Rivalry Renewed.

Last week I spent some time thinking about the UK-Indiana "rivalry." For most of my lifetime the annual matchup between Kentucky and Indiana has been largely one-sided in the Cats' favor. To be honest, the game barely made it into my top-10 games I look forward to list. The Louisville game is always number one, followed by North Carolina. This year, the Kansas game at Madison Square Garden was number three. The six conference games against Florida, Vanderbilt, Alabama, and Mississippi State rounded out my top-nine. Then at number 10, the UK vs. Indiana game at Assembly Hall. Before the game, I thought the Cats were at least 12 points better. I thought that Kentucky had a better chance of winning by 20 than it did of losing this game. I guess I underestimated the effect the Assembly Hall crowd would have on the young Cats. I underestimated the passion and fire Indiana would play with. Add the Hoosiers' ridiculous three-point shooting and Kentucky's poor free-throw shooting and foul trouble, and you have all of the ingredients of a HUGE upset. On a neutral court, I still believe the Cats are 10-12 points better. At Rupp, there's no way Indiana keeps it within 15 points. But last night in Bloomington, Indiana was clearly the better team. They deserved to win. Obviously it wasn't the preferred outcome, but that was one hell of a college basketball game.

Before last night's game I had no problem with the fact that future scheduling issues may result in the annual UK-IU game being removed from the schedule. But after last night's game, the rivalry that was alive and well in the '70s and '80s, has been renewed. I want a rematch in Rupp in 2012.

No. More. Favre.

No More Favre...Hopefully.



On Monday, January 17, 2011, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre submitted his retirement papers to the NFL...for the third time in three years. Will this FINALLY be the last we see of Brett Favre? One can only hope. Everyone has an opinion on Favre...the way he played this season, his off-the-field issues, and his legacy. I'm so sick of this guy I don't feel like talking about any of it. I am excited for a Favre-less football season. Say it with me, "No more Favre! No More Favre!"

Sadly, Favre retiring doesn't mean we won't be hearing about the guy every week. Until the Packers win the Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback football analysts and experts will continue to talk about Favre and his legacy, and Rodgers will remain in the legend's shadow. Well, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, and Greg Jennings took care of that last night, as the Packers knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. I was shocked but thankful there was little Favre talk during and immediately following the Super Bowl. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers now has his first Super Bowl victory. He also won his first Super Bowl MVP. At 27-years-old, Rodgers has the same number of rings and one more Super Bowl MVP award than this predecessor. And Rodgers put on one of the best performances in a Super Bowl by a quarterback that I can remember. He threw for over 300 yards, completing 24 of 39 passes. He had at least six on-target passes that were dropped by his receivers, which could've put him over the 400-yard mark. Rodgers' quarterback rating of 111.5 was more than 30 points better than the Steelers' Ben Worthlessberger. He made the plays he needed to make, while making it look easy. Aaron Rodgers was great.

So with Favre out of the league and Rodgers finally out of the "Packers-Brett Favre" shadow, there should be few reasons to mention Favre next season. Unless CBS, Fox, or ESPN decide to torture viewers by convincing Brett to be on TV, next year should be the first Favre-less season in what seems like an eternity - and I can't wait.

But with Brett Favre can we really be sure he's not going to change his mind? What are the odds that Brett Favre decides to come back? I don't know, but I'm thinking there's little to no chance he plays in the NFL next year. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Dude, what's up with the blog?

Honestly, I don't really know what's up with the blog. I started this thing last fall for several reasons. First, I wanted to find a way, other than Facebook, to express my thoughts and opinions. I watch sports and read about sports. So why not write about sports? And I'm sure the anti-sports friends of mine (if there are any) on Facebook appreciate me not blowing up their news feeds with rants about Brett Favre or the NCAA on a regular basis. Secondly, you never know where something like this could lead. Do I think this blog will lead to a job in Bristol? Of course not. That's foolish. But that doesn't mean this blog will never amount to anything. If it does, great. If it doesn't, that's fine too. And lastly, and most importantly, I thought it would be fun. And it is. But it is also more work than I ever thought it would be. I work full-time. I try to spend alot of time with my wife & dog, and my friends & family. Then take into account the time I spend eating and sleeping, and there isn't much time left.

Going forward, I plan on trying to focus more of my free time on the blog. I hope to post several times a week. Daily posts would be awesome, but that's probably not a realistic option. So we'll see what happens...

