Gerard's Thoughts On Boston Sports

RED SOX:  Overall had a good year.  Would I have liked them to be in the series, of course.  but given injuries, the Manny debacle, to get to one game of it was very good.  I expect them to be a major contender in 2009.

PATRIOTS:  Two wins in a row, yea!  No super teams out there.  Every Sunday it is up for grabs.  If Brady was healthy, Pats would be rolling through teams like last year.  Why doesn't Brady come to the games?

BRUINS:  Improved from last year.  Still have trouble scoring but I like this team!

CELTICS:  Start Tuesday for real.  Excited and expect good things again!!

Sad Sports Weekend For Our House

Browns lost and looked like their old selves again.  Red Sox lost to Tampa Bay.  At least the Buckeyes game was fun to watch--they won!  Go Bucks!

Yea For the Red Sox

The Red Sox are in the Playoffs!  Quite an accomplishment for a team racked by injuries, the Manny trade and all that.  GREAT JOB!  Pedroia for MVP.

High School Picks Week 5 by Leo the Lion

Last week I got all my picks correct! 

Here's my picks for this week:

Iggy vs. Massilon:  Iggy go down, go down!  Iggy, Iggy go down!  My pick though is Iggy, poof!

St. Ed's vs. Benedictine:  Ed's Smashes Bengals

Valley Forge vs. Normandy:  Forge prevails

Brush vs. Parma:  Parma Beats poof team

Poof game of the week:  East Tech vs. Rhodes, Rhodes Rams will win again!

Leo's Football Picks for 2008 NFL Season

AFC:

East:  New England, New York Jets*, Buffalo Miami

North:  Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore

South:  Jacksonville, Indianapolis*, Titan, Texans

West:  San Diego, Denver, Oakland, Kansas City

NFC:

East:  Dallas, Philadelphia*, New York, Washington

North:  Minnesota, Detroi*, Green Bay, Chicago

South:  New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta

West:  Seattle, Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco

* = wild card

The Manny Trade

A lot of people have given their opinion on this so here is mine:

I cannot hate on Manny.  Do I like the fact that he just about quit on the Red Sox, of course not!  But he brought us Red Sox fans two world championships and for that I am glad. 

Getting Jason Bay is not bad.  He is an all-star and he has been off to a good start so far.  I'm also sort of a Dodger fan too (My favorite National League team).  What I find hard to believe is all the so-called "experts" burying the Sox now that Manny is gone.  Sort of makes us the underdogs.  I like that.  Let's go Red Sox!

--Gerard Zemek

Sports Talk With Leo

Dawson Rocks! Browns Win in Buffalo!

Yea for my Browns!  They came through again!  Barely, but Quinn looks good and it was an exciting game!  I have figured out the Browns pattern--they win every other game.  I just wish I could have stayed awake to have watched the whole thing!  I hate these late night starting times!!!  GRRRR. Dawson was amazing making a 56-yard field goal to win the game with just 1:39 left to go.  Go Browns!

Are You A Fan?

Fan is short for "fanatic" which I am about my sports teams.  All the Boston teams and Ohio State football and Duke basketball.  Here is an example:

Thursday night the Patriots and NY Jets football game was on.  (I do not like football played on Thursdays--just me.)  Anyway, the Pats played terrible in the first half and were down 24-6 at one point.  I was very upset, yelling, slamming things, then I went to bed for two reasons:  (1) I just did not want to watch any more! (2) For some reason, when I go to bed it seems on the next morning I am surprised that my team won!  This night I got up later and I couldn't help myself.  I turned it back on and guess what--the score was 24-24!!  Now, I must decide, should I turn it off or watch.  I decided to chance it and watch.  The Jets went ahead with little time left so I turned it off for awhile.  When I put it back on, the Pats had tied it up!!  So, I turned it of and went back to bed excited.  When I got up later, I found out they lost.  I was bummed out about it all night and the next day.

Do you think us fanatical fans take losses harder than the players do?  Your comments are welcomed.

Fortunately for me, Boston sports teams win so much that I'm spoiled, so maybe I foolishly expect them to win all the time.

Leo's Rant About Money & Sports by Leo the Lion

I read yesterday in the paper that it costs $435 plus for a family of four to attend a L.A. Lakers basketball game!  Poof!  You have got to be kidding me!  One basketball game--over $400??  That is why Gerard and I love the Sunday ticket.  We get to see all the NFL games.  I get to see my Detroit Lions.  Granted, the Lions are poof, but still I like to watch.  It does not cost me $435 either.  That is why, if you love sports you should get Direct TV.  It's a no-brainer.  It has baseball, football, basketball or hockey pakages so it pays in the long run!!  Well worth it.

Another Heart Breaking Loss For the Browns

Instead of the dawgs saying "BOW WOW" they are saying "BOO HOO." 

I enjoyed watching the Browns game yesterday with My cat, Manny, laying on the couch with me.  I even picked them to win this week against Baltimore, in spite of the fact they had just won last week and in spite of Kellen Winslow playing.  I followed my heart, not my head. 

We should have easily won that game in my opinion.  "Butterfingers" Edwards cost us a touchdown by dropping a perfect pass that probably would have resulted in a touchdown.  I don't understand how a reciever gets called for pass interference even though Gerard tried explaining it to me.  Kellen Winslow made a great catch that was discounted on a pass interference call which I didn't get.  It seemed after that, the Browns just melted.

They were tie at halftime and did well in the third quarter, but then fell to pieces in the 4th.  They had three possesions, I believe in a row, that they went 3 and out on in the 4th quarter.  The last 21 minutes of the game, the big offense had only one first down.  All they needed was a field goal even to tie the game and at least send it into OT. 

