The Argument is settled...for now...

Kobe Bryant is better than LeBron James...for now.

Monday night the two best players in the NBA faced off in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. It should be noted that going into Monday night these two teams had the two best records in the league, the Lakers being 31-8 and the Cavs at 31-7. 

All the talking heads and headline writers around the country were hyping up this game as Kobe vs. LeBron. And while both players guarded each other for much of the night, the individual matchup left much to be desired. 

LeBron finished the game 9-25 from the field for 23 points to go along with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Kobe went 9-22 for 20 points, 12 assists, and 6 rebounds. So well both guys had good games, it is hardly what we the people expected. On MLK day, on TNT, two best teams, two best players, I think we half expected 40 points a piece. What we got was two good performances, with a little bit of magic sprinkled in, and that's where Kobe distanced himself from LeBron as the best in the world. 

The debate has raged on for a couple years now, as Kobe and LeBron have continued to show the rest of the league why they are head and shoulders above the rest of the field (Dwyane Wade is great, but he's not in this conversation). 

LeBron has the physique, the drive, and the raw spectacular athleticism that no one else in the history of the NBA can claim. The ceiling for how good LeBron can be is seemingly limitless, his year-to-year improvement is mind boggling. Just when you think he can't possibly get any better, he improves. His decision making has made tremendous progress, as evidenced by his career low average in turnovers this year. His field goal percentage and free throw percentage are both at a career high level. He is the most physically gifted player in the NBA...but he is not the best...for now.

For now the only answer can be Kobe Bryant. No one has ever had the offensive creativity and confidence that Kobe has. Over the last few years and carrying into this summer at the olympics, Kobe has taken his game to the next level. He now trusts his teammates more so than he ever has. This may stem from the fact that he has a competent cast around him for the first time since Shaq left. Regardless of what the motivation was, Kobe has developed into the cold-blooded game-changing maestro of the game that has him second to no one else in the world right now. 

The Monday night game sealed the deal. Playing with a newly dislocated ring finger on his shooting hand, Kobe stepped his game up yet again. As I said before, Kobe didn't have the all-around dominant game that we have come to expect from him, but he stepped up when the situation called for it. I hope you all watched the game...but if not...let me break down a couple of the "Kobesque" moments that led directly to this column. Cut to the 4th quarter, Lakers up 8 with nine minutes to go. Sensing that the Lakers can put the game away with a big run, Kobe puts the team on his back. Also on his back was LeBron James...

Go to the 1:40 mark of the video to make sense of the next two paragraphs. 

Kobe backs down LeBron, giving up a couple inches and 30 to 40 pounds, and LeBron is five years younger. Kobe falls away to the baseline and shoots a rainbow fadeaway over the outstretched (very long) arms of LeBron James. Swish...Lakers up 10.

Next Lakers possesion, still up 10, Kobe drives to the left side of the basket right into the body of LeBron James who nary moves an inch. Kobe continues on his newly obstructed path and throws up a running floating 15 foot teardrop type deal while falling towards the out of bounds line. Swish...Tweet...well probably more like Tweet and then Swish. Translation, foul and the ball goes in, foul on LeBron. Lakers up 12. Crowd goes wild, LeBron is perplexed, and all the sudden the complexion of the game is changed. To using a boxing analogy, the Cavs were on the ropes, and it was all thanks to Kobe Bryant's calculated flurry of big time punches. 

So for now, the argument is settled. If anyone asks, Kobe Bryant is better than LeBron James...for now. 

SUPER BOWL 44! Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizo...this must be a misprint...

Super Bowl 43, I mean XXXXIII, is set. The Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers won their respective conference championships Sunday to earn the trip to Tampa. Let the media circus begin...

This is a classic battle of Offense vs. Defense. The high-powered passing attack of the Arizona Cardinals is led by Kurt Warner. But the most important part of the Cardinals offense, besides the obvious importance of the offensive line, is Larry Fitzgerald. Does he have a nickname? According to the all-knowing entity that is The Google Search, nothing came up. I hope Chris Berman doesn't take it upon himself to dub him something lame...please have mercy.

The defense is clearly the backbone of the Steelers team, and has been for the last decade or so. They will certainly be challenged by the Cardinals. 

The teams played in the 2007 regular season and the Cardinals came out on top 21-14. I would venture that both coaching staffs are rewatching that game as teams don't change that much from year to year, especially ones with the same coaching staff in place. 