NFL Week 8

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) 35
Dallas Cowboys (1-6) 17
After the Cowboys' lost to the Giants last week, I said their season was over. If there was any doubt, that doubt has been erased. The Cowboys were pounded by Jacksonville. Jaguars' quarterback David Garrard finished with a quarterback rating of 157.8, throwing for 260 yards and four touchdowns. Tony Romo's replacement Jon Kitna threw the ball 49 times for almost 400 yards, but he had one touchdown and four interceptions.

Miami Dolphins (4-3) 22
Cincinnati Bengals (2-5) 14
The Bengals are terrible. I should be used to it, but I had high but realistic expectations for Cincinnati this year. I thought the Bengals were a playoff team. I was wrong.


Minnesota Vikings (2-5) 18
New England Patriots (6-1) 28
The performances of Tom Brady, Brandon Tate, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis got lost after the game on Sunday. Brett Favre's injury and Randy Moss' mouth stole the show. Since I'm sick of Brett Favre and I hate Randy Moss, I'm going to focus on Brady and his crew. Tom Brady had another superb performance under center. Brady completed 60% of his passes, throwing for 240 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Brandon Tate showed why the Patriots don't need Moss. Tate had 101 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown reception. Green-Ellis ran for 112 yards on just 17 carries with two touchdowns. The Patriots let the Vikings get within three in the 4th quarter, but Green-Ellis' touchdown with two minutes left in the game sealed the victory.

Buffalo Bills (0-7) 10
Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) 13
Former Kentucky Wildcat Steve Johnson tied a Buffalo Bills franchise record with a touchdown in five straight games. That touchdown came late in the 4th quarter and tied the game at 10. The Bills remain winless after Chiefs' kicker Ryan Succop kicked a field goal as time expired in overtime.




Houston Texans (4-3) 17
Indianapolis Colts (5-2) 30
Colts' tight end Jacob Tamme is another former Kentucky Wildcat making a name for himself in the NFL. Tamme is filling in for All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark. Clark, who is one of Peyton Manning's favorite targets, is out for the season. Manning was also missing receiver Austin Collie and starting running back Joseph Addai. Tamme filled in nicely, catching 6 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. Manning had a solid game, completing 58% of his passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He was missing one of his top three wide receivers, his starting running back, and his starting tight end, and he still gets the job done. No one can play the quarterback position like Peyton Manning.

Washington Redskins (4-4) 25
Detroit Lions (2-5) 37

Carolina Panthers (1-6) 10
St. Louis Rams (4-4) 20

Green Bay Packers (5-3) 9
New York Jets (5-2) 0

Denver Broncos (2-6) 16
San Francisco 49ers (2-6) 24

Tennessee Titans (5-3) 25
San Diego Chargers (3-5) 33

Oakland Raiders (4-4) 33
Seattle Seahawks (4-3) 3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) 38
Arizona Cardinals (3-4) 35

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) 10
New Orleans Saints (5-3) 20

NFL Week 7

Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) 32
Atlanta Falcons (5-2) 39
Well, the Bengals lost again. Both quarterbacks had huge games. The Bengals' Carson Palmer threw for over 400 yards. He had three touchdown passes without an interception. Matt Ryan threw for 300 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for the Falcons. Receivers on both sides had big days, but the difference was the Falcons' running game. Cincinnati's Cedric Benson carried the ball 20 times for 70 yards (3.5 yards per carry), and had a costly fumble in the 4th quarter that led to a Falcons' touchdown. Atlanta's Michael Turner gained 121 yards on 23 carries (5.3 ypc), with two touchdowns. The Falcons tried to give the game away in the third quarter, when the Bengals scored 22 unanswered points, but Atlanta came back in the 4th quarter with touchdowns by Roddy White and Turner.

Oakland Raiders (3-4) 59
Denver Broncos (2-5) 14
The Oakland Raiders scored a franchise-record 59 points in a 44-point rout of the Denver Broncos. Raiders' running back Darren McFadden had 4 touchdowns and 165 yards on the ground. The Broncos had no answer for McFadden and the rest of the Raiders rushing attack. Oakland rushed for 328 yards, and quarterback Jason Campbell threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns.


Minnesota Vikings (2-4) 24
Green Bay Packers (4-3) 28
Brett Favre threw three interceptions in what is hopefully his last game Lambeau Field. But despite the three picks he still had the Vikings in a position to win the game late in the 4th quarter. And with 48 seconds left Favre hit Percy Harvin in the back of the endzone for what appeared to be the game winning touchdown. But the replay clearly showed Harvin came down with one foot out of bounds. Favre threw an incomplete pass on the next play and he leaves Lambeau Field for the last time, a loser.


