By jflynt on 1/5/2009 8:47 AM

Looking back quickly at what made this past Wild Card weekend the "must see TV" event it was and the stories coming out of the games....

The Arizona Cardinals controlled both lines of scrimmage and overcame a halftime deficit in defeating the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 in Glendale Saturday. The Cards ran the ball (see using Edgerrin James effectively) and played tremendous run defense, ruling Falcons RB Michael Turner as ineffective as he's been all season. Turner being the most important offensive weapon, left rookie QB Matt Ryan to try and win the game on his own. Not a good idea if you're the Falcons. They still came close...but the Cards were the better team and now head East where they struggled mightily all season to play Carolina. I don't like their chances in Charlotte against a rested Panther defense and stopping not one, but two tough running backs. Plus, the Panthers are not making their playoff debut like Atlanta was. For the Falcons, they sure came a long way in ... Read More »

By jflynt on 12/24/2008 6:29 AM

Revisionist history is always something of a tricky procedure. Is it justified to critique one's decisions after "Monday Morning Quarterbacking" years later...or did the individual make the "best decision possible" with the information given. After Sunday's 13-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the New York Jets stand to miss the playoffs after starting 8-3.

How long ago was that?? Seems like an eternity in this pun-intended fumbling of what was perceived to be a Super Bowl contender. Remember when...the Jets forced their will on the New England Patriots in Foxboro...only to 10 days later do it even better in physically pushing around the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans in Nashville. That's when the hype hit in full stride. The talk of an all-New York Super Bowl made the back pages of newspapers in the Big Apple.

Somehow from that point...to the brink of a major collapse (or choke job), this team of highly-paid free agents and young ... Read More »

By jflynt on 12/15/2008 8:19 AM

What a Sunday in the NFL THAT was. How many different sexy storylines went on?? Plenty, which if I ever took Terrell Owens' advice, I should have gotten my popcorn ready..

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Let's start in Big D where the Cowboys held off the reeling New York Giants 20-8. Everything seems hunky-dory for the 'Boys now (sure after winning), but if the game really did turn after Mathias Kiwanuka's safety making it a 14-5 game and getting the ball back in decent field position...would the mood have changed on the Jerry Jones sideline??

Nevertheless, the Cowboys win keeps them in the running for a NFC wild card spot. At 9-5, the Cowboys host an angry Baltimore Ravens team Saturday night, then finish in Philadelphia. Not exactly a cake walk for the final two.

One thing to be truly impressed with is not winning the face of a soap opera...not the performance by either T.O. or Jason Witten. It's that defense....give all the credit both ... Read More »

By jflynt on 12/8/2008 8:20 AM

President-elect Barack Obama wants one and the fans do too. They want a college football playoff to decide the National Champion on the field, not in a computer bank. Besides...who am I to dissent from Mr. Obama. (That's a joke kids...I didn't vote for him). Anyhoo, this is an idea I actually came up with back in 2004 for a class no less. It would incorporate most, not all, the elements people talk about with the current system. It involves using the BCS standings, non-BCS conferences, making certain bowl games mean something and most importantly involves greed. I'm talking more money for the winners, while the losers still get paid. But it's greed...and we all know that's what college football is all about.

Look, you're never going to make everyone happy. No system is absolutely perfect. Even the NCAA basketball tournament has people griping (Hey, what about that major college, .500, team number 67...you're not being fair to them). Remember what the NCAA tournament used to b ... Read More »

By jflynt on 11/30/2008 6:42 PM

If Notre Dame (6-6) does play in the Sun Bowl, El Pasoans may get the chance to see the final game of the Charlie Weis era in South Bend. Look, Weis is not getting the job done. Going .500 during the season is not what Irish fans want...it's unacceptable. Notre Dame's expectations are probably too high, but that's what happens when you're "America's College", have your own entrance into the BCS and play on National TV every week through your own separate contract with NBC.

It happens. But don't tell me that Tyrone Willingham couldn't go 6-6. Well, don't answer that if you've seen Washington play this season. But you get the point. Willingham was fired for seasons much like the last few which Weis has had. He has professional credentials...but what do those matter if you lose to hapless, lame duck Syracuse. This experiment with Weis has met it's endgame. Giving him that fast 10-year contract extension was a mistake...just like any "quick" extension. Anybody ... Read More »

By jflynt on 11/27/2008 7:51 AM

Since I have the day off (hey, who knew the news took a day off...in the middle of the week no less), and I've been ill (seriously, not just from watching NMSU and UTEP), some random musings. Call it the Turkey Day Smorgasboard...

