Game 4: Chargers vs Steelers

Game 4 for the Chargers this season will be a Sunday night clash with the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This will totally be a 'benchmark' game for the Chargers...in my opinion... and this is what I mean by a benchmark game...

First, let's be realistic, the Chargers haven't beaten a playoff team (except the Colts), during the regular season, in a long time. The Chargers rank next to last in rushing yards per game and tied for last for average yards per carry (less than 3 yards)...in fact the Chargers longest run from scrimmage, thus far, is 13 yards...13 yards??? Are you kidding me?

The Steelers, defending Super Bowl champs, coming off a second straight loss...at home and in prime time. The Steelers have a top 10 defense and their game plan will be similar to what they did last season to the Chargers in the playoffs and what other teams are doing to the Chargers this season... that is dictate the game. Opponents' offenses are able to establish long, time consuming drives against the Chargers defense. It is usually the fault of the offense via penalties or mistakes when they fail to get into scoring position...rarely is it due to the Charger defense. You then factor in that the Chargers will likely not be able to run the ball at all, it will mean the Steelers will be able to control the clock and the Chargers will likely be playing from behind and have to score through air...leaving the margin of error for the Chargers that much smaller.

I can foresee the same game we witnessed in January against the Steelers... it might be a close, hard fought game in the first half and then in the 2nd half the Steelers will simply hang onto the ball for most of the half... methodically moving down the field, knowing that the Charger defense is unable to stop them.

So back to the whole 'benchmark game' premise I began with...what I have done is just detail every reason the Chargers SHOULD NOT be able to win this Sunday and I would guess no one expects them too either. So the game could be used as a barometer to see just how far away the Chargers are from beating a solid squad this season...something they have yet to do.

Do the Chargers have any chance of winning this game? Absolutely...but both the offensive and defensive lines need to play at a level we have yet to see from them this season. Tomlinson was practicing yesterday so that may be an indication he plays on Sunday...will that improve the Charger run game...it will have to if the Chargers want to have a legitimate chance at winning.

Is it the end of the world if the Chargers lose? No...but it is just another disturbing trend from the Chargers...unable to beat quality teams during the regular season...to beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh on national television this week would be a good first step to getting some respectability...but a loss will just validate any need to start giving the Chargers respectability, something the media certainly has yet to lavish the Chargers with this season and with proper cause not too...the Chargers have yet to do anything to command respectability this season.

Chargers Beat Dolphins

The Chargers were locked in a low-scoring duel with the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday... 2 offenses that both squandered scoring opportunities and for 3 quarters it was anyone's game...

Shawne Merriman played only 2 plays and was sidelined, as was LaDainian Tomlinson but the Chargers clawed and scraped their way for the win.

Dolphins' starting QB, Chad Pennington, was knocked out of the game (and later revealed for the season) early in the 2nd half and when his backup, Chad Henne, had a pass intercepted for a touchdown it was the death nail for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins' wildcat offense was mostly ineffective and the Charger defense did get some pressure on the Miaim quarterbacks. Add that the defense did make a couple of big plays on 3rd and 4th down, the Charger defense did look better...but I don't think Miami is the powerhouse that some think it may be.

The Charger offensive line continued to look shoddy... Rivers was under pressure for most of the game, sacked and fumbled on one occassion...yet the passing game was still unstoppable. Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd, Antonio Gates, Darren Sproles...all had big games, again. But, as with the previous 2 games, the Charger running game is still non-existent and the offensive line is unable to manage any sort of defensive rush.

The red zone continues to be an issue with the Chargers as well... Rivers scrambled in for a touchdown score, which was the only one scored by the offense on the day and the Chargers settled for field goals on their other trips inside the 20...a continuing trend for the team.

Chargers have a Sunday night game against Pittsburgh...who's lost 2 games in a row now...they systematically beat the Chargers last year in the playoffs with ball control offense that wore down the Charger defense and kept the ball out of the hands of the Charger offense. I would think Pittsburgh will attempt to use that same strategy and unless they turn the ball over or the Charger defense finds a way to stop them, the outcome will likely be similar...

Week 3: Chargers vs Dolphins

Game 3 for the San Diego Chargers has the 0-2 Miami Dolphins coming to town. The Dolphins had a surprise, turn-around, storybook season last year and were hoping the foundation was laid for this season but so far it has been a tough start for them.

The Dolphins, last week had the ball for almost three quarters of the game, yet lost. The Dolphins, to me, appears to be a team that is similar to the Chargers. They have an offense that can generate plays and drives to move the ball up and down the field but the defense will be unable to help maintain any lead, regardless of how much time is on the clock.

This week has me almost repeating the same areas of concern I have for the Chargers that they need to remedy from last week or else success will be a much harder path for them not just this game but this entire season. First, same as last week. They have yet to establish the running game. Tomlinson hasn't practiced at all this week and remains questionable for this week's game. L.T. says he will remain sidelined until he is 100% healthy and there is no need to rush back because of the play of Sproles and Bennett. I will agree that Sproles has picked up any slack from LT being absent but Bennett and the running game thus far has been non-existent. Secondly the pass defense and specifically the pass rush...2 weeks and 2 sacks, that is all the Charger pass rush has to show. This last week, though, Merriman did almost get to Flacco which did lead to an interception but for the most part there was very little pressure on the Ravens' QB.

The Dolphins, of course, are in love with the "Wildcat" offense which had respectable gains against the Colts... I continue to contend that the Wildcat is a gimmick offense that a properly trained NFL defense should be able to defend against. I recall in preseason that there was much buzz in Charger camps because they had ran a few plays but the word from the coaches was that was for the defense more than for the offense...so I am guessing that Ron Rivera has had a plan for the Wildcat for some time...we'll see if it pans out for him this weekend.

Another big storyline for the Chargers is injuries...it has become an all too frequent topic for the Chargers and sometimes the byline to as to why the Chargers can't ever break through. Jamal Williams, pro-bowl nose tackle, out for the season, Nick Hardwick, starting center, out for 2 months and I've already commented on the status of LT...I would guess inactive this Sunday...then add in Merriman plus the others that haven't practiced this week (9 total)...the squad is looking as if the season has already worn on for some time.

The Chargers signed Alfonso Boone to help give some depth on the defensive line...a veteran player who was last with Kansas City.

I think this will be a tough win for either team...the Chargers because they are already aching for the bye week and really need to get a home win to energize the local fan base. The Dolphins certainly don't want to start 0-3 on the season and they have yet to face a divisional foe so you know their season won't be getting any easier. If the Chargers are going to win then the Charger defense has got to make some plays and stop the Dolphins. The Chargers are getting into too many 'close' games where the margin for error is its smallest. The Dolphins have had problems with good tight ends, Dallas Clark and Tony Gonzales both had big days...could be an indicator that Gates might have a busy day this Sunday. Norv Turner seems to do a great job of playcalling for 90 yards of the field and then when the Chargers get inside the 10 the Chargers can't find a play that can score...if anything should show improvement, I am hoping that facet of the Chargers game does.

I think this is a winnable game for the Chargers but still isn't the end of the world if they don't...

Ravens Bend But Did Not Break

Week 2 the San Diego Chargers got into a high-powered offensive shootout with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens defense, once the bread and butter of the entire team by choking down their opponent's offense and win in a low scoring, defensive struggle, is a complete opposite of it's past form. Not only did Kansas City, a team that could only muster 10 points against the Raiders in week 2, but now the Chargers were able to move the ball on the Ravens defense.

