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A common sentiment among NFL coaches, even NFL fans is that they would rather have a “game-manager” taking snaps rather than a “gun-slinger” under center. Of course there are also a select group who would rather have the latter. Which would you prefer? Ideally I would rather have both traits in the quarterback that leads my team. Perfection is fleeting, and to have both would mean having a first ballot hall-of-famer. Alas Joe Montana is not walking through that door, and as close to perfect a passer Dan Marino was, he never won a Super Bowl due to many reasons outside of his control. So our argument remains with one trait or the other. Many decry the amount of attention the pivot garners, but the fact remains that in American football, no other position has access, touches and controls that oblong-shaped leathery ball more than the quarterback. As Uncle Ben would say, “for SOFTER rice, use more water and simmer for a LONGER time. Do not lift lid while cooking (steam cooks rice).” Well… the more applicable cheesy quote would be from the other Uncle Ben, “With great power, comes great responsibility!” Spider-Man likes his rice soft, and takes his great power with greater responsibility.
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What do you call a vote of confidence, a mid-season booster shot, something made up that has no bearing whatsoever on the actual team’s success? The “Sportsboner Bump,” that’s what you call it. Desperate for a catchphrase, a hook, anything to distinguish this modest blog amidst the grand and spectacular world of the blogosphere, I pretty much just rambled on nonsensically without discussing anything relevant to football. That doesn’t diminish the fact that last week, I strongly felt that the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens, the Green Bay Packers, and the Dallas Cowboys are teams to watch for to start stringing together some wins to separate themselves from the pack as I felt they were strong contenders going into the meat of the schedule.

While the Steelers, Packers, and Cowboys pulled off some impressive wins, and the Ravens were on bye; one win certainly doesn’t define the season, and they could go 0-6 in the next stretch (knock on wood). However one game can give you the confidence to turn that corner and make a statement. Pittsburgh’s win over the 6-0 Minnesota Vikings, and Dallas’ balanced win over a solid Atlanta Falcons team could help propel them on a winning streak. Also of note, although Green Bay’s dominance over the hapless Cleveland Browns may not impress, they could use that as a launch pad heading into the much ballyhooed throw down with their “fallen son” and the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday.

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A short blurb to declare my personal unreliable picks for the upcoming season:

Rookie of the Year:

- Tyreke Evans – Really strong bet to get ROY due to fact this talent was the heir apparent to Derrick Rose at Memphis, only he’s bigger, stronger (maybe not faster but darn close) and just as adept if not more so at scoring. He will struggle early on like most rookie point guards in the league with turnovers, but the ceiling is high for this high draft pick playing for a bad team with no competition at his position. All indications point to a seamless transition to the pros in terms of offensive production. Pretty much the only criteria to garner rookie of the year honors. His assists and defense (if he is that type of player) will come later in his career.

Sixth Man of the Year:

- Manu Ginobili – Going with the past winner, 2 seasons removed. With the San Antonio Spurs being deeper as to not rely on Ginobili to start, he will still be the first off the bench, and the last off the court in every game in the 4th quarter throughout the season. The big IF with Ginobili is his health. A summer of rest (no Olympic obligations), a contract year combined with the loophole that a bench player logging starter minutes make Manuuuuu the consensus logical pick to garner this award once again… that is if there were ever players with multiple Sixth Man awards. I’ll have to look it up. Then again if Gregg Popavich decides to start Ginobili and axe my predictions at the roots, we’ll just disregard this and say I had Lamar Odom all along.

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One of the more anticipated NBA seasons full of excitement in recent memory will tip-off Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers trek out to defend their 2009 title. Lots of moves, trades, free agent signings bolster the top half-dozen teams setting the stage for a furious race for the O’Brien trophy, not to mention the bevy of marquee free agents available next summer guarantees that the game’s biggest stars will perform beyond great to ensure a fat new contract with whichever team signs them.

So if the Lakers are the incumbent King of the Hill, who has the best chance to knock them off? I really think (mentioned above) that only a few or so other teams have a legitimate chance to knock off the mighty Lakers. Giddy with provocation, I will try my best to temper the kid-on-Christmas-morning mentality and provide a somewhat objective preview of the upcoming blockbuster (knock on wood health permitting) NBA season.

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As week 7 dawns in the NFL, several teams have already separated themselves from the pack and lead the charge towards the playoffs. Of course there are also teams who amazingly stink up the joint. Obviously the teams off to a fast start have a very good chance to make the playoffs whereas their dubious counterparts starting off 0-6 or even 1-5 will be hard pressed to attain a .500 record much less even dare to dream of crashing the big dance.

What about the rest of the league? The teams in the middle of the pack who could pull an Arizona Cardinal circa 2008/2009 and catch fire at the right time despite a mediocre regular season? In this perpetual age of NFL parity and free agency, we’ve quickly learned it’s hard to sustain a dynasty and the fact remains that it’s not how you start but how you finish. The 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants can attest to as such. In that same grain, the 18-0 New England Patriots of that same season can make their case that despite a fast and unprecedented unbeaten year in football, by the time they played the Super Bowl, they simply ran out of gas and/or just ran into a buzz saw that was the Giant’s pass rush and overall hunger from the whole team despite what many may call luck (see David Tyree).

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