Tag: sports

NFL Wildcard Weekend: Key Matchups to Watch


Sunday/ Funday begins for me. It is Wildcard Weekend in the NFL, and I enjoy the NFL and it’s playoff format, but, I also know if it continues to put it’s playoff games on pay streaming services, it will lose viewers. It isa matter of being overly greedy for the NFL. They should back down to the main stations they used before of CBS, NBC and ABC, allowing the people to view said Playoff games for free, bolsters the NFL. Forcing people to pay to see these games, will hurt the league overall, in quick time.

That said, The Games on Prime were good games both, that ended up in lip-sided wins for the two teams that won. The Ravens proved they are a team to be dealt with and a clear front runner for the Championship. The Texans have proven they are the young upstart team, rising and a threat, to challenge also. The two teams that lost on Saturday are disappointing in many ways to me. I thought the Chargers would contend at least and Herbert throwing four interceptions, greatly disappointed me. The Steelers, were on a four game losing streak and they had lost their mojo during that streak and never recovered it.

Today there are three games to be played. The first at 1 pm, will be the Broncos and Bills in Buffalo. While the Broncos show great promise and area strong team, the young Quarterback Bo Nix may decide this game, at least for them. Yet, I doubt Denver can go into Buffalo and survive, never mind win. Josh Allen a powerful Quarterback who has shown he can overcome if needed, and he controls the ball. Now the real question will not be points in this game, but who can stop the other teams offense. Buffalo has shown it’s defense is one that will fight back, and Denver’s Defense has improved over the season. Who gets to the opposing Quarterback more and gets the turnovers may indeed determine who wins. In my opinion, I say Buffalo based on Josh Allen, and the Buffalo Defense. We shall see.

At 4;30 pm, today the Packers will ramble into Philly and the Eagles may face the challenge of the Season in them. The Eagles are a great team, but, how will Jalen Hurts be and will he play first question. Second question can the Eagles be stopped by The Packers defense, I think so, if not stopped they may be held down, if Hurts is out or not fully healthy. of all the games this Wild Card weekend, this one may be the most interesting. If Jordan Love plays up to speed and his receivers do too, add in the running game and it may be a knock down, drag em out game. Barkley is running at his best in his history and he will be rested for this game. Yet I remind all, one running back will not win this alone. I expect this to be a game of hit and repeat and back and forth here. maybe the most competitive of all. Who would i take, if i were a betting man, well, don’t be too surprised here if the Packer find a way. Just my opinion of course.

Now, comes a very interesting contest in my view at 8 pm est. As the Commanders re-enter the playoff picture, with a Quarterback who has shown not only promise and skill, but a clear determination to never surrender of give up. The Commanders have their Quarterback for now and ther future in Jayden Daniels, the man can run, he is poised, he has a rocket arm and he is smart enough not to throw interceptions left and right. What of the Buccaneers though, right. Well, The Bucs are actually a team that made the playoffs in my opinion because another team crumbled. Baker Mayfield is an experienced Quarterback yes. He has numerous weapons at his disposal and he is not afraid to run if needed. Again, we come down to a game I believe that will be determined by mistakes and turnovers here. Can Mayfield hold the ball and not throw interceptions and can he move it against a pretty strong defense in the Commanders. I think as a overall look at this game can show, it will come down to turnovers and The Commanders defense, can they get to Mayfield? we shall see, I think this may be the second best game of the Wild Card Weekend right here. Yes the Commanders are a up and coming team, and may be a surprise here.

The Final Wild Card weekend game will be on Monday evening, in Arizona of all places due to the wild fires in LA. When the Vikings and Rams line up head to head, this could be a shoot out, at the OK Corral so to say. Stafford has a rocket arm and so does the Viking’s Darnold. Both teams are full of great receivers and have decent runners. Defense wise who holds the advantage here, may determine the game and who moves on. Now before I go on, I have been a Viking’s fan, since I was a child and that will never change for me. Yet, i am also a realistic person here, so I know the teams problems and faults, even under Kevin O Connell. The Vikings, while a team with a 14 and 3 record, need to be motivation big time to beat the Rams here. Sadly, they slooch off at times and think, it will be easy and do not play full out. They shoot themselves in the foot many times, by giving up the ball, and their defense not having the energy to hold at the end of games. You can say what you want, but, I know, the Vikings well, and sadly, that defense, losing energy in the fourth quarter. The Rams no matter their record are a very dangerous team, Stafford can pick apart a secondary and their running game is not easy to stop. never mind the imagination and skill of their coach. The Rams have many major weapons in Kupp, Pucuna, and their running game too. This game is going to be determined by the Vikings defense or lack of it, and if it can play up to the task. The last time the Vikings were able to do so, was when the Purple People Eaters were strong and good. is there enough in the Viking’s motivation and engine to carry them here or not. If they falter here, what will happen to the vikings future? as to the Rams they have won before, they have experience on their side and a Quarterback in Stafford who has driven this road before. Is Sam Darnold, a Quarterback who can play without mistakes, and move the team to score well? Can Darnold play, and show he can win here, or will Vikings fans be disappointed once more? The Vikings proved they did right by letting Cousins go, just look at what happened to Atlanta. But, did the Vikings find a Quarterback in Darnold good enough to carry them forward in the playoffs. Monday evening will tell us all of it, folks. And if Sam Darnold wants a new contract in Vikings land or elsewhere, he will have to prove he can win, and play well. This could be make or break for Sam Darnold and his career in the NFL.