Phillip Rivers continues to impress and make his statement as an 'elite' quarterback in the NFL. He had a career high 436 yards passing and 2 touchdowns...Yes, Rivers and the receiving corps had a huge day...Vincent Jackson made an unbelievable touchdown catch in triple coverage, Antonio Gates had a few really nice plays, Chambers and Floyd were present throughout the day and Darren Sproles was a beast. But what failed the Chargers on this Sunday was two-fold...first the defense. If the Ravens defense was bad, the Charger defense was worst. Only 1 sack, again, for the Chargers this week and there was a bit more visible pressure, but overall the defense failed. The second glaring weakness for the Chargers was their inability to score when they got inside the red zone. The possession that had me totally screaming at the television was right before the half Vincent Jackson makes a great catch right at the goalline, there is less than 2 minutes in the half and the replay booth wanted to take a look at the catch to see if it may have possibly been a touchdown, so the clock is stopped for an entire replay timeout...which seemed to last way longer than it needed too...the review was complete the play stands as called, first and goal with the ball on the one yard line...the Chargers then get a delay of game penalty...Are you kidding me??? A delay of game penalty after you were gifted a timeout for a replay review...what are you doing during this timeout that you don't have a play ready to be called if the play remains as called? I was thoroughly disgusted...three, three times the Chargers had the ball inside the 5 yard line and all three times they were unable to score a touchdown...that is just bad...

And then it should be no surprise how and why the game ended the way it did...The Chargers defense was bad...anytime the Ravens needed to score they marched right down the field and did so. The Ravens were able to mix their run and pass nicely to keep the Charger defense running aimlessly around, like it seemed they did most of the game. The Chargers, on the other hand, gained most of their yards through the air as Rivers was able to throw on the Ravens defense...but when the Chargers got close to the goal line their offense seemed to falter...sometimes due to the Chargers own ineptness. The Chargers were unable to run the ball at all during the day and Norv Turner thought that on 4th and 2 it would work when the game was on the line...and it didn't. Not only did it not work, Ray Lewis had the play sniffed out from the snap and made the Chargers pay dearly for trying to run on him when the game mattered.

The Chargers have Miami in town this week... I've said that I think the Wildcat offense is a gimmick offense and won't last in the NFL...well, against the Charger defense I've watched for the first two games of this season, it will make the Wildcat look like the greatest offense of all-time...

Week 2: Chargers vs Ravens

It's a short week for the Chargers coming off their Monday night game against Oakland...at least they are at home this week...

And in come the Baltimore Ravens, a team that went toe-to-toe last season with the Steelers in the AFC Championship, playing them much tougher than the Chargers were able too. The Ravens, though, resembled the Chargers in week 1...playing a supposedly inferior Kansas City team that was lacking it's starting quarterback but the Chiefs, a team that exhibited little offensive or defensive punch last season was able to effectively move the ball and got into a shoot-out with the Ravens in week 1 ... something I don't think anyone expected.

The Ravens lost their defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, and the core of their defense, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, haven't gotten any younger and you then add in the performance from a formerly inept Chiefs offense against them, by first glance this may be the beginning of the end for the dominant Ravens defense we have been accustomed to seeing from them.

The Chargers, though, have a banged up and battered offensive line that had troubles stopping the Raiders 4 man rush which frequently got to Rivers last game. Add in that the offensive line for the Chargers also was unable to provide any significant run blocking for the Chargers backs the Ravens defense may not need to be up to post-season quality to give the Chargers problems. Tomlinson not only fumbled the ball for the first time in almost 1,000 touches ended up getting hurt, was wearing a boot this week and may not be playing this weekend. Losing Tomlinson is become an all to frequent occurrence of late so the Chargers shouldn't be affected too much by his absence, but the question then becomes how much of a toll will this take on Sproles? Many Charger homers are quite 'high' on Michael Bennett because of his preseason performance...me, not so much. Bennett has been a career backup and is 1 year older than Tomlinson. Sure, there is less wear and tear on Bennett but that is for a reason...he has never proven to be a premiere back in the NFL and when he was, he was often injured. Also, Bennett's performance in preseason came against 3rd and 4th string defenses, something that won't be playing this Sunday. If the offensive line plays like it did last week, though, it really won't matter who is in the backfield, they will have their work cut out for them...

Last week the Chargers didn't seem to have much of a pass rush and had only 1 sack and that sack was from a backup player...none of the big names (Merriman, Castillo, Phillips, Williams) even had a touch on the QB. The Raiders, though, did keep most of their players back to protect Russell, but regardless, a good defense needs to get the proper schemes and personnel in place to get pressure on the quarterback regardless of what the offense is doing. The secondary was respectable for the Chargers except for one play...unfortunately that one play almost cost the Chargers the game...that needs to be tightened up immediately or else the Chargers may not be so fortunate enough to end the game with a win.

On the offensive side of the ball the passing game looks to be clicking fairly well...it seems as if teams are still trying to make Rivers beat them and lucky for the Chargers he is. I'm interested to see if Chambers is able to make a contribution this game or is it maybe time he gets some sideline duty and let Floyd or Naanee take his place...they are younger and they sure do seem quick. Also, as I mentioned above, the offensive line needs to improve...if the Chargers are unable to even produce any sort of running game time management in the game will be out of their control.

It is only game 2 of the NFL season but it is a home game for the Chargers and those are games you really want to win ... your fans get excited and the atmosphere is great for the team and the momentum gained from an early home win against a (seemingly) quality opponent is a good confidence builder for the team.

The Chargers Won?

It's been a good day and half since the Chargers made their 2009-10 regular season debut in which they had a last minute drive to beat their divisional rival, the Oakland Raiders...after reading and hearing many of the sports pundits it sounds, to me, like the Chargers actually lost the game even though the scoreboard says otherwise. What's odd about this tact on the Chargers is that the New England Patriots were, literally, handed a win from Buffalo just a few hours before the Chargers-Raiders game even started and there isn't nearly the questioning or negativity regarding the Patriots as there is towards the Chargers. It really seems odd to me but I know that the media can and will forgive the Patriots and will have plenty of "valid" excuses as to why they weren't able to crush the visiting Bills. These same media types will then quickly turn their focus towards the Chargers and exclaim how the Bolts' performance was inexcusable and the team is destined to flail all season long...

Well let's make sure everything remains in perspective regarding the Chargers to date...

Most important, which is quickly forgotten from all these "experts," is that this was the first f'ing game of the season. I put little stock in the first four games of the regular season. Sure, it is always great to have a good start to the season but starting 0-4 does not mean the end of the world...oh sure you will have all the Mike Greenberg's of the world where all of sports is a stat and will be quick to rattle off percentages of teams that make the playoffs after starting 0-1, 0-2, 0-3 and so on but the fact is, a team controls it's own destiny not stats from the past.

Next, is it even remotely possible the Raiders are a better team this season then last season? Again, these pundits that are quick to criticize the Chargers seem to give little or no credit to the Raiders because their recent history is that of complete ineptness...well, one would have to think the law of averages would have the Raiders improving, even if slightly, from year-to-year. And then lets say, just for the sake of argument, that the Raiders are indeed going to end up as crappy as they were last season...one can not forget that this was an opening day game in Oakland. Say what you want about the team but Raider fans are a faithful bunch. Anyone that watched the game saw the crowd at full volume for the entire game and did their best to aid their team...again, another fact that is quickly dismissed and discounted.

