Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Two More Days!

The best sports time of the year is only two days away. The start of football season. College football will get things kicked off on Thursday and carry us right through the weekend. The following week the NFL will start to play games that count. The beginning of October signals the start of NBA training camps. Baseball playoffs will be in full swing leading to the World Series. Last but not least College Basketball will begin play in November.

We will have football, football and more football right through the new year. Basketball's regular season will fill in the days between football games and if you are experiencing a slow night, there will be baseball. Some people may think what about hockey. Sorry, but even when the Pittsburgh Penguins were winning the Stanley Cup I was not a hockey fan, The only hockey game I have ever watched from beginning to end was the, "Miracle on Ice", team of college kids that beat the Soviet Union juggernaut.

So get the beer ice, cold. Stock up on the pretzels. Oil the Laz-Y-Boy. Last of all but most importantly change the batteries on the remote. Nothing is worse then when you are changing back and forth, during commercials, of several football games and the remote stops working. Unless you forgot to not only change the batteries but to stock up on them.

To our lovely wives. We will see you in April, after the NBA playoffs. Unless you care to join us. Then we can watch all of these games together. I am one of the lucky ones. Mine will at least watch the basketball games with me. TWO MORE DAYS!!!!!!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The Best 2012 NFL Predictions Anywhere

OK sports fans here we go with my nationally awaited predictions for the upcoming NFL season. Well, maybe not national awaited, at least state, wait maybe locally, alright maybe nobody really gives a damn but me and a few close friends that want to make fun of me, but here they are. Laugh if you want but we will see at the end of the year.

First the AFC.

Division winners are:

New England Patriots, Houston Texans, San Diego Chargers and of course the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wild Cards:

Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.


NFC.

Division winners are:

Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.

Wild Cards:

Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins.

The Steelers will beat Green Bay in the Super Bowl and get revenge for our lose two years ago.

There you have it. Careful research and hours of reflection have lead me right back to my Steelers. To Steeler Nation get those Terrible Towels ready for another championship. "Here we go Steelers, here we go."

Friday, August 3, 2012

USA Today Poll and Conspiracy Theories!

You know I am usually not into conspiracy theories, but did anyone else notice that the USA Today Poll just came out yesterday and it is eerily similar to the Old School Sports pre season poll. I am not accusing USA of waiting until mine came out so they could copy it, but is it really just a coincidence? You can be the judge! Just compare and then draw your own conclusion. My poll is internationally known and draws a considerable amount of attention from sports scribes around the globe.

All of this is purely conjecture at this point. Maybe I am going through a period of where I think I am more important then I think, but I do not think so. Let me know what you think!

One last point if you think I am really serious, let me have some of what you are drinking.

Monday, July 30, 2012

NCAA Should Make More Changes

I had to laugh at the hypocrisy of the NCAA. When they held a press conference to announce their decision on Penn State, they started with a brief message of how important the education of our young people are and the high ideals that the NCAA upholds to achieve this. What a bunch of crock. What B.S. I agree with the ruling and the severe penalties handed out at State College. Pa. My problem is how the NCAA tries to position itself as the moral high ground in the university setting.



The NCAA is about making money. Money for itself. Money for schools and conferences. Money for the hierarchy of the institutes of learning. Money for sponsors and money for the communities that surround the colleges. I have no problem with people making money, just be honest about your goals and quit trying to surround it with the cloak of integrity.

An athlete-student does get an opportunity to have an education. They do not have an opportunity, to share in the billions of dollars that is raked in each year, to support our addiction to collegiate sports. Let that same young person trade a jersey for a tattoo and they are in violation of rules and are suspended or even expelled from the school. Let that young person accept a few dollars to return home and attend a funeral of a friend or relative and watch the NCAA descend on the prey. Time after time we hear a coach and school being investigated for NCAA violations that amount to the equivalent of picking loose change up from the pavement, Then watch as the reputation of the athlete-student, coach and school, are destroyed before there is one hearing. Watch the schools spend millions of dollars to defend themselves from a minor rules infraction. For what end? Money!