I learned a long time ago that when a coach goes against the last team he coached for, it is wise to take notice. This situation isn't exactly the same, as Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't coach under or with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. HOWEVA...current Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was the wide receivers coach under Ken Whisenhunt when Whisehunt was offensive coordinator for the Steelers under Bill Cowher. Are you following? The point is, Whisenhunt probably spent a lot of time teaching Arians. Which would lead me to believe that he has a fairly good understanding of what the Steelers want to do on offense, and what Arians would like to try and accomplish. This philosophy can obviously go both ways, as Arians certainly knows a lot of the ins and outs of Whisenhunt's offense. Advantage? Anyone who followed the last paragraph. 

More to come as the game nears. 

Lions hire Schwartz...Jim Schwartz

Before anything else, lets get the obvious Schwartz jokes out of the way...youtube video --> "I see your schwartz is as big as mine! or I hate it when I get my schwartz twisted!"

The Detroit Lions have found their next head coach, Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Schwartz kinda looks like a Wally and the Beav type of guy, no? Schwartz has been Jeff Fisher's defensive coordinator with the Titans for the last eight years. From what I remember of the last eight years the Titans have always has a pretty legit defense, so I suppose from that aspect I am intrigued by the selection. 

Upon first hearing about the hiring I thought, 'great, another defensive coordinator type, much like Rod Marinelli.' But I decided to hold off too much thought until I did a little homework.

Said homework suggests there is more than meets the eye with Mr. Schwartz. Schwartz was the runner-up to Mike Nolan for the San Francisco 49ers head coaching position in 2005. So that shows that someone else has been high on him, and the 49ers are a pretty well put together organization. Also Schwartz interviewed for the head coaching positions with the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons.

Schwartz got his start in the NFL doing research as a college and pro scout for Bill Belichick (as much as I can't stand all the Belichick praise, some of it has to be legit) on the Cleveland Browns staff in the mid-1990s. Someone with a knowledge of player development is desperately needed in Detroit. I would think that his previous history as a scout is possibly what sold him to the Lions.

Anyway, I hope this works out. The Lions have been killing the great sports fans of Detroit for too long. We want to support the team, so give us a chance to support you!

Next on the Lions agenda, who to take at #1 in the draft? thoughts? A post about the potential will be coming up as the draft approaches. 

AUTHOR SIGHTING!!!!!!!!

Vacation is over! Had a lot of changes going on, but I am back to blog. Sorry about the month off. Things will be picking up again. I should be out of the above bathtub and back to my island today. Thanks for everyone's support. 

-ABJ

"This game means more to us than it does them, let's play like it!"

Michigan beats Duke!! This is the second huge win this season for Michigan. UCLA and now Duke. A solid big ten season and Michigan should go dancing for the first time in years. 

Michigan was led by DeShawn Sims' 28 points and 12 rebounds. Michigan was better from the field, from 3-point range, from the free throw line, and they hit the glass hard. The story of the Duke game earlier in the season was Michigan's inefficiency overall, and today they came out with confidence and drive. It seemed as though Michigan just wanted this game more. Sims, Harris, and Grady should play 30+ minutes a game, with a compliment of Douglass, Novak, Gibson, Wright, Sheppard. 

The last time Michigan beat Duke, Charles Woodson won the Heisman Trophy later that night. Savior that memory and enjoy the Michigan Basketball win.

I am thrilled that Michigan has a watchable and competitive team again. I look forward to watching and writing more about them this season. 

#4 Duke @ MICHIGAN

32-30 Michigan Wolverines up at the half.

David Merritt gave this incredible sound bite in the Michigan locker room before the game, and it certainly has been ringing true so far through the first half of play,

"This game means more to us than it means to them...lets play like it. Win on three! One. Two. Three. WIN!"

Let's go Blue. Great to see Crisler Arena like this again...

#1 Alabama...#2 Florida...SEC Championship

As I was deciding to write a little preview before the game, I came across some interesting things. First of all, for all the talk of the SEC being so much better than every other conference, were they not a huge disappointment?

• LSU: 7-5 overall, 3-5 in the SEC, losses to Ole Miss and Arkansas
• Georgia: Preseason #1, 9-3 overall, 6-2 SEC, loss to Georgia Tech
• Tennessee: 5-7 overall, 3-5 SEC, losses to Wyoming and UCLA
• Auburn: 5-7 overall, 2-6 SEC, losses to Vanderbilt, Ole Miss

Four of the perennial "powers" in the SEC having hugely disappointing years. Perhaps Georgia at 9-3 isn't hugely disappointing but the fact that they were preseason #1 and are now 9-3 with a regular season finale loss to Georgia Tech has to be classified as a disappointment of some type. 