And finally the injuries...yes every team has them we all know...but does every team have their virtually their entire offensive line get carted off in one game along with their starting runningback sidelined by halftime? So to even overcome those obstacles during a game I say does say something about this team...

I, for one, would rather have the Chargers face some adversity in the early part of the season, see them overcome it and as the season progresses I would like to see the Chargers improve with the hopes that they will be peaking at playoff time.

Did the Chargers look like a dominant team on Monday night? Absolutely not and many did not expect that but what was expected was that the Chargers be ontop of the AFC West standings afterwords and that is exactly where they are.

Chargers Survive In Oakland

Week 1 in the NFL is in the books and the Chargers eek out a win in Oakland.

The Chargers, who last season lost their first game to Carolina in last second fashion turned the tables on the Raiders and won by scoring with 18 seconds left in the game.

The Chargers, though, shouldn't have been in the 'come from behind' role that they were in...The Chargers had the lead at 17-13 with 2:34 to go and the Raiders with a 4th and 15 on their own 43 and 1 timeout ... the Chargers stop the Raiders there and the game is all but over...instead, DB Antonio Cromartie and safety Clinton Hart let a Raider just run down the field, catch a wide open pass and walk into the end zone with not so much as a love-tap to slow him up. I was completely disgusted upon seeing that... both Cromartie and Hart began to point at each other as the ball was in the air as to say "You take him" to each other as the Raider receiver couldn't have been gifted an easier touchdown...on a 4th and 15 play...it is unacceptable.

Even though the Chargers came out with the win there were several aspects of the game that they were soundly beaten at...namely when the Chargers had the ball the offensive line was awful. For the entire game the Raiders needed to only rush their 4 down linemen because they easily over-powered the front 5 of the Chargers. Rivers was pressured and sacked routinely when dropping back to pass. The Charger rushing game was almost non-existent...Tomlinson was on the sidelines for most of the 2nd half with Sproles seeing most of the action. When the Charger offensive line wasn't getting beat and bullied they were most likely getting penalized or injured.

On the defensive side of the ball... I think the Raiders could have beaten the Chargers if they would have stuck with the run...from the beginning the Raiders were able to run the ball with ease...McFadden and Bush for the Raiders tore up the Chargers defense in the first half and then the Raiders seemed to all but give up on the run in the 2nd half. The Raiders were also robbed of a touchdown before the half...initially called a touchdown then reviewed - and it took a long time to review, when that happens you know something is fishy - it was overturned. I watched the replay several times from each angle and still have no idea how that wasn't a touchdown...but the Chargers get screwed by that type of bullshit all the time so I'm not to sad to see it happen to some other team now.

Merriman's first regular season back with the Chargers was mostly unimpressive. Got to see him have a couple of mistackles...but he did get pressure on Russell on a few plays but overall the Chargers pass rush was minimal. Russell, for the Raiders, oftentimes had plenty of time in the pocket...if he wasn't such a poor passer, a more proficient quarterback would have likely dissected the Charger secondary. Quentin Jammer, a DB that has traditionally been a solid cover guy but rarely getting interceptions picked of Russell on the opening drive that had the Raiders driving towards the endzone...

Vincent Jackson had a respectable game and Antonio Gates made big plays when they were needed...filling their roles nicely. Legedu Naanee was a pleasant surprise making some key catches and big plays. Cris Chambers was non-existent...not sure if he got hurt but certainly had no impact during the game.

Overall the Chargers leave Oakland with a win...that's the good news. The downside to that is that it is clear the offensive line and the defense (as a whole) need work to get into form.

Next week they play Baltimore at home...a team that struggled to win against the Chiefs. The Chargers have a short week so they won't have much time to savor this win and the Ravens have traditionally been a 'smashmouth' football team so it likely won't be a cakewalk for the Chargers...win or lose...

2009-10 Chargers Preview And Prediction

The San Diego Chargers will be kicking off the 2009-10 season tonight against the Raiders so I can't stall much longer in making my predictions for the season...

Last year I had the Chargers going 11-5, stating that was "reasonable expectations." Then the season started totally out-of-control and the Chargers rally to salvage an 8-8 record, win the AFC West and beat Indy in the playoffs...still, not the end result many thought the Chargers should have achieved...

Let's start out on the defensive side of the ball...I can almost cut and paste my comments from last season regarding Merriman...he is coming off an injury and depending on how well he does will determine whether or not he will be a Charger after this season. I had hoped Merriman would be an impact player and I continue to have that hope. But, since his positive steroid test Merriman hasn't been the same player he was when he first started...regardless, though, he is a good enough player that even if he isn't the sack machine that he once was his presence, alone, makes the Charger defense better... I'm hoping Shaun Phillips and Louis Castillo have a better year...when Merriman was playing 2 season ago (and prior) those two players seemed to be able to make more of an impact.

The offensive side of the ball remains to be the Chargers strength, in my opinion. Phillip Rivers emerged last season to be exactly what I had hoped he would be...a top-caliber quarterback and a competent leader. I've said it before and I will say it again...Rivers is a 'winner' ... he doesn't like to lose and having a player with that type of mentality are the ones I like watching because they will contemplate sacrificing them self so that the team can succeed.

Now we can focus our attention on the greatest Charger to ever wear the uniform, LaDainian Tomlinson...many think that if LT doesn't have a good campaign this season that he won't be in San Diego much longer. I had high hopes for LT last season because he had came out and said the right things, that all the negative press and that type of speculation was just "fuel for the fire" and he was coming back and going to return to form...instead LT looked very pedestrian all season and ended up injured, again, by the time the playoffs started. Darren Sproles has been able to be a more than capable back-up to LT and unless LT does step up his performance this season I don't see how the Chargers can continue to pay for 2 top-tier backs and it will force them to decide between the two of them.

One of my "usual" statements that I like to qualify my predictions is for any team to be successful they need to win the battles at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. This is something I was not impressed with at all from the Chargers last season and from the preseason games I have watched this season, it seems to remain an issue. When LT and the Chargers had their unbelievable season in 2006 the Chargers controlled the line of scrimmage...they had a great pass rush, good rush defense, plenty of pass protection and LT great run blocking...all the key ingredients for a successful season. I will be particularly paying attention to the run blocking and the pass rush this season...something that did not seem to exist at all last season for the Chargers...

So here's my predictions for the Chargers this year...

First let me bitch about the early bye week the Chargers have this season...which seems like a regular occurrence for the Chargers...if they aren't being shipped off to England it seems as if the Chargers are always in the first batch of bye weeks...this year it is week 5 the Chargers will have their bye which is the week of Oct. 11 ... I've said it once and I'll say it again...any bye before November sucks...

So on the Chargers have their AFC West opponents twice, the NFC East, AFC North and the other AFC Division winners (Miami and Tennessee).

The Chargers first 4 games before the bye are @Raiders, Ravens, Dolphins and @Pittsburgh ... With the exception of the Raiders the Chargers lost to the other 3 teams last year. The Ravens didn't impress me with their performance against the Chiefs yesterday and the Chiefs were playing without their starting quarterback...and maybe the loss of defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, for the Ravens may be their biggest offseason loss. I think the Chargers should go 2-2 in the first four weeks...