O.J. Simpson’s Ending


Yesterday OJ Simpson passed from cancer, at home with his family surrounding him, in the comfort of his own bed. As we all know, his trials for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman, had so many Americans transfixed to television and the case. Many Americans of all colors and races, believed OJ Simpson was indeed guilty, and others did not understand the science involved in this case. DNA was relatively new and the explanation of it in court, was confusing at the time, and too many misunderstood the evidence.

While few recall all of the trial, that is now being gone over again, the science and DNA, contained and shown in the trial, really proved OJ Simpson did these murders. Why did he get off, in this case, that mesmerized the people of this nation, it was in an era of racial tension. If not for the racial element of his case and the atmosphere in America at the time, he would have been convicted and locked away for life or, given a death sentence at the time.

After the murder trial, Simpson was found civilly responsible for the deaths and ordered to pay the families. Yet he paid very little to either rof them over the years and dodged it all. The book he wrote and the Goldman family published, gave them some funds, and it ultimately showed that Simpson had committed the murders and gotten away with it. Sadly, America allowed him to walk away, and live his life to an extent, until he was later convicted for other crimes and jailed.

Now that he is dead at 76 years old and gone, will it ever be known all he did, and how he really did it? The case still divides the nation, but, sadly, it more than likely always will. But, the opinions on it have shifted and many more of both white and black Americans believe he was guilty as sin. I know for me, my opinion never changed from the first day I heard of the murders, and saw the White Bronco chase. If he wasn’t guilty, why run, why write a letter the way he did ? The gloves did fit even if they were shrunken from rain and weather. The blood in the bronco and so much more all pointed at Simpson, period. There never was another suspect and never shall be. Sadly, O.J. Simpson got away with murder back then, and most Americans know it now. What is sad is the remaining member sof the victims families and how they have had to live with it all, missing their relatives over all that time. Evena fter spending years in jail, and being forced to live in Las Vegas and Nevada, Simpson, wasa glory hound living off his I’ll gotten gains and his prior reputation as a sports star and actor. Right up until nearly his end he video taped himself thanking his fans for asking about him and keeping track of him. He knew he got away with murder and how he did it, and he smiled about it till his end.

I just want to say this, O.J. Simpson wasa great, running back in the NFL, that can never be taken from him, nor can his acting career. But, in contrast and reality, Simpson, also did crimes and murders, and his passing should not be celebrated. Discussed yes, dissected yes, honored no. The saddest part of Simpson’s life is that he ruined it for himself and all around him. His fall from public grace and tumbling from great heights to the bottom rung in lifem was not caused by others, the law, or the courts, it was caused by O.J. Simpson himself. The fact is he knew he leaves behind children, who must live their lives, trying to not discuss, hide and avoid their father’s reputation and crimes. He put that on his own children, and sadly they have no way of escaping that cloud he left over his family, children and in history ! In the end, O.J. Simpson destroyed his own life, the lives of the Brown family and Goldman family, He destroyed his own children’s futures too, for they must now live with all he did. They will be blamed for his actions or at least looked at as being a criminal and murders offspring, attached to them. There is no clear way for them to prove their father didn’t do it and for them to fully escape all he did. I feel sorry for his children, they did not ask for what they have to live with, that’s for sure. As they prepare to bury him, and have to pay for it all, they must feel the shame and pain he brought up on them heavily, in all ways. I hope they can find a way to live in peace, and not let his actions hurt their lives in the future.