Alabama was expected to be a middle of the pack SEC team and now they sit at 12-0 and are one win away from a national championship appearance.  But have the Crimson Tide really been THAT impressive? Beating teams like Clemson, Tulane, Western Kentucky, and Arkansas State in the non-conference, and narrowly escaping disappointing SEC teams like LSU and Kentucky...am I missing something? 

Florida has been showing off since their one point home shootout loss to Ole Miss. Beating opponents by 30+ points per game. Tebow's TD:INT ratio on the year is 25:2, slightly better than the Crimson Tide's John Parker Wilson's 9:5 (eek!). Florida is a statistical juggernaut, and based on the numbers, Florida should win big and then win the National Championship for the 2nd time in 3  years...

But this is college football, a world where anything can happen. I hope Alabama comes out big against Florida, and makes this SEC championship game competitive, because on paper, it really shouldn't be that close. 

Enjoy the game! Hope for a doozy?

Notre Dame annouces decision to stick with Obeseity

Notre (spell check doesn't recognize Notre...bravo spell check) Dame announced today that they will retain head football coach Charlie Weis. Despite:

"In Weis' four seasons, only eight of Notre Dame's 28 victories came
against teams that finished the season with a winning record. The Irish have recently gone 1-16 against teams that finished with a winning record."

and highlights like these:

"His only victory against a team that finished a season ranked in the
Top 25 was a 41-17 win over a Penn State squad that finished 2006
ranked No. 24."

Ouch...

As a non-ND fan, I am happy he is sticking around. I predict two more years of relatively non-competitive Irish teams.

Really?

I don’t know how many of you still watch Saturday Night Live (it’s usually pretty unbearable), but they have a weekend update segment called, “Really?” The premise of the segment is questioning things that seem to be so obviously stupid and nonsensical that is it surprising that it has happened. Thus the response, “Really?”

An example from SNL, Michael Vick was caught at the Miami airport with a water bottle that had a secret compartment. In the compartment was marijuana residue. Really Michael Vick? You make over $100 million and you are carrying your own weed? Really? You can’t have someone mail it to you? Or better yet you don’t have enough weed in the states, so you have to have a secret water bottle compartment, Really?

So that is how the segment goes, and usually it goes on for a while, berating someone or something.

I decided I am going to do a sports version, for whenever enough stuff comes along that I have enough material to “Really?” So without further ado, the debut of “Really?”'

Remember when everyone was saying that Charlie Weis was a great hire for Notre Dame? Really? A guy who never played football in college, and probably never played anything at a high level besides competitive pie eating. Really? That’s your savior? An NFL offensive coordinator with no head coaching experience. Really? Let’s assume that Notre Dame loses to USC tomorrow, Charlie Weis will have a worse winning percentage than Ty Willingham. That’s what $30+ million buys, Really? Really Notre Dame?

The BCS. The BCS uses a combination of things to decide the rankings. One of the things they use is computer generated rankings. One of those spefic computer rankings is a formula put together by Jeff Sagarin, cleverly names the Sagarin rankings. Looking at any BCS poll you can see his rankings in the computer section under ‘JS’. This weeks Sagarin rankings have James Madison ranked 24…Really? The BCS allows a system where a 1-AA team is ranked ahead of Iowa, South Carolina, Ole Miss, among others. Really? James Madison is 10-1, with the one loss coming to…the perennial ACC powerhouse Duke Blue Devils. Really? James Madison lost to Duke 31-7. Duke is 4-7 on the year, and the BCS takes into account a system that recognizes James Madison as the #24 team? This is a good system? Really BCS?

Allen Iverson misses practice. Really? After all the talk of you being more mature and thankful for the opportunity to win a championship in Detroit, you skip practice. Really? Allen Iverson is a multi-millionaire, couldn’t he have flown his family wherever he was going to be for thanksgiving? Missing practice again, Really Allen Iverson?

That concludes the first installment of, “Really?” Another edition of “Really?” will be coming to the Shadow soon. Really? Your blog is called the Five o’ Clock Shadow? Really?

