500

I don't care what team your a fan of. Brodeur is a class act and one of the best goalies to ever live. It's been awesome being a devils fan and watching this guy play. Congratulations on number 500. Only 52 more left...

Why Do Americans not like Soccer?

I DON'T KNOW. Some people say its not enough scoring, but they watch hockey? Not a man's sport? Shut up. Watch a real premier league, serie a (even though the italians are kinda flaky) or esspecially a champions league game and you'll see its not as fluffy as you think. These players are the most skilled athletes in the world, and American's, for the most part, can't see that. Even the MLS. Given, there are some pretty roudy and loyal supporters of the teams that are were in the playoffs this year, but still. David Beckham came, and never wanted to play here. I love Becks, but he did it all for the money, obviously. I wish it wasn't true. Maybe if more players from Europe came over, it would gain a little more popularity here. And for all you footie heads, Manchester United is going to run away with both the premier and champions. Sir Alex said this was the best team he's ever had. Thats saying a lot when hes had the likes of David Beckham and Eric Cantona on his prior teams. Glory Glory Man United. Now for my boy, straight skills...

NFL Playoff Predictions!

AFC:

1. New England- Do I need to explain. Regardless of whether they become the 2^nd team in NFL history to have an undefeated season this team is going in to the AFC playoffs as the 1 seed. Tom Brady is on pace to throw something like 60 touchdowns, blowing Peyton’s record out of the water. New England is finding out what happens when you surround what could become one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history with weapons like Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, and over achieving Wes Welker. O yea they also play in the NFL’s worst division that is home to winless Miami and the 1 win J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!

2. Pittsburg- the Steelers are surging. Big Ben has found his touch throwing 13 TD's since the week six bye. Their remaining schedule offers a promising end to the season with 2 challenges in games against the Pats and Jags. I see the Steelers losing 1 more game this year and working their way to a 1^st round bye.

3. Indianapolis- The defending champs are in trouble, perhaps feeling the ramifications of super bowl run of a year ago, the colts are banged up. The only reason I don’t see this team losing the division is the ease of their remaining schedule which includes games against the Falcons, Raiders, and Texans. With a banged up offensive line and injured Marvin Harrison and now Dwight Freeney (for the year) the Colts should consider themselves lucky.

4. San Diego- Someone has to win the AFC West and the Chargers are the best this division has to offer. San Diego seems to have slept through the first half of the season but with a big win on Sunday night vs. the Colts you have to start to believe this team is for real. I like the addition of Chris Chambers, it frees up Antonio Gates, and the defense is playing much better, if you forget about the 296 yards they spotted Adrian Peterson. They also have LT.

5. Cleveland- Brady who? It seems like Derek Anderson is the answer for the Browns now. He is commanding an offense that surprisingly is ranked 4^th in the NFL in scoring. Defense might win championships but offense might be just enough for a playoff birth in the stacked AFC.

6. Tennessee- Vince Young knows how to win. He might not put up Manning or Brady like numbers but he finds a way to put his team in the position to win games. I see Tennessee sneaking in the AFC playoff picture over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.

NFC:

1. Dallas- The NFC is back to trend of the 1990’s minus San Francisco. Dallas has established themselves as the top dog in its division winning in Philly and New York, as well as in the entire NFC. Tony Romo has proven he belongs and TO has nothing to complain about for now. As long as nothing falls apart I see this team coasting the playoffs and winning home field throughout by a slight margin over the Green Bay Packers.

2. Green Bay- Now we know why Bret Favre is back for another year… and probably should stay for a few more. Who believed him last year when he said he is playing on the most talented team he has ever been on? The Pack are kings of the air with the leagues best passing attack and with the emergence of what looks to be a solid running attack fronted by Ryan Grant. If Grant keeps up with the numbers he has posted the past three weeks I see the Packers going deep in the playoffs, losing home field throughout to Dallas, with tough trips to Soldier Field and Texas Stadium.

3. Seattle- Seattle is the best the, mediocre to say the least, NFC West has to offer. Nothing stands out to me too much with this team. They have a great quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck and a great coach in Mike Holmgren but most importantly a pretty easy schedule to finish off the year.

4. New York (Giants)- The Giants seemed to be in a world of trouble in the beginning of the year but have pulled it together and seem to have something going here. Backed by a solid defense Eli Manning is much improved (he is no Peyton). If the Giants can avoid the trends of ruining there seasons in the months of November and December I see this team getting into the playoffs.

5. Tampa Bay- The Bucs look to be on there way to winning the NFC South now that the Saints have given now second worst team in the NFL the St. Louis Rams their first win of the season. The offense has been rejuvenated by veterans Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway, the Cadillac Williams injury has hurt them but out of the other teams in their division this team is clearly playing better.

Detroit- Jon Kitna guaranteed 10 wins, and 10 wins in the NFC is plenty. Detroit has a challenging schedule to close out the year which could very easily drop them out of the playoff picture but if they could pull an upset or two this team is in, and I would love to see them stir some things up in the NFC playoffs.