After the bye the Chargers come out and play all three division opponents in a row...Denver, @Kansas City and then their final regular season game with the Raiders and if we even extrapolate the schedule a bit further, the Chargers would then play @Giants and Philadelphia before they then finish their divisional games with Denver and KC ...and it isn't even December yet! Like last year the AFC West is suppose to be weak...in fact many say even weaker with the Broncos not looking good, the Chiefs continuing to suck and the Raiders continuing their current trend of being awful... I think this stretch is a key stretch for the Chargers and they could have the west all but won if they do well in October and November ... I like to think they can sweep the division but don't expect it...I think the Chargers could go 5-2 during this stretch making them 7-4 with 5 to play...

They play @Browns, @Dallas, Cincinnati, @Titans and Redskins... 3 of their last 5 games on the road...I think they win 1 out of 3 and take the final 2 home games ... with the Chargers then finishing up with a 10-6 season but I think 9 and 7 is more likely and that should be enough to win the AFC West again but probably not good enough for a first round bye in the playoffs...

The Chargers continue to be a team that has the potential to be a team that a person could see them get into double-digit wins...but the Chargers continue to have a losing record against playoff caliber teams in recent years and I think the Chargers are likely to remain one of those teams that can beat bad teams but never be able to put it together to upset the more established and consistent teams in the NFL (ie: Pittsburgh, New England) and especially when it matters. It is the NFL and anything can happen and you can't really write any team off and the Chargers are a team that should at the very least be in the playoffs and then anything goes from there...

Merriman Arrested For Choking Tila Tequila

Labor Day Sunday.... I just finished up a 5 and half hour fantasy football draft and am about to enjoy a nice cold beer before I walk home... the bar has the BYU-Oklahoma game that was actually played the night prior so no one is really paying attention to the game at all... then, as I am ordering up my beverage, I noticed Shawne Merriman's name come across the ESPN ticker...followed by arrested for choking and restraining Tila Tequila...I must be delusional or something because that can't be right...can it? I watch the sports ticker come by again and sure enough, that's what it says...so I finish my beer and head home to see if this story is true...still unable to believe this...but it is true...

Yes, Merriman is innocent until proven guilty and from the 'facts' that I have read, it does sound as if Merriman may not be in the wrong...there were no visible marks or bruises on Tequila and she was wasted at the time of the incident. Merriman's response is one that he was concerned about her well-being and, if true, he would likely face no criminal charges.

The Chargers have not talked about or have they started negotiating with Merriman, who is in the last year of his contract with the Chargers...there are some rumors that the Chargers want to see what kind of impact Merriman will have after having surgery last year that had him sidelined for all but the first game. If Merriman is unable to perform, many think the Chargers might trade or simply not re-sign him...

Getting into trouble like this certainly isn't going to help his cause...since he got busted for using steroids, Merriman hasn't been the impact player he once was, then is hurt and not playing. His value is dropping fast...

Regardless of what the facts are in this case, one begins to think Tila Tequila...who I had no idea who she was prior to this...is looking for an opportunity to get some free press. She is a reality TV whore where any attention is good. Merriman, if cleared of any wrongdoing, will certainly still be guilty of idiocy for simply hanging around this nut-job. He needs to distance himself from these types of people immediately or else it will destroy any career he would have had in the NFL...

Goodell: 2010 Likely Uncapped Season

Roger Goodell had a conference call with the media yesterday where he addressed a few different topics but the one that I think most NFL fans will take note of is that he said that the owners and the league are essentially preparing for no salary cap for next season. What that basically means is that the NFL will become like the MLB... there will essentially be 3-5 teams that will have owners that will hoard all the talent they can get and the 25+ other teams will just be farm clubs for those elite teams.

I am sure Daniel Snyder, Jerry Jones and Al Davis are just salivating over this news because they are the owners who are more than willing to break the bank in an attempt to win championships...whereas teams like my Chargers have owners that like to keep costs down and will likely step aside as any player with talent will migrate from their team to any team that is willing to give them a huge paycheck.

Many 'experts' also have commented that if next season goes uncapped, the players union would likely not agree to a salary cap anytime in the near future...which then means the NFL is totally ruined. Man would that suck...it would be exactly like MLB... each season you can look at the entire league and cross off over 70% of the teams as having no chance to even make the playoffs. Oh sure every season there is a 'Cinderella' story, but the bulk of the playoff teams are the same big market, big dollar teams and next season it will be the same... Yankees, Red Sox, Phils, Cards, Dodgers and Angels can already be penciled in as likely playoff contenders next season even if their team is totally revamped...why? Because they have proven they are willing to spend the money to insure that their team will be competitive ... teams with owners that are more frugile have absolutely no chance... Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will never even get a sniff at the MLB playoffs...ever...with the management they have in place and with the current no-salary cap set-up that is in the MLB.

The NFL players may have a point that the teams they play for are worth billions of dollars and they simply want what the market is willing to pay them. But the NFL owners, as well as the players, need to realize that the reason the NFL has been so successful and the reason for the NFL's popularity is because it is has always been a competitive league. Eliminating the salary cap will most certainly destroy the 'even playing field' which has been one of the biggest factors in making the NFL so popular...

But like the NHL strike a few years ago it basically comes down to both sides fighting over a huge pile of money...more money than any normal person could even imagine and neither side is willing to give the other one more penny than they have too...

I personally don't want to see it happen, but I hope the owners lock-out the players, use scabs or whatever and force the union to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that continues to retain a salary cap so the league as a whole remains competitive. If the 2010 season is indeed uncapped you will begin to see the very things that will destroy the NFL... teams dumping high price players to trim their payroll while the rich teams are more than happy to pay insane salaries to bolster their rosters. It will be bad...

San Diego Super Chargers

Here's the Teletubbies rocking out to the 70's dance hit..."San Diego Super Chargers" ... Ah...football, it's getting closer!!!

Chargers vs Falcons, Recap

The Chargers played the Falcons this past Saturday night and I did watch a fair amount of the game...

No Tomlinson, no Gates, no Jamal Williams...just to name a few of the Chargers 'big guns' that did not see any action...but the Chargers first team, which played much of the first half, looked fairly impressive...it did seem as if the Chargers were able to move the ball fairly effectively against the Falcons, including early in the second half...the Chargers seemed to be in third and long situations all evening and seemed to be able to convert them most of the time..that's the good...the bad...well, that's the obvious, they shouldn't be consistently putting themselves into 3rd and long situations which seemed to be the case. Once the regular season starts, one would have to think that the conversion rate will decrease.

The offensive line for the Chargers continues to worry me...but it is only preseason...but it seems as if the line is unable to give Rivers adequate protection and their run blocking is very suspect. I will give some credit to Turner in the play calling because it did seem as if the Falcons were going to 'stack the line' and to counter that, the Chargers ran screen passes that oftentimes went for big gains, including a touchdown score for Micheal Bennett.

My other concern, as of right now, is the defensive pressure...so far this preseason the Chargers have had very little pressure on opponents' quarterbacks...a problem that was prevalent all last season as well. I know some coaches don't like to reveal their blitzes and may not even blitz much at all in the preseason and that might be the case here...but a stout defense is one that can get pressure on the quarterback without having to blitz.

Overall, though, the Chargers didn't look too bad...and what is typically the norm in the NFL, it was likely the last time many of the starters will play this preseason...which is good, let those guys sit and rest up for the following week and then the real games will begin!

Pitino: Mad At Media

I'm not a huge college basketball fan, but of course I gain more interest in March for the tournament. I'm also not a 'fan' of any one particular school/coach...sure there are some schools I like more than others but as a whole, I am pretty much neutral.