Go Red Sox Go/Semi-Auto Weapons/ Economy/NFL


       Red Sox, go, Boston, Go! Boston Strong! As The Boston Red Sox close in on clinching the pennant this year only 4 wins away, I will forever remember my day at Fenway Park on Saturday September 14th, 2013 with the four best people in my life on that day. I started as a Red Sox fan way back in 1961 when I was 5 years old with my step-father at the time, who was a fan all his life too. Sadly dad never got to Fenway Park and we always cheered on the team at home in front of the television for each game we watched.

My Step-dad died way back in October of 1990, and never lived to see the Red Sox finally win a World Series in his lifetime, but I have seen them win two. I cheer as I read of them in the papers , hear of them on the radio and watch them on tv like he did, till this year, when I got cancer like he did and my mom did and my real father did too. Mine I am lucky to say was caught early and was in the middle lobe of my right lung and I had spots in the upper lobe also. I was Operated on on September 3rd and thanks to my sister and her man, I went to Fenway Park, on the 14th of September to see them beat the Yankees. was the best day of my life so far and I will always be grateful to my sister, my wife and Arman my sister’s man for taking me there to finally see it all. I was thrilled beyond belief and awed!

Crazy People with weapons with mass amo is my next rant today! Who the hell allowed an ex navy sailor who was discharged with for misconduct, on a Navy Installation.  This is becoming the worse thing in American History nuts who believe they are being pushed around, shoved around or ignored in a society made for all to thrive in. We need to ban all weapons except, hunting and hand guns. No more Semi-Automatic weapons, no more then six shots in a pistil or 8 in a rifle allowed. Congress needs to act on this stuff and I care not what the National Rifle Association says, innocents dying on American Streets on bases must stop!

Next Bitch, is with the state and federal governments of this country!. Stop telling us the AMerican Economy is improving at 7 percent or whatever. it is a massive lie and we all know it, especially in states like Connecticut. At one time we were the Manufacturing Capital  or at least one of  them on the east coast, now all the factories are gone. No More, Scovills, Chase Brass and Copper. No More Timex, No more places to earn a decent income for all. And wake the hell up people, if we have no money because we have no jobs, you really should stop building retail stores and malls! What is wrong with people, can’t you see America is hurting, invent something we can make, bring back jobs for blue collar workers!

The new NFL Season is now underway, and the teams that will need watching are The SeaHawks, Texans,Bengals, Dolphins  and they will be the surprises this season I think. Hang onto your hats for some wild shootouts between teams with fast offenses and great QBs.

Stories I wrote for Sale: “The Holy Land Murder”—-http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CCCZQ8A

“The Northern Woods Murders”—http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGMRXDC

“God Damn It!”—-http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CMXD1TU

 

 

 

 

Anniversary/Thank Yous/ Boston and The Red Sox /Syria


      September 16th, 2013, My 13th Wedding Anniversary God Bless my wife for putting up with me!  You know you have a good relationship when your together 20 years, married 13 and you both live thru bad and good times together and can smile at each other across a crowded room or party and know what youre each thinking!

I want to say Thank You to my baby sister April and her man Arman Rivard for taking me to Fenway Park for the first time in my life at 57 years old, to see my beloved Red Sox beat those Yankees 5 to 1 behind Jon Lester‘s pitching! I absolutely hope the Boston Red Sox Organization and team know just how much wanting to see a game they played in Fenway Park, Boston motivated me to get well enough to do it and have fun 10 days after my lung cancer surgery! I walked Yawkey Way, I got a Red Sox shirt, I enjoyed the game, Jerry Remmy’s Place and fish and chip and a cold Sam Adams. Then After the game we went to The  Blues Restaurant and had a great meal before heading home. Thank You Boston and The Red Sox for the warm Hospitality!

Syria I hope will be solved now without AMerican Military might being used and I hope millions of Syrian lives are saved and no more chemical weapons will even be used again. It is sad to see a leader of a nation killed his own people to remain in power, isn’t it more logical to step aside and let someone take over, and have a country in peace once more?

Stories is what I shall leave you with links to next! I wrote them and I shall I am sure write mote I just hope they are enjoyable for some to want to buy and enjoy: “You Don’t Know Me!——-http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EKNERFC

“Conversations With Dad”—http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EBC5FHG

“Passing on……………………”—http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CMXC952

 

 

NFL Players Sueing?


      Today I read an article concerning NFL Veterans who made millions from the league and teams , suing the NFL over head concussion injuries. I found it interesting that players who went to college, are educated and with degrees of many kinds, decided the employer, The National Football League is at fault for not doing all it can to protect its players. Why blame the NFL?

