Tampa? I am allotted 5 keepers in my CBS league and I think TOM BRADY will bounce back this season. That is one of my keepers this season. More fantasy to post so stay tuned.

You can also follow me on Twitter: supadupaD