So the Rick Pitino scandal broke a week or 2 ago...and from my first reading of the article and the first statements given by Pitino and/or his lawyer, I could tell that their 'gameplan' for damage control for Pitino was to paint him as the 'victim' and the media should just gloss over any of the negative facts that correlate to Pitino. Their logic is, that the woman that tried to extort money from Pitino is a mental case and anything she is saying now or has said in the past is a lie. Now whether this is true or not will not change the focus of the media...for you see, Rick Pitino, you are the 'person of interest' in this story. The media wants to know more about how you were screwing women in restaurants and then paying for 'medical insurance' (which everyone now knows was an abortion). The media is more than happy to print anything this 'crazy' woman is saying right now because, Rick Pitino, you have already admitted that you did indeed screw this chick in a restaurant, you did indeed give her money and, by all apperances, you have kept this affair under wraps for 6 years.

Pitino's press conference yesterday, he came out and was 'mad' at the media for reporting the story and 'reporting lies'. Pitino was also sure to throw the death of Ted Kennedy in there ... but his primary 'jist', from what I can tell, is again, that Pitino wants the media focus to be on the lady he had an affair with and not him...but you see Rick, again, no one cares about Karen Sypher, she is not a highly public person nor a successful college head coach...that is you and that is why there is even any media interest in the story. If this story was about John Doe and Kaern Sypher having an affair in a restaurant after hours no one would even pick the story up...but insert Rick Pitino's name for John Doe...then you've got something there...

I think this ladies story might have some fabricated elements but at the same time I don't think anyone can dismiss everything she is saying... I do think there might be some merit to her claims that her marriage to one of Pitino's close friends was a set up to keep her quiet. It really does seem extremely coincedently that divorce proceedings are happening after the affair became public. But of course the lady does have to be somewhat crazy... if she was getting 'paid' to keep quiet, all she had to do is keep her demands reseonable and she would still be getting paid off. She tried to go for the big payoff and instead gets nothing... it is a good reminder to all the vindictive women out there...that getting something good is better then getting nothing and regardless of how much power you think your pussy has, a man can and will eventually 'rat himself' out just to shut you up and end your power-play. And then in the end what is the woman left with? Nothing...which is far more less than she had before...never realizing and appreciating how good you had it.

Chargers Extend Rivers Contract

Late yesterday word came from the Charger camp that they were able to come to terms with Phillip Rivers and he signed a 6 year contract extension with the team. I was glad to hear that the contract issue with Rivers got resolved before the season started and we didn't have to sit through the sometimes mundane contract squabbling that sometimes occurs...especially when Charger GM A.J. Smith is involved, a man that has proven he does not usually break.

I like Rivers, he is a player that has one of the greatest intangibles a player in any sport can have...he hates to lose, or as a co-worker and I have affectionately called these types of players, he is a 'winner'. Anyone that has watched sports know who these players are...often times they physically may not look like anything special and in practices and scrimmages would rarely stand out amongst other players...but the difference is on game day. These players are the players who do not give up on game day, regardless of the score. These are the players who thrive in game conditions and know that they can control their destiny and take every advantage to do so. Rivers even said how the money isn't really a motivating factor for him but rather that he hates to lose and that in itself is a motivator for him.

A couple years ago Rivers was getting a bad rap from ESPN media types because they caught Rivers jawwing with the crowd as he was hurt and walking off in Indy... if you have seen any of Rivers' press conference or interviews you know that Rivers is really a kind of humble and nice guy, just having a fun time...and that was exactly what he was doing in Indy that day...having a fun time with the crowd, it is just the ESPN hype-machine that had to spin it into a potentially negative moment for Rivers.

I couldn't be more pleased to know that Philip Rivers is going to be the Charger quarterback for several years...I also like the way the Chargers continue to 'lock in' their talent for an extended time... of course Merriman and Gates are up next for new contracts...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they go as smoothly as Rivers's deal did...

Rivers Signs New Deal With Chargers

There's the short report (courtesy San Diego Untion Tribune) of Phillip Rivers signing a new 6 year contract extension with the Chargers...early word is that it could be worth up to $92 million! I think it is good news, I'll have follow-up reaction up soon...

Chargers vs Cardinals, Preseason Game 2

Chargers play the Arizona Cardinals tomorrow night ... the game is not airing live but I do have the DVR set up to record a replay of it and intend on zipping through it Sunday morning...

Merriman had Tweeted that he was to get some more playing time tomorrow, so maybe get to see him in action a bit more. Chargers first round pick, Larry English, is not expected to play. A lot of buzz was coming from this week's practice about Antoine Cason, Charger DB ... so maybe I'll look for him as well...

NY Times Merriman Writeup

The NY Times had a good write-up of Shawn Merriman on how he is working hard to make a successful comeback this season...

Without a question, I think he is a big key to the Charger defense and if he can regain his form, the defense too should be much improved from last season without him...

Hochuli To Officiate Charger Game

I can not believe what I just read... Ed Hochuli is going to officiate this weekend's Charger preseason game. Are you kidding me? For his own safety I would think Ed Hochuli would not be allowed to officiate another Charger game for the rest of his life after last year's bullshit call in Denver that gave the jackasses a win. And yes, I know the Broncos still had to score and get a 2 point conversion to eventually win but that will not temper my rage for his bullshit call.

It also appears as if our bud Ed will be officiating other Charger games throughout the season...I just hope the Charger fans in San Diego boo him relentless anytime he opens his mic to drown out his bullshit...

Reading a story like this right away in the morning really can ruin a person's day....

I despise Ed Hochuli....I loathe Ed Hochuli...

It's Official Favre Signs With Vikes

It's done and done...

Cry-baby, selfish, lazy, over-rated, egomaniac Brett Favre has finally signed with the Vikes. He even is already wearing No. 4, which was David Booty's number until Favre signed...apparently he knows his 'number' is about up with the Vikes...

Tune into ESPN for 24 hour coverage on this story until either the Red Sox or Yankees have another player test positive for steroids...

Chargers vs Seahawks, Preseason Game 1

The Chargers played their first preseason game this past Saturday and I did tune it in for much of the first half...

Tomlinson did get a few carries but overall nothing special happened. I have become concerned that LT likes to either spin or juke before going through the hole in the line...a young LT saved all the fancy footwork after he blasted through the hole...this was something I noticed last season as well...he seems to hesitate before accelerating.

Gates looked good as did Rivers, but with all the starters, there really wasn't enough play to make an absolute determination...and besides, it's preseason.

The Seahawks third string beat the Chargers third string and thus won the game...but who really cares...it is preseason...

Favre To Sign Today

I called it...with almost 100% accuracy this time! I predicted Favre would be with the Vikes on or around the 2nd preseason game... and reports are now coming out that Favre will be signing with the Vikes today!

Good for the Vikes... I think Favre can successfully leave that team in disarray for several years after leading them to a 5-11 season...

I think both parties will get what they deserve...

Sturgis Bike Rally: Commericalism And Clean

The annual Sturgis Bike Rally held in South Dakota every August use to be an event that was like Vegas...what happens in Sturgis (during the bike rally) stays in Sturgis. I am not a 'biker' nor do I even own a motorcycle, but I have been to Sturgis a few times but not since the mid-90's. At that time I could see how the event once was and how it was slowly transforming into what it is slowly becoming... it once was a wild spectacle...bikers from all over the globe came and let loose...there was plenty of drinking and wild activities that would happen around the clock...at the campground we stayed at there was a biker that made 'dirt bombs' and would set them off throughout the day and seemed to increase in frequency as the night went on...and these 'dirt bombs' could be heard for quite some distance...