        With all due respect to the Player’s Association of the National Football League, and The Union, you can’t hold The NFL accountable for these head injuries like Alex Karras‘s or any other players. These men who grew up playing football from their childhood days on parks and fields, and then through elementary School, High School and College, then choose to play Professional Football to make millions, are at fault themselves. You can’t blame an employer for a worker doing the job they do, when they choose the job as a way of life themselves. No one bent, twisted, any of these players arms to play the sport of Football for an NFL Team or the league, nope they volunteeringly signed contracts that included medical coverage and benefits, plus millions in money to play a game they love. Now when they get injured or hurt, they want to sue a League that gave them what they wanted, to play Pro Football.

        I am a National Football League fan of many decades, and it entertains us and it makes for great games. On each level of the process of becoming a Pro- Football player, these players have a chance to quit and change their jobs if they wish, instead of grabbing the money and going Pro. So why does the National Football League need to pay these men for head injuries? It shouldn’t really, the choice was the players to join a Pro team and they knew the dangers they faced, each and every player, they played football at each level all their lives. Lets be real here, ok.

       The National Football League has been generous and set up many Foundations, Homes for ex-players, paid medical costs for players before and still does today. Yet these players want the NFL to increase Safety and they want to blame the NFL for their conditions? Why?

        At no time in a football player‘s life or career as one, does the player not know he may be injured playing this game. The player has to realize from a young age on a playground they can get hurt and as they age they must also understand they could get hurt worse, because of age and size and violence being in the game. Are these players expecting the NFL to pay them and take care of them after they leave the league, because they earned millions already, and fame playing the game?  What is the real story here, I know if I run through a crowd and fall and break my leg, the crowd is not going to pay to reset it or fix me, so it is all a choice the players made from childhood. Don’t blame the Employer The NFL, blame the players who go Bounty Hunting each other like the Saints did.

       The NFL supplies, high-end helmets for protection, pads, uniforms, medical facilities at each teams home base and stadium. Now, really how much more protection can you get to play a dangerous and violent game like football and still be able to play it. These men are dressed in uniforms and helmets created  by some of the best companies in the world, and designed for protection against these injuries. Sadly, these players don’t stop to think the first time their head buzzes or they get knocked out with a concussion, they all ask to go back into the game. Grow up people if you get paid to do a job, you choose to do, and did all your life, then get injured doing it, why ask the Employer to pay the price of fixing you? You choose your occupation did you not? Yes you did !

 

   

Trayvon Martin, Justice


Lets discuss something, I find a problem with America, its media arm so to say. As we all know, media is going electric data route like all things these day, which to me is fine if it happens. On the other hand, magazines are dying out because of the price raises of them, these days and the average income of the American Household.

         Television is today the ruler of the media age, but for how long  with some of its bias views of issues and people. Almost every story is colored by some bias and more, stories that flash across CNN, Fox, and more all are colored by the stations political lean, or the newscasters view on a personal basis Some are pushed by racist announcers and newscaster while others do it out of fear for their jobs, and the racist comments allowed and the actions of certain people can cause great harm to America.

       Trayvon’s case, may have been a crime, or it may have been what Zimmerman said it was? Only time and a full and fair investigation can prove that.  The New Black Panthers have no business in this and will only make it a larger issue, and they have no business in putting a bounty on a man’s head. Violence will only beget violence Martin Luther King said and I agree. We must all live in America no matter the color, nationality, race we may be, it is a Republic not a Communistic country, nor do we allow such tactics here.

       The Trayvon Martin Case has parents of all colors, nationalities and races, protecting their own children and working overtime to keep them safe now. This case does not affect just blacks, it affects all races and colors in America. Why was a man who is a volunteer for a block watch team carrying a weapon that was fully loaded? How can anyone say a child of seventeen attacked this full-grown man, after being followed by him causing his own death? Isn’t a full-grown man the size of George Zimmerman big enough to stop a seventeen year old from attacking him without a gun? Many questions come up in the case and I am sure given the time, the truth shall come out if legal authorities are allowed to do their job. The New Black Panthers aren’t needed here in this case, nor wanted by the Martin’s, Trayvon’s family. They don’t want revenge, they want justice is all and the Justice System needs time to do its job.

        Like all Americans and parents around the world, we empathize with the Martin family on their lost, and feel the pain of it. The color of our skin does not matter it is a child that is killed and gone, we all feel the same. Yet groups like The New Black Panthers come out and put a bounty on a man’s head and talk like they will kill him if they can. We don’t need organizations like the New Black Panthers, or any others who speak of an eye for an eye as a solution. What we need is peaceful solutions and a country united in finding the truth.