Superbowl:
Pittsburg Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers

Brett will lead the Pack past the Cowboys to represent the NFC whether Romo is going to hold Dallas' field goals or not.

Pittsburg looks good Indy is fading and come on Boston you can't win everything!

DEAR TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I’M A BIG FAN.

Dear Adrian Peterson- You are my favorite running back in this league. I took you early in my fantasy draft this year, and I was critisized for it. I like watching you run, and the fact that your destroying everyone. You have made me support the Vikings now.
Dear Tyler Hansbrough- You are without question the best player in College Basketball. I have been a Carolina basketball fan almost all my life. It’s good to see a big man play as physical and scrappy as you. If you disagree, you have never seen him play. I’m watching you play your first game this year against a Davidson team, who we won’t forget went quite far in the tournament last year. Tell your teammates to pick it up. Namely lawson.
Dear Donovan McNabb- I love you. I don’t care what everyone else in this city says about you. I want you to play quaterback here as long as you can. I’m 100% behind you. Andy said that you’ll be here 5 more years if you play the same way you did at Washington and that wasn’t even your best game this year. I hope thats the case.
Dear Cristiano Ronaldo: Your averaging one goal a premier league game. Thats nuts. Not to mention slaying the other teams in champions league play. I and Man U can’t ask for anything more.
Dear West Virignia: I want you to go to the championship game. Pay off some people for those bids.
Dear Notre Dame: What happened? I still love you. Don’t fire Charlie. He did a hell of a job last year. He can’t deliver with such a young team.

5 ATHLETES YOU CAN'T HATE

Brett Favre- If you don’t like Brett Favre…you gotta like Brett Favre. Come on, this guy is the definition of football, he plays cause he loves it, doesn’t care about the money, he just wants to win. He’s played through injury and heartbreak and you just gotta feel good when you see this guy do well. I hope they go deep in the playoffs… he deserves it, and he probably has the best facial hair in all of sports.

Derek Jeter- If you’re a Yankee fan 95% of you will name your child Derek. The other 5% will name the kid Jorge. If you’re from Boston you probably hate Jeter and that’s what makes Boston fans retarded, your all just rich yuppies who don’t know anything about sports. Hate him if you want, but give him credit where it’s deserved. He’s the poster boy for the biggest franchise in all of sports and understands what it is to wear pinstripes. If your favorite team is not the Yankees or the Red Sox, you’d probably give up anything to have this guy on your team.

David Ortiz- Can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m not an idiot. He rules, plain and simple. He knows how to play in the clutch, he loves to play, and he makes some of the funniest commercials I’ve ever seen. I’m a Yankee fan and if he ever came to New York I would not be upset at all. That’s what fans have to learn these days. I don’t care where you came from or what you did to me in the past…you’re swinging the bat for me now.

Jamie Moyer- Come on, any guy who’s over 40 and looks like they pitched during Ruth and Gehrig’s era is awesome. Moyer just looks the coolest.

Paul Pierce- You gotta like this guy. He’s been an all-star playing on what seems like a high school team. I’m happy that he finally has a team that can compete this year. He’s worked to hard to never have a good shot at a title, good for him that he can finally make a run at it. He’ll probably get hurt though.

ATTENTION PHILADELPHIA: YOU HAVE A BASKETBALL TEAM

For a town that is obviously a football town and more so now than has been in a decade and a half, high on Phillies hype, and the Flyers playing far above par, the Sixers have fallen to the back of everyones mind. Projected to finish 15th in the east this year, I say I wouldn’t count them out quite yet. It seems as if so far the Celtics are going to run away with the Atlantic, but other than that, our division is pretty up for grabs. We are currently 2-4, nothing to get a hard-on over, but the second best team in the Atlantic, the Raptors are only 4-3. The Sixers played the Raptors on Friday and showed some strength in a fourth quater surge at home, only to lose by two points. Bosh and Iguodala matched up just about even in Andre tallying 26 points and Bosh with 24. Aside from Toronto we match up decently with New Jersey and New York. I think the Sixers won’t flop as bad as everyone thinks, and wouldn’t be suprised if they somehow are in the playoff hunt come the spring time. Oh by the way, at half time tonight, Philadelphia is 7 up on last year’s regular season powerhouse, the Dallas Mavericks.

Mike Richards Leading the Charge

After finishing the worst season in Philadelphia Flyers history the Flyers have undergone a complete make over. First year GM Paul Holmgren has added many new faces, but it is a not so new face that is leading the charge for the new look Flyers. Second year player Mike Richards has been shinning in the opening month of the NHL season scoring a team leading 10 goals, registering 10 assists, and leading the team in points overall. Richards, 22, notorious for his fists, the heart of the Philadelphia Flyers, matches his goal scoring abilities with physical play. In a November 2 game in Washington stitched and bloodied by a 1^st period bout with Capital’s Brooks Laich, Richards re-entered the game and scored a tie-breaking goal in the second period. Look for more efforts like this to continue as Mike Richards takes the league by storm this year.