At this time, my friends and I knew that if we wanted to have the 'best' time possible during the bike rally we needed to stay in a campground because the town of Sturgis had already begun to crack down on a lot of the wild biker activities...bikers would/could drive their cycles right into a bar and rev it up...peel out down the main drag and so on...but that was already stopped by the time we went there...so these activities were moved to the campgrounds and other locations. The town of Sturgis, at one time, could have rivaled New Orleans' Mardi Gras...plenty of boobs, drinking and fun...but not any more.

As time has passed since even my last visit to the rally I have paid attention to what has happened...and it is disheartening to say the least. There is clearly an overt attempt to 'clean up' the rally and make it more of a 'family' like atmosphere. The latest change is that bars and campgrounds need a nudity license if they are going to permit nudity in their bar/campground. This attempt is firstly, just another way to make money off the event and secondly, another way police can find another 'law' to enforce. Of course if a bar/campground has any other 'legal' problems I'm guessing one of the first 'punishments' will be to take that license (or prevent them from obtaining) away. I know during my trips to Sturgis, it wasn't like there was naked women running around non-stop (or else I would probably still be attending on an annual basis...wink, wink) and the little nudity we did see...well, if you are familiar with what most 'biker chicks' look like, a person really wouldn't spend too much time concerned about it.

Now of course this nudity license isn't the 'straw that broke the camel's back' for me but just another in a long list of things being done to take all the fun out of Sturgis...or at least strip the Sturgis Bike Rally of the identity it once had and the identity that I had once associated it with...that being a carefree, wild, yet good time.

I remember seeing Motley Crue in 1994 at the Buffalo Chip campground and, to date, is one of the craziest spectacles I have ever seen... the stage was a very respectable stage in size and for the first 3-6 rows from the stage, parked side-by-side...solid...were Harley's and after each song the Crue cranked out every one of those cycles would 'fire up and rev up' their motors sending a huge plume of exhaust and noise into the air and then all the cycles scattered throughout the crowd would follow suit... I am telling you right now it almost sends shivers up my spine just thinking about it, it was unbelievable. I recall seeing the 'anti-gravity' rings that would be lit up at night and girls would get on the ride and just before it would start would pull down their tops... I remember watching W.O.W. (Women's Oil Wrestling) and the Budweiser Jet Car melt a Honda Civic and 2 motorcycles (of Japanese manufacture) among other things that a person could see without paying a dime... these things are probably no longer even permitted near Sturgis...or at least not without a license and then you would probably have to pay to view them now to cover the insurance, permits, etc...

Another thing I have noticed in many of the articles and shows I have watched about Sturgis of late, is the fact that it has become extremely commercialized...again, while I was there the 'wild' activities in the city had pretty much ceased and there was one major camprground, The Buffalo Chip, where all that 'wildness' migrated too. Now there are a lot of campgrounds owned (or co-owned) by celebrities and sponsors ... so there is much more competition for the entertainment ... so that in itself, diversifies the 'mass of humanity' that a person could have once seen ... since there was only one big entertainment stage back in the 90's EVERYONE went there and the wild-ness ensued ... now with a bigger selection no one place could possibly gather enough crazies to match the wild nights that once happened...it is just not possible.

The wild west of America is about fully tamed when the Sturgis Bike Rally beomes a fully commercialized and regulated event...

Bronson Arroyo Details Supplement Use

When David Ortiz's name was recently leaked as to have tested positive in 2003, most of the media and fan focus was on him. He came out to say that he did take vitamins and supplements but never steroids. Well another Red Sox player (at the time), Bronson Arroyo, said his name may also be on the list for taking tainted supplements.

Arroyo came out to detail all little bit about his 'supplement' use and a person can clearly see that he, as well as all the other players doing the same thing, knew that they were walking a very thin line and were aware that they could possibly taking tainted supplements.

What his admission does, more than anything, is prove that all these players that come out (like Ortiz) and claim that they were only taking vitamins and supplements also were well aware that some of these 'supplements' were likely tainted...and really, tainted is the wrong word...they knew full well that the supplements were likely laced with roids.

Interesting, Arroyo drops Curt Schillings name as a person that introduced him to a caffeine drink that he consumes prior to pitching...I wonder what else Schilling might have been consuming to assist him?

Preseason Football In Full Gear

The NFL preseason kicked off last weekend with the Hall of Fame game but really doesn't fire up in earnest until tonight... starting tonight and through the weekend the rest of the teams in the NFL will be playing in their first preseason game, including the San Diego Chargers who will play the Seahawks at the Q on Saturday night...and lucky for us fans, the NFL Network will be airing the game.

As usual, I put little stock into preseason games but I am likely to DVR the Charger game and probably zip through most of it...but I am curious to see if LT and Merriman play, just to get a 'first look' at them for the season...

LT To Play In Preseason?

Word from San Diego is that LaDainian Tomlinson wants to get in on some preseason play. Tomlinson hasn't played much preseason football his entire career but with the last two seasons he has seemed to come out of the gate a little slow and sluggish and then end up injured by season's end. I don't think it would hurt (keeping fingers crossed) to have him play a few downs the first couple of games to get hit a few times and maybe better prepare him for the upcoming season...

Darren Sproles: Pick Me Reebok Commercial

Reebok's latest NFL Fantasy Files, fantasy football commercials features San Diego Charger runningback Darren Sproles...

Pretty cool...

Mike Greenberg: Leaving A Game

As many of my regular readers know, I am very dissatisfied with ESPN's product which has turned into mostly sound effects and flashy graphics with little substance...and let's be honest, unless you are a Red Sox or Yankees fan there is no reason to watch Sportscenter (or ESPN) at all.

Then there is ESPN Radio...again, a product I have grown mostly tired of but for some reason I subject myself to listening to Mike and Mike in the morning for as long as I can take it...which is usually less than a 1/2 hour because within that 1/2 hour they will essentially recap their entire show which occurred well before I even woke up.

But what has recently just been driving me insane is Mike Greenberg and his endless quest to determine "When is it ok to leave early from a ballgame?" It just goes to show what an elitist, out-of-touch person he is. I can not believe any person that calls themself a 'sports fan' or even a 'fan of sports' (there is a difference which I will not go into right now) would even ever dare think about leaving a game early and especially a professional sporting event, with the costs a person would pay to go, would be out of the question.

Yes, Mike Greenberg is a wuss...I think most of us 'real' sports fans get this...but why does he have to be such a whiny bitch as well? I mean is going to a professional sporting event so boring to you that, even before you arrive at the event your most prevalent thought is "I wonder when I can get the hell out of here?" Whether the excuse is to beat traffic or because you have to get up early, it is not good enough for me.

I would not have commented on this at all, but it seems like everytime I have listened to this whiny wuss lately, that is his 'topic' and he wants answers. He runs down scenario after scenario and asks others if it is ok to leave early... As a person that does not have the disposable income and the resources to attend any and every game I desire and as a person that has to drive at least 3 hours to see a professional sporting event I have grown sick and tired of him continuing on and on and on about how he can just hardly wait to leave early from a sporting event. I hope Greenberg never labels himself as a sports fan and by no means should any sports fan align their thoughts and opinions on attending sporting events with that of Greenberg's. I think what irritates me the most is here is a guy that is on a 'sports related' radio show, talking about sports yet, he can not wait to not see the end of it...give me a break...