Did they throw the ball to Heiden at all?  I don't think so.  My question is WHY NOT?  Anderson had his chance.  Now it's time, I think, with this season all but blown, to see what Grady can do on a consistent basis so we at least know where things stand for next year.  I really wish the Browns would give him 4 games in a row to see what he can do playing with the starters on a consistent basis. 

Again, they use 3 basic plays,  They only use Lewis to run the ball, and only throw to Edwards and Winslow.  Mix it up arlready!  Use the whole team!

The highlight was the great blocking for Josh Cribbs on his 92 yard punt return.  He really did well breaking a couple tackles and taking it all the way!  Could we put him in on more plays?  Might be something worth seriously considering.  Again, use all the guys, especially the ones who come through the few chances they get. 

Browns Look Good Again Against Jaguars

Sunday's Browns game was fun to watch.  It was exciting to the end with the Brown coming out on top.  Perhaps I see a pattern forming--it may be every other week they play well or it seems they rise to the challenge when playing good teams (Giants, Jaguars).  I'm not sure.  Another interesting thing I noticed is that both these good games they won against better teams happened without the "great" K. Winslow.  When they use their whole team and throw the ball to several players and running the ball instead of just the same one or two they do much better.  I like when they mix up their plays.  Can't the coaches see the difference here?  All the fans do! 

Gerard's Thoughts On the Buckeyes

They had that Penn State game until the fumble!!  Hope that is it for losses for the year.  I want them to win a bowl game this year, when did they win their last one?  Awhile ago!!

Miracles Do Happen! by Buster

This game was great--Browns Bring Down The Giants 35-14! In spite of the Browns inability to avoid the penalties, they were on fire! Anderson was actually amazing! His throws were on target and the offensive line protected him very well. He took command and the Browns actually dominated the game. The Browns scored touchdowns at home!

I must admit I did not think the Browns had a chance to win this one, but they played so much better but still had way too many penalties. The most costly penalty came when the game was still close. Giants fumbled the football, Browns got it and ran with it on I believe 3rd down. It didn't count though because of an illegal contact penalty against the Browns. The Giants kept the ball and got a new set of downs and scored a TD. I still don't understand why they had so many false starts, but hey, if they can score like they did to win the game, then I'm happy!

The game was on so late that I had a hard time keeping my eyes open near the end. I fell asleep on a commercial with a little over 6 seconds to go and when I woke up, it was all over. I had to go on the computer to find out the final score because I played the the squares at work and had 4 for NY, and 5 for Cleveland. I had a chance because at least the Giants had my number when I dozed off. Browns won with the final score 35-14! It's the first time I won on this!

Cleveland Browns Finally Win!

It figures, the Browns win the week I bet against them.  I didn't know when I picked my teams that Palmer would not be playing this game.  Anyhow, I'm glad the Browns managed to win the battle of the two 0-3 teams.  The Bengals really bungled it up!  The funniest play of the game in my opinion was the interception and fumble all on the same play! 

Have you ever seen a game with that many penalties?  I don't think I have.  It reminded of the old familiar song, "Old McDonald Had a Farm" with a flag, flag here and a flag, flag there.  Here a flag, there a flag, everywhere a flag, flag!
 
The victory was bitter sweet for me because it meant I lost my office pool.  I really wanted the Browns to win so figured they probably would if I bet against them.  It worked!  They have a bye next week so I won't have to choose whether to bet that game or not. 

Browns Let Me Down Again!

I actually had hopes of the Browns winning today against the Baltimore Ravens.  What was really sad is that I missed the one touchdown the Browns did have because I went on the computer for a littlbe it and when I came back, they had scored 7 points!  I was shocked.  At half time, the Browns actually had a 10-7 lead and I was very hopeful, almost confident in fact!  I bet on my Browns with the 2 pt. spread and was doing good on all my other picks.  If only the Browns could beat the spread, I'd win my office pool!

Then came the second half let down filled with turnovers and penalties, including a fumble call against the Ravens that was reversed on a challenge!  The Browns got an interception but didn't capitalize on it like the Ravens did.  Cribbs was wide open and Anderson's past was way high again. 

Can it get any worse?  I seriously doubt it!  I believe Anderson was sacked 5 times!  Anderson was clearly rattled and had absolutely no composure under pressure at all--at least none that I noticed.  At one point he looked like a scared rabbit and other time like a deer caught in headlights.  Does he even practice passing during the week?  His throws were terrible.  I doubt if the players had any confidence left in him either by the end of that third quarter. 

I was sure Crennel would put in Quinn to give us a chance but no.  He apparently still had confidence in Anderson.  In the paper this morning, Crennel was quoted as saying "Derek had had most of the work during the course of the week, and we still had a chance."  Here's a thought--how about making sure Quinn gets some practice each week with the first string too so we can bring him in when Anderson completely falls apart like he did yesterday? 

I would like to know though why the Ravens didn't get penalized for taunting.  Practically every play they made, someone was either strutting around like a peacock or one time even boxing. 

Maybe I shouldn't have watched since they scored when I wasn't looking. Next week we play the Bengals who are also 0-3.  At least one of these bad teams will finally get a win.  Browns or Bengals--who do you think will win?  I am about ready to bet against the Browns.  I keep hoping they will get it together.  I thought for sure they could beat Baltimore since last week they came so close to beating Pittsburgh, but NO!  Not today. 

P.S. Leo is upset no one comments on his picks so he's not going to bother posting them anymore.  He says "Poof on it."

Cleveland Tornado Policy

For the Cleveland and nearby areas:
> In case of possible tornadoes sweeping through the greater Cleveland metro area, we ask
> that all residents take shelter at the Cleveland Browns Stadium. We are certain that a
> TOUCHDOWN will not occur there.
>
> Thank you for your cooperation.
>
> National Weather Bureau
(I thought this was just hilarious!)