Michigan vs. Ohio State - Live Diary

I decided that this would be a good event to diary about. I usually channel surf with the the best of em', but I am gonna stay locked in to this game. I don't anticipate Michigan winning this game, but I hope they keep it close. Just a chance to have a game tying or game winning drive would be a win in my book. (The times from the time stamps are Mountain time). Hope for a great game, hope for a competitive game, Go Blue! 

DIARY:

10:07:33 AM “a great day for pneumonia?” hmmmm, interesting way to get the fans ready Brad Nessler.

10:08:57 AM Does Paul McGuire have a contract that CANNOT be terminated? Does anyone think he brings anything of value to the football conversation? He is sitting in an absurd elevated cameraman swiveling chair on the sideline.

10:09:36 AM and we’re off!!!!

10:10:34 AM did anyone think Pryor would be this good this fast? I hate to think what Michigan’s record would be with him, because he is on the other side now and it makes me sad. But honestly, 7-4? 6-5?

10:11:50 AM big third down conversion throw by Pryor, has a Michigan QB made that throw yet this year?

10:12:30 AM WOOO! Just like I said!! I’m glad Pryor isn’t Michigan’s qb! INT by Stevie Brown!!!!!! A touchdown needs to come of this, a field goal won’t cut it.

10:13:44 AM Malcolm Jenkins is a punk, but he’s great and he plays with swagger. Michigan needs someone on offense with some swagger.

10:14:34 AM ugh, 3rd and 10, false start. Awesome.

10:15:39 AM Missed field goal. An interception in the early going is exactly what Michigan needed. It was a gift. I wonder if Michigan fans understand how bad Nick Sheridan is…put it this way; did you go to high school? Did your high school have a football team? Pick the quarterback from your high school, and Sheridan is probably a little bit worse. Worse. He was a walk-on from a local school. ANYONE could have been Nick Sheridan.

10:21:33 AM 3 and out OSU.

10:22:09 AM fumbled punt return!!! Martavious Odoms fumbles for the 10th time this year. Giving OSU good field position.

10:29:04 AM OSU went 3 and out after the turnover and now M goes 3 and out right back.

10:29:45 AM Hartline for OSU catches a punt while he is diving, same as Odoms. Difference being Hartline catches the ball. I hope Odoms was watching, it’s evidence that a punt can in fact be caught.

10:32:15 AM Brad Nessler says, “1,2,3…kick!” a whimsical Dancing with the Stars plug.

10:33:45 AM Sack Brandon Harrison! OSU 3 and out again! M defense is playing great, now if only Nick Sheridan was a competent quarterback.

10:35:27 AM Sheridan incomplete, short hop by 3 yards, this is going to be painful…

10:37:27 AM Touchdown Beanie Wells. 59 yard run. Less than five minutes ago I got off the phone with my buddy. I said to him, “this game is going to be something like 21-3. Michigan’s offense will do nothing, and Ohio State will get two or three huge plays against Michigan’s defense.” Well I think we can chalk that up to huge play #1. (What kind of stupid nickname is Beanie?)

10:43:35 AM What a telling season stat, M has 51 three and outs this year, most in the NCAA. Is it time to throw Feagin in there? Did anyone else on Michigan’s team play quarterback in high school? Can we go to a wishbone?

10:52:33 AM Paul McGuire, still useless. He must have some dirt on someone at ABC…I have no doubt at this point.

10:53:24 AM Touchdown OSU. Pryor 53 yard pass to Hartline. Huge play #2…maybe my earlier prediction of two or three huge plays, should have been two or three per half. Great throw by Pryor. Stevie Brown is slow. 14-0 OSU…I am beginning to fear the worst. 38-0 blowout type of fear.

10:59:37 AM Everyone together now, 1, 2, 3…AND OUT! Michigan punts again.

11:09:29 AM 4th and 3, OSU goes deep. Incomplete pass. Can Michigan get a drive together? (chuckle), let me rephrase, can Michigan get a first down?

11:11:52 AM What. A. Gift. 1st down! I’ll take it!

11:14:10 AM 4th down and a foot…first down! Back-to-back first downs, now we are rolling!

11:16:23 AM Brandon Minor for season MVP. I hate to beat a dead horse, but if we are going to keep running the zone read, why not put Feagin in for a “real” quarterback run threat.

11:19:23 AM Minor ran out at the 1 yard line. Now its 3rd and goal from the 7 yard line. Oy.