Ortiz Rolls Out Same Old Excuse; Leyland Tired Of Roid Talk

So David Ortiz, the latest victim of a 2003 steroid list leaking, held a press conference on Saturday to answer questions about his positive steroid test and offered up one of the excuses that has been used over and over again..."I only took vitamins and supplements...but not steroids." Of course when it comes out what specific steroid he was one, he will of course stick with that excuse and say the supplements were tainted or whatever... but the bottom line is, his excuse is about as believable as all the rest of the roid users and that is not at all...

And Jim Leyland, the manager of the Detroit Tigers, spoke out yesterday that he is sick and tired of all the steroid talk and that he believes Ortiz did not take steroids because he (Ortiz) said so. To me, it sounds like Leyland is just trying to do what the MLBPA and probably most others associated with MLB would like to happen right now...for everything to get swept under the rug and lets just move on. But what Leyland and the roid users don't realize, is that fans don't want to idolize and cheer for cheaters. I remember cheering for Mark McGwire in 1998 as he was going after Roger Maris' record thinking how I am witnessing an extremely historical moment. After the steroid story broke open and it was revealed that all these incredible numbers were all artificially produced, I felt like I was lied too and that entire season, all the time I put into following the homerun chase, was just a complete waste.

I too am sick and tired of steroids, but to quell my disdain for MLB and the steroid era, nothing short of a big eraser and/or asterisks will satisfy me. I refuse to accept any records posted from 1995-2004 by any player...as time has gone on, all it has proven is that every 'great' player during this era used steroids... I see no need to continue to glorify and accredit these players with anything other than cheating.

Clutch - First Avenue, 8-5-09

I was off for the past week on vacation...was up at the lake for a few days and wrapped it all up with seeing Clutch at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN. They, of course, are on tour right now in support of their "Strange Cousins From The West" album. It was a really good time, Clutch sounded really good and it is always great to go see them... here are some pix from the show...of course they are cell-phone quality...

Big Names Continue To Roid In Baseball

I had been away on vacation when David Ortiz's name was finally linked to steroid use. His name of course leaked, along with many others now, with the 2003 MLB random drug tests that were suppose to remain anonymous and are obviously not. Anyone that saw Daivd Ortiz play for the Minnesota Twins and then after he went to the Boston Red Sox, like me, had to have some serious doubts about how he became 'Big Pappi'. With the Twins Ortiz was of average size and certainly wasn't any incredible 'powerhouse'. Then he went to the Red Sox and became an incredible prolific hitter as his size grew to enormous proportions at an incredible rate.

I always thought he was on roids, like Sosa, Bonds, McGwire and the rest of the cheaters... it's good to have the validation now in his case... and not that any team would have been clean...it probably does taint the Red Sox World Series wins because now Ortiz and Manny have both been outed and they were both cornerstones to that team's success....

Favre Remains Retired...For Now (Again)

Brett Favre came out yesterday to tell the world that he is going to remain retired and not play for the Vikings this season....and anyone that believes that is a moron.

We all know that Brett Favre is a attention seeking media whore as well as a lazy, selfish player. Favre does not want to live in a 'dorm' for 3 weeks, Favre does not want to participate in any demanding training drills, Favre just wants to show up and throw the ball deep.

So here's what I think he is up too... Favre in a couple of weeks... likely around the 2nd preseason game... will come out and say... "Hey, you know what? I have continued to work out this entire offseason and the past couple of weeks I can tell that I am great physical shape and am getting the itch to play...if the Vikings are still interested I too would still be interested in playing for them..." and then by the final preseason game Favre will be dressed and playing for the Vikes...you heard it here first....

Merriman: Beasting

Saw this picture and read this article about Merriman reporting to Charger camp...it certainly looks like he is amped and ready to play...just what I wanted to hear. I can hardly wait to see him destroy some Raiders on opening day!

Charger Camp Opens, English Unsigned

The GM of the Chargers, AJ Smith, is the master of the 'holdout' battles with players... rarely, if ever, have the Chargers signed a first round pick before training camp starts and this year is no different. As of last night, the Chargers first round pick from this past draft, Larry English, remains unsigned and will not be at camp when it opens today.

Late last week the Chargers cut Matt Wilhelm, so they must not be too worried about their linebacking corps ... not that Wilhelm was much help.

I might have to start tuning into the NFL Network somewhat frequently to see some vid of the bolts practicing....I am slowly developing the symptoms for football fever and it is only a matter of time before I get a full blown case of it.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

One of the greatest days of the year is quickly approaching...the start of a new NFL season. Next week most all NFL teams will open their training camps and begin preparing for the 2009-10 NFL season.

The Chargers are no exception... their camp opens for rookies on the 27th with the vets reporting on the 31st.

The Chargers announced that they will wear their '63 powder-blue throwbacks in the opening game against the Raiders and on week 6 vs Denver. They will wear their '63 road whites in week 7 against the Chiefs. Also the Chargers announced:

In addition to their three games in Throwback uniforms, the Chargers will wear their alternate powder blue jerseys twice, the ones introduced in 2007. They’ll be in the new-look powder blues when the Raiders visit San Diego in Week 8, and they’ll celebrate the team’s 50th Anniversary in the current powder blue jerseys when the Chiefs come to town in Week 12.

Early in the season, the team often chooses to wear white at home to force the opponent to sweat it out in a dark color in the early fall heat. The Chargers did just that in their last two home openers against Chicago and Carolina respectively, and they’ll do so twice this season. San Diego will wear their white jerseys for their first two home games while Baltimore (Week 2) will be in black uniforms and Miami (Week 3) aqua tops.

The Chargers will be in their current navy jerseys for both of their home preseason games, and they’ll wear their current dark look against the Eagles, Bengals and Redskins. Dallas has a longstanding tradition of wearing white at home, so the Chargers will be in their navy jerseys when they visit the new Cowboys Stadium in December.

The NFL season is a long one... and for those Charger fans that want to recall last season the beginning was anything but enjoyable but ended much better... I'm hoping the Bolts can come out and fire on all cylinders.

It will certainly be interesting to see how much of an impact Merriman makes in his return. If LT can return to form and be the dominating presence on the field he once was. Rivers has often been overlooked by the major media but was amongst the best passers in the league last year...hopefully he can continue to quietly be successful. I am also very interested in watching both the offensive and defensive lines...at one time both lines were the driving force of this team and the last couple of seasons I think they have been a glaring weakness on this team.

As usual, I put little stock in scrimmages and preseason football, but noting that they have begun just ramps up the anticipation for the season to begin...

Let's go Chargers!

Watson Gives Cink Open Win

I have always been a Tom Watson fan... he and Jack Nicklaus were the two golfers my father and I would follow each week on the PGA in the 80's. So everyone was surprised and enjoying the magnificent week Tom Watson had this year at the British Open... but it was almost too painful to watch at the end...

