Its a great time to be a sports fanatic in LA. I’m still hung over from celebrating the Laker victory and basketball season is just around the corner. Just imagine?! The starting five could be the following:
Kobe, Artest, Odom, Gasol and Bynum
The only weak point might be Bynum, but with more experience and “practice” (a la Allen Iverson), we should be and are the favorite to raise another banner in 2010 in Staples Center.
On top of those good feelings, the Dodgers are experience a momentous revival in the postseason with Joe Torre at the helm. Up 2-0 on the St. Louis Cardinals, the Blue Crew should be set up to meet in the NLCS.
As if that was not good enough news, the Angels of Anaheim (of also Los Angeles; all I can say is que?) are on off on the right foot in the postseason with a dominating performance against those hated Boston Red Sox. Hopefully, this trend continues and we shall also be in the next round, the ALCS.
My hope is that the World Series this year will be one known as the Freeway Series. Let’s make it happen guys! Go Dodgers and Angels!
Its definitely going well in these parts. I’m rooting for my hometown teams, including the USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins and UCI Anteaters! Go LA (and the OC)!
Ever since the Miami Dolphins ran the “wildcat offense,” all the rage is about what version of the wildcat offense does your football team play. So off the top of my head, I can count several teams including the Dolphins who have used it: Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens and a whole host of other teams. The total stands at about 16 or basically half of the teams of the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles are the latest to use this formation with the addition of the versatile and controversial Michael Vick. Some teams should use it such as the Chargers with the more than capable LT as the hybrid quarterback/running back.
Why such interest?
I think the answer is quite simple. Its the same reason gadget plays (made famous by Ken Whisenhunt) work. The answer is leverage. If the defense does not know what the offense is going to do, the advantage defaults automatically to the offense which helps them score more points. Unlike gadget plays which are used once or twice in a game, teams are using the wildcat more regularly.
Isn’t the wildcat a college play?
Sure, the wildcat is used more often in college and high school, because not every school has a capable quarterback that can throw the long ball. (Some NFL teams such as the 49ers or Lions should look into this). With that said, the obvious question would be since this offense has been around for so long, wouldn’t coaches have a defensive scheme for it? Yes and no. The college game is different from the pros where defensive coordinators already have it on the books. It was inconceivable that a college play such as the wildcat would have succeeded in the NFL that it was assumed unnecessary for defenses to plan for it. However we know now how that turned out. Some assumptions need to be tested and this passed with flying colors.
Significance of the wildcat
So what is the importance of this discussion anyhow? The NFL has relied on the same number of plays over the years and the wildcat represents possibly a new revolution in scheming in the NFL. New plays and formations may change the game, making it more exciting. (Aside: Dang, Roger Godell should hire me for my type of analysis!). What if we line up with two quarterbacks or what if we only line up with 3 running backs? Wouldn’t that be intersting?
Utah believes it deserves the number one spot after going undefeated this season, with a cherry on top upending of Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl. So does Southern Cal after their declawing of Penn State Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl (What is a Nittany Lion anyway?). With Oklahoma failing again so “soon” in a BCS game (2007 Fiesta Bowl), Florida chomps on its second championship in three years with the Texas Longhorns believing it had deserved to play in BCS title game. To the contrary the Longhorns did play sloppily against the Buckeyes, “bucking” the argument against Texas. All of these teams believe that they earned a number one, and I absolutely agree with them.
However, with the money that is tied into these bowls , especially BCS bowls to the tune of 18 million or so (and in Utah’s case only 9 million because they are not a BCS school), this system will probably stay in place unless a certain lawsuit derails the system. I will not go into the specific arguments questioning if the BCS or FBS is doing college football any good. I know you all have your own opinions. At the very least it produces the intended result, a championship title, however its attempt is anything but logical. It is like smoke and mirrors of the WWF (whoops sorry animals, I’m stuck in the 80’s), er I mean WWE. The principles of the FBS/BCS system abruptly departs from our capitalistic nature and hard work ethic. The system aligns itself more similarly to communistic tendencies, allowing the “big boys” to gain the “big bucks” while leaving little guys on the roadside penniless. Actually in college football, no one is really dirt poor; to even have a team in the FBS requires a certain amount of money for sure.
The argument I am setting up here, one that agrees with most “normal” people (my assumption), is that we should have a playoff system set up to determine who truly is the national champion. Every other sport that I know of has some sort of playoff. You prove that you are worthy of a title by leaving your best on the field of play and end up the “last man standing” (like the failed Bruce Willis movie). A win or a loss is the deciding factor for the national championship. Not this poll ranking system that subjectively sets teams up for the championship game. Until then, we have a BCS title with no realistic national champion.
That is why I have dedicated this post to the following title today: FBS + BCS = BS. Truly, I believe the college football is “genius” in its mathematical prowess and naming scheme. The BCS and FBS at the end of the day is BS. Maybe this was their intent all along. The BCS equates to Bull Crap Series and when you add it to Full of BS, the only logical conclusion one can make is BS. There you go FBS, you concocted a BCS series that ends up in your demise. What BS?! Over and out.