New England Patriots (5-1) 23
San Diego Chargers (2-5) 20
The Chargers' defense held the Patriots to only 179 total yards while gaining 363 yards on offense. That's really no surprise since the Chargers lead the league in offense and defense. The Chargers had a nine-minute advantage in time-of-possession and didn't give up any special teams' touchdowns. So the Chargers cruised to victory right? Wrong. There is no cruising to victory when you turn the ball over four times. The Chargers have now turned the ball over 18 times in only seven games. The Chargers only had 17 turnovers last season. Turnovers are the reason the Chargers are 2-5. The other four teams in NFL history that have led the league in both offense and defense in Week 7 or later have finished at least 12-2.


Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) 19
Tennessee Titans (5-2) 37
Titans' wide receiver Kenny Britt had 7 catches for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Britt was benched to start the game after being involved in a fight at a downtown club on Friday. If he continues to play at such a high level, opposing defenses will have their hands full trying to defend Britt and running back Chris Johnson. The Titans now sit atop the AFC South at 5-2. On a personal note, I started Britt in one of my fantasy football leagues, and he earned 40.5 points. Those of you that play fantasy football know that is an absurd point total for a wide receiver. Thank you Kenny Britt for my Week 7 victory.


Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) 23
Miami Dolphins (3-3) 22
"The refs called a wonderful game -- for the Steelers." Those are the words of Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder. The Steelers were down 22-20 late in the 4th quarter. Facing a 3rd-and-goal on the 2-yard line, Ben Roethlisberger fumbled the ball as he dove into the endzone. The play was initially ruled a touchdown. After officials looked at the replay, they determined it was a fumble. But they claimed there was no conclusive evidence that showed which team recovered the ball. So the Steelers got the ball on the half-yard line, and Jeff Reed kicked a field goal with a little over two minutes left on the clock. The referees made the right decision in giving the ball to the Steelers. It's the only option if you can't tell who recovered the ball. But, had the correct call been made on the field the referees would've been able to determine who recovered the ball in the endzone. So the Steelers move to 5-1 after a give from the officials.


New York Giants (5-2) 41
Dallas Cowboys (1-5) 35
Tony Romo and the Cowboys were up 10-7 when Romo took a brutal hit from Giants' linebacker Michael Boley. Romo went down hard, suffering a broken collarbone on the play. After a David Buehler field goal and a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown by rookie receiver Dez Bryant the Cowboys were in control, 20-7. Then Eli Manning woke up. Manning led his offense on five straight scoring drives, giving the Giants a 38-20 lead. In the 4th quarter the Cowboys scored two meaningless touchdowns and the Giants added a field goal. The Giants held on to win by six, but the game wasn't as close as the score made it appear. Romo is out at least 6-8 weeks, but it's possible he could be out for the season. Either way, the Cowboys are finished. With or without Romo, their season is over.

Washington Redskins (4-3) 17
Chicago Bears (4-3) 14

Cleveland Browns (2-5) 30
New Orleans Saints (4-3) 17

St. Louis Rams (3-4) 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) 18

San Francisco 49ers (1-6) 20
Carolina Panthers (1-5) 23

Buffalo Bills (0-6) 34
Baltimore Ravens (5-2) 37

Arizona Cardinals (3-3) 10
Seattle Seahawks (4-2) 22

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) 20
Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) 42

NFL Week 6

San Francisco 49ers (1-5) 17
Oakland Raiders (2-4) 9
The 49ers finally won a game. ESPN's Mike Greenberg's Super Bowl pick moves to 1-5 on the season. San Francisco has weapons. Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes. Frank Gore rushed for almost 150 yards. Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis both had touchdown receptions. Wide receiver Josh Morgan had three catches for 49 yards. And the defense played well, holding Oakland to only 180 yards of total offense. They did commit 11 penalties, costing them 143 yards. If the 49ers can cut down on giving away free yards to the opposing team, this team has a chance to make the playoffs in a less than stellar NFC West.

New England Patriots (4-1) 23
Baltimore Ravens (4-2) 20
Randy who? That's what Patriots fans were screaming after their overtime victory against the Baltimore Ravens. In his return to New England, Deion Branch caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots struggled to stretch the field early, but Branch proved to be a reliable receiver for Tom Brady down the stretch. The Patriots' defense held the Ravens to punts on their final five possessions.


New York Giants (4-2) 28
Detroit Lions (1-5) 20
The Lions lost their 24th consecutive road game. They tied the NFL record, which they set in 2004. The Giants have won their third straight since starting the season 1-2.


Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) 31
Atlanta Falcons (4-2) 17
The Eagles' Kevin Kolb showed why there is a legitimate quarterback controversy brewing in Philadelphia. Kolb led the Eagles to a 14-point victory, throwing 326 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin filled in nicely for the injured DaSean Jackson, catching seven passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) 28
Cleveland Browns (1-5) 10
Big Ben is back. Roethlisberger's three-touchdown performance shows why the Steelers could be the favorites to win the AFC North, and maybe even the AFC Championship. In his first game back from suspension, Roethlisberger completed 59% of his passes for 257 yards. With consistent quarterback play, this team will be a force going forward.


Minnesota Vikings (2-3) 24
Dallas Cowboys (1-4) 21
In a game that many were calling a "playoff game in October" the Vikings outlasted the disappointing Dallas Cowboys. Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin returned a kickoff 95-yards for a touchdown. And two Tony Romo interceptions resulted in 10 more points for the Vikings. The Vikings are now 2-3, and they're one game behind the Packers for 2nd in the NFC North. The Cowboys are 1-4 and sit alone at the bottom of the NFC East.


Indianapolis Colts (4-2) 27
Washington Redskins (3-3) 24

Tennessee Titans (4-2) 30
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) 3

New Orleans Saints (4-2) 31
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) 6

Houston Texans (4-2) 35
Kansas City Chiefs (3-2) 31

New York Jets (5-1) 24
Denver Broncos (2-4) 20

Seattle Seahawks (3-2) 23
Chicago Bears (4-2) 20

Miami Dolphins (3-2) 23
Green Bay Packers (3-3) 20

St. Louis Rams (3-3) 20
San Diego Chargers (2-4) 17

The NFL Attempts to Make the Game Less Violent

The NFL is trying to eliminate dangerous and egregious hits. The rule isn't being changed. It's the way the NFL will now enforce the rule that has people talking. The league plans to suspend players for making illegal, helmet-to-helmet hits. Any hit to the head or neck will be looked at by the league office.



The players' safety is extremely important. The league made a great decision several years ago to change the rules to protect the quarterbacks. Quarterbacks are the marquee attractions and the NFL needs its stars on the field as much as possible. Now, the NFL is taking another step to protect its employees. Concussions are becoming more and more prevalent, and maybe that's largely due to the increased attention players are getting after receiving a hit to the head. Either way, the health of its players is a main concern of the NFL because of the increasing number of injuries and concussions. But the hits the league are trying to decry are the same hits that lead off highlight segments on ESPN and the NFL Network. The NFL was even selling pictures of several illegal hits on its website. That seems to be a tad bit hypocritical. Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita agrees, saying,

"I’m absolutely saying they are being completely hypocriti­cal. No doubt about it...They’re not consistent in their message right now. It’s just funny because they’re talking about banning these hits and suspending these players, but these are the same hits they are showing on NFL Network, promoting the game showing these hits."

He's absolutely right. The NFL can't have it both ways. (For the record, those pictures have been removed. And the NFL can't control the content on Sportscenter.)

I'm sure there are players in favor of the way the NFL will police these hits the rest of the season. But it's those that disagree that are making headlines.


Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said the NFL might as well give the players flags, and change the league's name to the "National Flag Football League." Urlacher's teammate, cornerback Charles Tillman, said, "It's ruining the integrity. It's not even football anymore. We should just go out there and play two-hand touch Sunday if we can't make contact." While I think those views are a bit extreme, the players' mindsets are obviously going to be effected.

Many players believe fans will see a decrease in the quality of the game. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis thinks the game is being diluted, saying, "My opinion is play the game like that game is supposed to be played, and whatever happens happens."

Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder thinks the NFL is turning football into a more "feminine sport." He recently said, "If I get a chance to knock somebody out, I'm going to knock them out and take what they give me. They give me a helmet, I'm going to use it." Crowder went on to say, "They can complain, they can suspend, they can fine and they can do whatever they want, but you can't stop a man from playing football the way he's been playing since high school."



And it's not just the defensive players speaking out against the way the NFL plans to crack down on hits to the head and neck. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is worried about opposing defenders going lower in an attempt to avoid contact to the head and the subsequent fines/suspensions. Roethlisberger actually prefers a hit to the head, saying, "Just to be a little woozy, I think guys would take that over never walking again." And his teammate, safety Ryan Clark thinks defenders will in fact go lower. Clark said,

"We can't go around hitting guys in the head, they made that point and we understand that. Obviously they wanted to make it a big issue, with the media showing the hits over and over again. They had to make a statement and I think they did. But where do you go from here? We don't want to see guys with blown ACLs and thigh bruises and hip replacements. It's a touchy subject. We've got to find a way to hit these guys within the rules."