Watson had such a great opportunity to seal the deal... a 1 shot lead and 1 hole to play... but when he hit his second shot over the green and then missed a makeable par putt - that wasn't even close and if his second shot didn't reveal that Watson was beginning to crumble from the pressure that putt certainly did - I think almost everyone knew that Watson's window of opportunity to win the Open was now completely closed. The entire playoff Watson couldn't find the fairway or the greens and was scrambling the entire time... a double-bogey on on the easiest hole on the course, a par 5 none-the-less, a person could see the pain on Watson's face ... you could tell that he was trying with all his might to keep his composure as he struggled with each poor shot. What was really hard was the fact that the playoff was a four hole playoff and so Watson's agony of losing the Open wouldn't be a quick and painless 1 hole ordeal...no, he had to continue on and get soundly beaten by Stewart Cink ... almost erasing Watson's entire week of magic ...

He had been putting unbeliavable and was playing the course as perfect as a player could had hoped too... even on Sunday, when he began play and started to struggle, I thought that he might not have enough "magic" to come back and challenge for the lead, but he did...making some great shots and there he was... with the lead and 1 hole to play...

This was the 2nd time in recent years that Watson has been a 'threat' at the Open in his latter years, so anything is possible, but it sure would have been awesome to see him finish the deal this year...

Better luck next year Tom!

Green Day - 7-10-09

Green Day played the Fargodome this past Friday and they did not disappoint. Playing for well over 2 hours and a fairly affordable ticket it was surprising to me to see that the crowd was far less than capacity like other stops on the Green Day tour which are all sold out.

But the band came out and rocked the place...playing all their hits from the past 15 years...they had a ton of pyro, lights, video and more that all added to the show and overall was a really good time.

If I was going to complain about anything, it is the same complaint I have for many of the shows I go too... I go to the show to see the band perform and sing their songs... I do not enjoy it when the band insists the crowd sings the song or, in the case of Green Day for their song Longview (one of my favs), if they grab people from the crowd to sing with the band... so instead of hearing a version of the song I want to hear perform by the band I get to hear a bunch of off-key, 1/2 drunk fans go up and hack their way through the song...not really what I want to see...but it was only one song in this instance, unfortunately one of my favorite songs.

A couple of final thoughts about this show... I thought it was kind of funny that Billy Joe, at one point, commented on how he was sick and tired of cell phones, cameras and technology...that this is our show, our memory and to put that shit away... by the way, Green Day's tour is sponsored by Verizon and person could barely walk 10 feet without seeing that was so...so kind of a mixed message from Green Day...

I am/was a Green Day fan from the album Dookie and do enjoy some of their newer music ... but I have never liked their 'ballads', which Green Day has plenty of and they are all huge. Again, Billy Joe at the beginning of the show demanded everyone get off their asses and get up because "This is a punk rock show" ... oh really? Then why is Good Riddance, Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Time of My Life being played? They certainly aren't punk rock songs by any means...

Regradless, Green Day was a good show. I was also surprised to read the Forum newspaper the day after, their critics routinely rip any and all concerts that come to Fargo...and oftentimes after reading their review, I question as to whether or not they even attended the show they are reviewing, but for Green Day, got an overall positive review... so it must have been a good show! Here's some pics I took...enjoy..

Stars Dropping

Not sure what's in the water but stars have been dying off lately...

Ed McMahon kicked off things by passing away a bit ago but set things into high gear... I can totally recall watching Carson and McMahon on the Tonight Show and in fact, was likely the last time I watched the Tonight Show with any regularity. Carson and McMahon were a great team and what was great was they were during a time when they could joke about drinking, failed marriages and sexism and everyone thought it was funny...now-a-days that humor wouldn't be tolerated...

Farrah Fawcett passed away, which any man that lived during the 70's and 80's should recall....she was smoking hot back then. I really don't have much more to comment about Farrah other than to reiterate that she was really smoking hot.

Fawcett's death, as well as the others that recently passed away, is eclipsed by Micheal Jackson. Micheal Jackson was the 'Elvis' of my generation and likely the last true "King" of rock, pop, music or whatever you want to call it. With the music industry so segmented and "niche oriented" I don't think there will be an artist or an act that will dominate the music scene like Jackson did. I was around 11, 12 when "Thriller" came out... I wasn't an immediate fan but living in the barren wasteland that I do, I was pummelled with his music until I submitted and listened to the album endlessly for many months. Of course, I think a great part to Jackson's success was that it was fueled by MTV. MTV, especially in the early '80's, was a key component to any act/band being successful because MTV played music videos (weird concept, huh?). MTV and Jackson almost mirrored each others in terms of popularity as each soared into the stratosphere... then later, Jackson became really weird and musically uninteresting as MTV stopped playing music videos and is no longer even watchable. I kind of wish I was with the Enquirer right now because if it hasn't been thought of yet, I got the greatest headline: "Jackson fakes his own death, living with Elvis on remote island."

After Jackson came the current infomercial king, Billy Mays. He got hit on the head with some luggage during a hard landing aboard and airplane and then dies in his sleep the next morning. I think early reports said the events are connected and that Mays did have a heart condition...did seem a little too coincidental for me, so I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of legal action is taken at some point. I had seen and heard Billy Mays on a variety of shows (radio and t.v.) and he always seemed like a 'good sport' and a good humored guy. Some of his videos on YouTube have him doing a variety of humorous things, often using his infomercial background as the launching point for the fun. Sorry to see him pass on as well.

And then the sports world was not spared from the carnage... Steve McNair, former QB for the Titans (Oilers) and the Ravens was shot and killed. The early reports and speculation all are pointing that his girlfriend bought a gun, shot McNair four times and then killed herself. Wow... hopefully something is found to find out why this 20 year-old girl decided to do that. McNair was seen in the Nashville community as a very charitable and giving guy...not a blemish to his name... now he is found with a mistress shot to death...tragic end. I always thought McNair was a 'blue-collar' type quarterback...he led his team to the Super Bowl and was oh-so-close to potentially winning it. Sad to seem him go so soon...

I think it's been a good 2 days since McNair's death...so we'll have to stay tuned to see if the death-bug has passed yet or if there are more victims for its appetite.

Les Claypool - 7-1-09 - Fargo, ND

Kicking off my 4th of July holiday was the Les Claypool show at the Venue in Fargo, ND. I have seen and did enjoy Primus, but to say that I was a Les Claypool 'fan' going into this show wouldn't be accurate. I had a friend from out of town that was coming to the show and me and another buddy decided to join him for no other reason than to have a good time...and it was.

We got there in time to see the last few songs of O'Death... a very entertaining opener... heavy hillybilly music would almost be the accurate description of these guys... a bango (sometime ukulele) player, acoustic guitar, fiddle, bass and drums made up O'Death and they really tore it up.

Les's supporting band was no less odd... a cello player, a drummer and a 2nd percussionists...but it all sounded really good. Les and the band came out where Clockwork Orange thug-like masks...and rocked the place. He played a couple of Primus tunes and Les kept the place a rockin' all night long. The ticket was fairly affordable ($25) and that made the show all the better. My friends and I had a great time and I wouldn't hesitate to see Les again...

AFK For The Holiday

Sure, I haven't been really posting a ton over the past couple of months and not that it would really surprise anyone...but I am going to be taking some extended r and r over the Fourth of July holiday.

I do believe I will be going to a show that I will post about sometimes afterwords...and who knows, maybe I'll be able to get on and get a entry in here or there while I'm 'relaxing' ... but if not...

Hopefully everyone has a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July holiday!

My plans so far, other than going to a show, which is tonight, is doing a whole lot of nothing. I was so excited about these plans I took a couple extra days off to make sure I could get all that activity packed into a nice long weekend... Hopefully lots of suds, sun and food!

Happy Fourth everyone!