The NCAA did the right thing at Penn State, because here was actually a problem, worth going after. The failure to protect children from a predator is a worthy cause. The failure to protect young people from the greed of others should also be a worthy direction. Start and provide a stipend of some amount to the athletes that make so much money for the universities they play for. Then the NCAA could actually focus attention on helping these people go from athlete-students to student-athletes. Imagine the difference if these kids actually end their college careers with a degree!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

My Fearless Pig Skin Predictions!!!!!!!!

OK folks here it is. My predictions for the upcoming College Football season. I have carefully analyzed all the major teams across the country. I have compared schedules. Reviewed depth charts. Looked at tendencies. And when that failed. I guessed!!!

So without further delay. Drum roll please!!!! In reverse order here are my picks.

25.  Florida
24.  Boise State
23.  Notre Dame
22.  Oklahoma State
21.  West Virginia
20.  Washington
19.  Baylor
18.  Wisconsin
17.  Texas
16.  Virginia Tech
15.  Auburn
14.  Clemson
13.  Nebraska
12.  Arkansas
11.  Michigan State
10.  Ohio State

And now for my top nine and then, yes wait for it my prediction for the team that should win it all.
9.   Kansas State
8.   South Carolina
7.   Oklahoma
6.   My beloved Florida State University
5.   Alabama
4.   Oregon
3.   Georgia
2.   USC

That brings us to my choice to win the National Championship.

1. LSU

Sorry. I know everyone expected me to go with my heart. The SEC does it again and it is hard to realistically pick against them. You notice I had four SEC teams in the top ten and seven in the top 25. Yes, as much as I kid with friends, the SEC is the class of college football. So there it is. My choices. Laugh as you might. They are my picks and I am sticking with them. If you are feeling brave, submit your own list to, "Old School Sports" and we can compare through out the year. Kick off is only a few weeks away. Can't wait. GO NOLES!!!!!!!



Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The NCAA Got This One Right!

When NCAA President, Mark Emmert, ended his news conference yesterday, I had the feeling he got this one about right. Penn State football will be reeling for years to come and it should be. I am not a Penn State fan but I was one of those people that felt Joe Paterno ran a clean and respectful program. We were all deceived. Paterno actually committed on of the most heinous violations I have ever heard of in college sports.

What occurred at PSU was basic. The idea to protect a university and football program over the protection of our children is the crime. The results for Sandusky was clear. The results for PSU and Paterno were necessary. The university is going to become an example of what not to do at our institutes of higher learning. They cannot not put success over people.

I read the statement from the Paterno family and all I can say is, I understand that you all want to protect, your husband or father. Remember though, Joe failed to protect children from a predator. He failed as a person to act and help those that cannot defend themselves. That was his failure. The powers that be at Penn State have to see their beloved university punished.  Joe has to be stripped of the right to victories that were won because he did the wrong thing.

Penn State University will survive and someday, through hard work and determination the football program will be back. The shadow of what occurred will always linger over them. That is also part of their punishment.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Penn State and Paterno's Legacy Should Be Destroyed!

After seeing the reports about Joe Paterno and the cover-up at Penn State, I am going to be on the list of the people that will now, pile on. I always respected and admired Joe Pa for his clean program and winning at State College, but that quickly disappeared this past week. Joe knowingly covered up for a child predator, to protect his winning at Penn State. Does this act undo a lifetime of good work. Absolutely. There is no excuse or reason to place any business, university or team before the welfare of our children. 

The Penn State program deserves the ultimate penalty from the NCAA.
Many people will argue that the governing body of college athletics should not be involved with a criminal activity, but I say they have in the past and with much smaller issues then the rape of children. Paterno, Curley and many others at Penn State, knew and looked the other way, while this pervert, Sandusky, was  allowed to continue his assault on children. They should all pay a price and the university should be willing to step up and accept their culpability in the crime.

What would it take? I feel the NCAA death penalty should be invoked. Take away their scholarships. No television money or bowl trips. Make them start from square one. Rebuild their entire program. Strip away anyone associated with this sordid episode. Give restitution to the victims and their families.

Will this ever make up for the failure of Penn State and Paterno, to these children and their families. No, however it will serve notice to every entity that we all have an obligation to protect, not just our children, but anyone that is being attacked. The NCAA needs to step up and do it now. We all should demand nothing less.