Roethlisberger and Clark both make good points. Alot of these guys actually make good points. Football is a violent game. When players sign up to play football they do so knowing it's a violent game. And I don't think suspending players for "egregious" hits will make it a less violent game. But that doesn't meant the league should do nothing. League officials can't just leave it alone. The NFL needs to be proactive in ensuring the safety of its players. What happens if the NFL does nothing, and next week a player gets hit and he's paraylzed for the rest of his life? Or what happens if the NFL ignores the issue and a player gets hit and dies on the field? It could happen, and it could happen even with the new threats of suspensions. But if it makes players think twice before they try to take someone's head off, then the NFL has done its job. Ben Roethlisberger says he'd rather take a shot to the head rather than be in a wheel chair the rest of his life. But what if that hit to the head and neck leaves him paralyzed, confined to a hosptial bed with no movement in his arms and legs? I would take the wheel chair. And that's exactly why the NFL is doing the right thing.

What is Rick Pitino thinking?

...I'm not talking about the white suit.


The pressure is on Rick Pitino to win, and win big. The past year or so has been full of let-downs in Louisville, and in some cases, it has been a public relations nightmare. The Cardinals lost in the first round of the Big East and NCAA tournaments. Several of Pitino's prized 2011 recruits changed their mind, and de-committed from the Cardinals. Preston Knowles got into a fight with his girlfriend’s father, and Jerry Smith and Terrence Jennings were both arrested in Jeffersonville, IN after an altercation with off-duty police officers. A couple of Pitino's recruits have had issues with their eligibility. Oh yeah, there was that whole affair thing too. And adding to the pressure is Kentucky coach John Calipari, who led the Cats to an Elite 8 appearance in his first season as the Wildcats head coach. Coach Calipari is about to secure his third consecutive top-ranked recruiting class in 2011, a class that features former Louisville (verbal) commitment Marquis Teague. Love or hate John Calipari, there's no question he's adding to Pitino's stress level these days.


The 2010 season is quickly approaching and the Louisville Cardinals are not considered to be contenders for the national title. They may not be legit contenders in the Big East. Smart money says Pitino is already looking forward to next season. Louisville is ready to welcome Pitino’s best recruiting class in 2011. The class is currently ranked 4th by Rivals.com, and features two players in the top 32. So during the KFC Yum! Center’s inaugural season Pitino and the Cardinals will focus on rebuilding. But Pitino must also rebuild his reputation. The best way to do that is simple: keep your team and yourself out of trouble. The program doesn’t need anymore distractions.


That being said, Louisville is the preferred destination of Wake Forest transfer Tony Woods. Woods, a 6’11’’ 250 pound center, was originally a five-star recruit. But he hasn’t lived up that label. Last season he averaged 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He left Wake Forest after being suspended indefinitely by Coach Jeff Bzdelik. Woods was suspended after he pled guilty to misdemeanor assault of a female. Last month, he assaulted his girlfriend, who is the mother of his infant son. He reportedly hit and kicked her, breaking her spine. Woods received a 60-day suspended jail sentence and 100 hours of community service. He visited Louisville the weekend of October 16th. He wants to be a Cardinal, and he's planning to enroll at Louisville in January. Pitino hasn't approved or rejected Woods' request.

First, I would like to say that I believe everyone deserves a second chance. BUT, that second chance should come after some time has passed. Once he's proven he can stay out of trouble...once he can prove he's a changed man...once he learns his lesson...he should get a second chance. It’s been SIX WEEKS. Woods hasn’t grown up or changed in a month and a half. You don’t magically mature in that amount of time.


I admit I assumed Woods would end up at a mid-major program. The reward far outweighs the risk for a smaller school. But Woods has high-major talent. He has the potential to be great, and I’m not surprised someone is taking a chance on him. The problem I have with Pitino taking him is more about timing, rather than the decision itself. Bringing in Tony Woods is foolish. Does he really think this is the way you rebuild your reputation? Does he really think this is a good move for the University? I understand that over 20 schools inquired about Tony Woods. And yes, I know Kentucky was one of them. With Coach Calipari’s history and the more recent (albeit entirely different) situations with Eric Bledsoe and Enes Kanter, he doesn’t need a high-profile recruit with such baggage. It would be stupid for Calipari to bring in Woods. It would be ridiculous for Bruce Pearl to do the same. But Pitino is desperate. And thank God he is, because I don’t want Tony Woods anywhere near Lexington. It looks like Pitino is willing to sacrifice what's left of his reputation to bring in a high-profile, basketball "star."

Mark Ennis (@Mengus22), who runs www.collisioncourseblog.com, a Louisville Cardinals blog, tweeted, “Would you let your daughter go anywhere near Louisville basketball right now?” The answer is no. And that pretty much sums it up.