Loading ...Cheers & Boos 11-28-11
Thanksgiving Week is always a great one, bringing together family and friends for some serious feasting. Sports makes it even better, because NFL games start on Thursday, college games are played on Friday and Saturday, then the NFL returns on Sunday. Sprinkle in college basketball (including UNLV upsetting #1 North Carolina) and the NHL (with the return of superstar Sidney Crosby) and it’s easy to be as gluttonous with the games as it is with the turkey.
CHEERS for Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow, who led his team to another thrilling comeback win, a 16-13 overtime victory at San Diego. Tebow is now 5-1 as a starter this season and the Broncos are 6-5 overall, just a game behind the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West. Come to think of it, Tebow really should play for Oakland, because he epitomizes Al Davis’ motto for the Raiders, “Just Win, Baby.”
BOOS to San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner, who epitomizes, “Just Try Not To Lose, Baby.” In overtime and on the fringe of field goal range, Turner called three straight running plays, conceding any chance of getting a first down and moving significantly closer for the kick. Sure enough, Nick Novak’s attempt leaked just wide right, but probably would’ve been good from 5-10 yards closer. That’s now six straight losses for San Diego after starting 4-1. Well done, Norv, well done.
CHEERS for the Cincinnati Bengals dynamic rookie duo, QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green. The pair hooked up on a 51-yard pass play with time running out, setting up Mike Nugent’s game-winning field goal as the Bengals nipped the Cleveland Browns, 23-20. Cam Newton has had a great statistical season in Carolina, but Dalton and Green should share the Rookie-of-the-Year award because not only do they have good stats, but Cincinnati is 7-4 and might make the playoffs.
LOUD BOOS to Buffalo Bills WR Stevie Johnson for his antics and his play. After a TD catch late in the 2nd quarter, he celebrated by mocking the shooting incident that sent Plaxico Burress to jail. The 15-yard penalty for the despicable display helped the NY Jets score a tying TD before halftime. Then late in the game, with the Bills needing a TD to win, he dropped a pass that could’ve been the game-winning score. I would hate to be his teammate.
LOUD BOOS to NY Jets WR Santonio Holmes, who dropped a TD pass in the first half because as he fell to the ground, he decided to take his second hand off the football so he could make the catch look better one-handed. As he rolled over, the ball touched the ground and came loose from his right hand and the pass was incomplete. I know he ended up catching the game-winning TD, but I’d hate to be his teammate, too.
CHEERS for the Houston Texans defense, which clamped down on the Jacksonville Jaguars offense and secured a 20-13 victory. The dominant defense was necessary because the Texans offense gained just 47 yards and two first downs in the 2nd half after QB Matt Leinart, subbing in for injured QB Matt Schaub, left the game with an injury. The QB situation for Houston is so bad, there are rumors of Brett Favre being coaxed out of retirement again to play for them. Houston, you have a problem!
CHEERS for Arizona Cardinals RB Chris Wells, who ran for a franchise record 228 yards in the Cardinals win against St. Louis, 23-20. Wells day included a 71-yard run in the 1st quarter that led to a field goal. In the 4th quarter, after his fumble led to the Rams tying the game, he broke off a 53-yard scamper on the next possession to set up the game-winning field goal. That’s how you respond to making a mistake!
DEAFENING BOOS to Detroit Lions DL Ndamukong Suh, for his stomp of Green Bay Packers OL Evan Dietrich-Smith and subsequent delusional comments claiming he didn’t stomp on him. In this case, it’s both the crime and the cover-up that deserve to be punished. But hey, he apologized on his facebook page, so I guess everything is ok.
CHEERS for the #1 ranked LSU Tigers, who crushed #3 Arkansas, 41-17. LSU has now beaten three teams in the top three (#3 Oregon, #2 Alabama are the other two) and four other teams in the top 25 (#25 Mississippi State, #16 West Virginia, #17 Florida and #20 Auburn). Even if the Tigers somehow lose to #14 Georgia in the SEC title game, they will still likely play for the BCS championship, which is exactly what should happen.
CHEERS for my Michigan Wolverines, who finally defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes, 40-34. It had been 2,926 days and seven losses since Michigan had won “The Game” against its archrival. Denard Robinson accounted for five TDs but the Wolverines still had to sweat out the finish, clinching the victory only after CB Courtney Avery intercepted a 4th down pass with 45 seconds left. GO BLUE!
CHEERS for fans of the NBA, who apparently will get to watch a season, starting on Christmas Day. I’m not sure I even know any NBA fans. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
THERE IT IS!
-Jake Stevens
Suh’s comments are not delusional. That would mean that he believes what he says. He is lying, plain and simple and the only delusion is that he thinks anyone believes him.