11:20:14 AM 4th and goal from the 1, going for it, Touchdown Michgan! Brandon Minor. His 11th touchdown of the year. 14-7 OSU.

11:22:20 AM Michigan really needs a big defensive possession here, a three and out or a turnover.

11:26:40 AM three and out, big sack by Tim Jamison. 1:09 to go in the half, one timeout left.

11:29:49 AM Run (?), big pass play (thumbs up), 2 yard bubble screen (?), and then Michigan burns the timeout…color me confused. Punt? That was miserable.

11:32:56 AM Halftime. 14-7 OSU. M still in it!

11:33:29 AM I’m really sick of people dumping on Rich Rodriguez. The “get a life” comment was taken completely out of context. He wasn’t talking to all Michigan fans, he was talking to people who make personal attacks about the players, the people who don’t get it anyway. The crazed fans that don’t understand football or the way things work in the world of college sports. When I see blogs, or facebook posts about “I can’t believe Rich Rod would say that, what a ____” or something dumb like that, it just makes me realize how uniformed and quick to judge some people are. Those people are the ultimate fair weather fans, the classless few.

11:42:06 AM Another thing to note, Rich Rod went 3-8 in his first year at West Virginia. He then proceeded to go 9-4, 8-5, 8-4, 11-1, 11-2, and 10-2. Winning four big east titles. Give the guy a break, how about a chance to show what he can do. If five or six years from now Michigan is still 3-8 then feel free to say that he wasn’t the right guy for the job. But for now, let Rodriguez do his job.

11:59:00 AM Couple first downs in a row by M to begin the second half.

11:59:47 AM Big 3rd down and 7 at the OSU 38. Incomplete pass. Punt. But now M is winning the field position battle. That could be key early in the half.

12:01:33 PM Well that was short-lived, 42 yard run for Wells, puts OSU on Michigan’s side of the field.

12:02:18 PM Wow…that was really short-lived. Dan Herron 49 yard touchdown run. A two play 91 yard drive! 21-7 OSU.

12:04:04 PM Michigan is not a good come from behind team, because they run so much they are limited in their quick strike capabilities. It also doesn’t help that Nick Sheridan has not shown that he can throw a football further than 20 yards.

12:08:35 PM 3 and out. (sigh)

12:09:20 PM Roughing the punter, automatic first down. (sigh?)

12:10:21 PM HEY!! A deep pass! Incomplete, and into double coverage, but hey it’s a start!

12:11:39 PM Sheridan had Matthews WIDE OPEN for a M touchdown. Shockingly Sheridan underthrows it, and Malcolm Jenkins recovers in time to knock it away. (sigh)

12:12:46 PM So M punts again, would that be called a 6 and out?

12:17:36 PM OSU Punts.

12:21:00 PM Big pass play to Stonum! That play has been there all day! (Am I using exclamation points too much?)

12:22:44 PM Another deep pass, this one to Odoms, it was incomplete, but that’s two deep passes on the same drive. Woo!

12:23:25 PM WHAT?!?! 3rd and 15? QB draw??????? And it injures Sheridan??

12:24:24 PM Four Michigan “players” overrun the punt coverage and have no idea where the ball is. Result: 81 yard Punt return by Ray Small to the 8 yard line.

12:25:16 PM Result based on the previous result, touchdown OSU, Robiskie 8 yard catch from Pryor on the first play. 28-7 (double sigh)

12:29:10 PM Feagin is in, and M goes 3 and out. (sigh)

12:29:52 PM If I were a cartoon right now, there would be a thought bubble over my head. And in that thought bubble it would say, “I can’t wait till next year…”

12:32:27 PM Pryor escapes most of the Michigan line, and throws a Sheridan duck, but because his WR is so open, it works anyway. First down OSU. (sigh times 10)

12:33:35 PM Dan Herron down to the 2 yard line. First and goal.

12:34:35 PM End of the third quarter, multiple sighs imminent.

12:39:07 PM Donovan Warren appears to have an interception in the endzone, close call. I think whichever way they called it on the field was going to stand. I assume OSU scores on the next play.

12:40:29 PM Herron touchdown 35-7.

12:44:23 PM Fumble on the kickoff return. OSU ball. (sigh infinity)

This concludes my diary of the game. I don’t want to write anymore. I should do a diary about something with more positive potential next time. While I write this conclusion, OSU scored again 42-7. I hate this. I wonder if this is the real reason Oedipus gouged out his eyes…because I’m getting there.