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Regarding the Sun Bowl "controversy"...there really isn't one in my opinion. The Sun Bowl Committee (see John Folmer, Bernie Olivas, etc.) want Notre Dame to come to El Paso because it makes the best business sense. Even at 6-6 the Irish will draw in the stands and on TV, which is what counts. The Pac-10 rep whether it's Oregon, Arizona, or Cal, isn't as important as the other choice being Notre Dame. Screw the Big East. Yes I said it. Look, 7-5 teams who don't normally travel well (see Rutgers, UCONN, Pittsburgh, South Florida) won't draw flies. The matchup on the field isn't THAT important at this point in time. We're not arguing over Top-25 teams...and let's not forget that bowl games are BUSINESSES. Not butts ... Read More »

By jflynt on 11/17/2008 9:39 AM

I was busy this week figuring out that Waco-type situations still exist outside of Texas...to this day. It's a situation which has given me great pause about where we live and who our neighbors are...and so while I haven't been sued (yet), on with the blog...

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Teams at this point in the season have to start making statements about where they stand. Three teams (Packers, Chargers and Saints) needed to win so they're names could stay in the never-ending discussion of who's in the running to make the playoffs. Two of those (not San Diego) won in ways which make you believe they still have a chance. But they also got help in their own divisions...so the timing worked out well.

The Green Bay Packers made a HUGE statement with their 37-3 destruction of 1st-place Chicago at Lambeau Sunday. The offensive line of Chad Clifton, Darren Colledge, Scott Wells, Jason Spitz and Mark Tauscher physically dominated a talented Bears defensive line and ... Read More »

By jflynt on 11/10/2008 8:41 AM

It was Viking week up this way as townies braced themselves for what some considered the most important game Sunday. Now, there were plenty (the biggest I thought was Philly-Giants, but more on that in a minute) but certainly the hatred between these two states is amazing if you've never seen it. Those of you in El Paso got the game (from what I've been told) and if you took the time...it was a classic Upper Midwest sporting event.

One thing to understand about Wisconsin is the rivalries that are deeply embedded in the fabric of this cheese. From the Big Ten to baseball to football and hockey, it's a BIG deal when a rivalry game happens. When the Cubs and Brewers go at it...it's epic. You'll notice at Miller Park (in Chicago circles known as Wrigley North) a ton of Cubs fans show up....there's usually a fight and a lot of cheering for the enemy. At Sunday's Packers-Vikings game, the Packer fans in attendance were audible on TV at times...especially in the 2nd half. How could that ... Read More »

By jflynt on 11/5/2008 9:04 AM

I've been extremely busy with Election Night last night...the days leading up to it...and the insanity I was a part of covering area Democrats. I feel like I have a hangover, without ever having sipped a drop of alcohol. The reason, I believe, has to do with being surrounded by Dems, liberals, hippies and punk b*tches at their huge blowout in Green Bay.

By all accounts, they were successful as Barack Obama won the Badger state by a lot, and most of the seats in the state Legislature turned Blue. The campaign workers and volunteers really put in a ton of hours making this happen, giving credit where credit is due. However, I hope they're ready. The people, many of them drunk, others in tears, dancing uncontrollably when it was announced Obama had won the election. I just hope they're not crying in six months to a year realizing they bet on the wrong horse in this race. Or that he's just another politician.

I have nicknames for people, mostly put to use when ... Read More »

By jflynt on 10/30/2008 11:47 AM

Getting ready for the Milwaukee Brewers press conference where they'll name former Oakland A's skipper Ken Macha their new manager.

Macha actually turned down this job back in 2002, when GM Doug Melvin offered it to him. Then he got hired by A's GM Billy Beane.

Macha had a falling out with both Beane and his players at the end of his tenure in Oakland. Which, as the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Anthony Witrado points out, was the major issue with Ned Yost at the end. Maybe old habits die hard...then again...

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Now that the Brewers locked up GM Doug Melvin with a contract and announce the hiring of Macha as the manager...the attention now goes to bringing back ace CC Sabathia (look no dots). Sabathia, who may want to return home to a California team (see Dodgers), will get a better offer most likely from the Dodgers or Yankees.

The Crew will do their best to make a solid offer. Benefit ... Read More »