tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45780124621485705152024-03-13T08:44:13.359-07:00Down and Out -- The SequelVersion 2.0 -- where anything is fair gameRob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-24962084032830293492014-05-05T20:16:00.001-07:002014-05-05T20:16:21.845-07:00I should have named her "Enigma"<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c69wkeSKXOk/U2hUBt9lj5I/AAAAAAAAAKo/znvlliV57T0/s1600/CAM00548-781848.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c69wkeSKXOk/U2hUBt9lj5I/AAAAAAAAAKo/znvlliV57T0/s320/CAM00548-781848.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6010146091220438930" /></a></p><p dir="ltr">As long as I've had KC (nearly seven years now), I've yet to completely understand her. Just when I have her pegged as a cat that longs for solitude, she has taken to sleeping near me whenever I'm home. </p> <p dir="ltr">This is her latest favorite resting spot -- a folding chair I set up next to my desk chair. I even caught her lying there while my fiancee Sherry was on the computer earlier today. She hasn't been that close to her for any protracted amount of time ever. </p> <p dir="ltr">I guess a cat can change its habits.</p> Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-12541764836207050482014-05-02T23:42:00.001-07:002014-05-03T00:05:58.018-07:00Seen at a local bookstore<div class="mobile-photo">
While browsing at the Barnes and Noble in Colonie Center Friday night, I came across this display in the "bargain books" section:</div>
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Yup. Justin Bieber is on the same level as Clint Eastwood and Oprah Winfrey. Not that he deserves to be at that level. He does deserve to be in the bargain bin, though.</div>
Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-5320268935458886322013-10-22T14:19:00.002-07:002013-10-22T14:19:36.403-07:00Dodgers should cut "Donnie Baseball" loose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before you think I'm off my rocker, hear me out.<br />
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This idea isn't meant to help the Los Angeles Dodgers so much as it's meant to help Don Mattingly. He deserves a whole lot better than managing for another one-year contract with this club.<br />
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Mattingly may not have the managerial pedigree that his predecessor and mentor (Joe Torre) has, but he's proven himself to be a good manager who is getting better year by year. Look at what he did this season. The Dodgers struggled for the first two months and seemed destined for a last-place finish, but Mattingly lit a fire under this team (with a little help from Yasiel Puig) that vaulted them to the National League West title and two wins away from the World Series. I'd say that's pretty impressive.<br />
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Mattingly certainly seems to think he deserves a long-term deal. He said as much at Monday's wrap-up press conference in L.A. with general manager (a.k.a. his boss) Ned Colletti within a few feet of him on the podium. That took some guts, but Mattingly has always been a straight shooter. It didn't surprise me in the least that he'd go out on a limb like that.<br />
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The reaction from the Dodgers front office, though, indicates that maybe Mattingly should find another organization to work for. They fired his bench coach and good friend, Trey Hillman, Tuesday. Something tells me Colletti didn't discuss the move with Mattingly first, especially since bench coaches are the right-hand men for managers. They're the ones managers turn to when they seek advice on making a tough in-game decision. To lose someone that has your total trust in such a manner is very tough to take.<br />
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It could also be considered a shot from Colletti across Mattingly's bow. It's almost as if Colletti is saying to Mattingly, "If you're going to tell me what I should do in front of the media, I'm going to show you who's the boss. I'm going to make it so uncomfortable for you that you'll be begging me to fire you." I don't know for certain if that's what Colletti is thinking, but it seems logical.<br />
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I know one thing: Mattingly shouldn't have to take this from Colletti. There are 29 other Major League Baseball franchises out there. Some of them are much farther away from making the World Series than the Dodgers, but perhaps they would be more willing to give Mattingly the latitude he needs to craft a winning squad with a multi-year deal.<br />
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Whether he walks away or Colletti fires him, I think it's time for Mattingly to leave L.A. and find another team to manage. Let someone else try to coax the Dodgers to the 2014 World Series.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-51287279163437842612013-10-22T04:03:00.000-07:002013-10-22T04:03:00.448-07:00Tuesday's musical momentI personally think Canada's Cowboy Junkies has one of the best female frontwomen in Margo Timmins. Her sultry voice is a pleasure to listen to every time. The band itself is sort of famous for their soft, haunting ballads, but they can rock from time to time. This is one of their rockers -- "A Common Disaster."<br />
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<br />Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-53610679179549407562013-10-22T04:00:00.000-07:002013-10-22T04:00:09.097-07:00The Giants win ... a game!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may carry on their pursuit of a winless NFL season without the New York Giants.<br />
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"Big Blue" finally found a way to get into the win column. All they had to do was play a little less ugly than the Minnesota Vikings in a 23-7 victory Monday night at MetLife Stadium.<br />
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Sure, the Giants had some of the same issues they dealt with all season. They settled for field goals three times after driving the ball inside Minnesota's 20-yard line. They netted only 64 rushing yards. And they turned the ball over again.<br />
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However, the Giants made progress on several fronts. Eli Manning completed 59 percent of his passes and didn't throw a single interception for the first time all year. The Giants defense forced three Minnesota turnovers, and they limited Adrian Peterson to 28 yards on 13 carries (though you could hardly blame A.P. for a sub-par performance, given the loss of his 2-year-old son nearly two weeks ago).<br />
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Still, the amount of progress the Giants made isn't going to be enough for them to make any significant noise this season. They face the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday and then get their bye week before dealing with a brutal second half schedule that includes the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys, the San Diego Chargers, the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions. Given what I saw Monday night against a Minnesota Vikings team that is headed absolutely nowhere, I don't think the Giants will win enough games to get back in the NFC East race.<br />
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So, Giants fans should be glad that there is now a crooked number in the win column. But unless something changes drastically over the next several weeks, they shouldn't get used to celebrating victories.<br />
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Now, let's see if the Buccaneers or the Jaguars can reach the win column.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-90090049577882326112013-10-21T05:00:00.000-07:002013-10-21T05:00:03.679-07:00Monday's musical selectionWe all need a kickstart to our Monday, so here's some Foo Fighters with "All My Life."<br />
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<br />Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-57913456457183418312013-10-21T04:50:00.000-07:002013-10-21T04:50:00.368-07:00The new west is the best<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We may only be three weeks into the National Hockey League season, but I think it's pretty clear that the Western Conference is the power broker in the league.<br />
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Even with the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets relocated to the Eastern Conference, the west is looking very strong. Seven western teams are already distinguishing themselves as contenders led by the dominant San Jose Sharks (7-0-1) and the resurgent Colorado Avalanche (7-1-0), and most of the remaining conference teams are playing well. Only the Edmonton Oilers (2-6-1) are limping right now, but the Oilers are young. They could have a turnaround if they don't get frustrated by their early struggles.<br />
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Compare that to the east. Sure, the Pittsburgh Penguins (7-1-0) have played very well. And the Red Wings (6-3-0) are making their presence known in their new conference. But, you've got some real bottom feeders developing in the Metropolitan Division between the New Jersey Devils (1-4-3), the New York Rangers (2-5-0) and the Philadelphia Flyers (1-7-0).<br />
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Side note: How bad are things in Philly these days? Besides the Flyers, the city is dealing with a baseball team in decline (the Phillies), a football team in free fall (the Eagles) and a basketball team that could struggle to make the playoffs (the 76ers). "The City of Brotherly Love" could use a hug right about now.<br />
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Back to the hockey world. I am really impressed with the Sharks, but we've been down this road before with this team. They'll put together a terrific regular season, but when push comes to shove in the playoffs, they fold up shop quicker than a three card monte dealer who spots a police officer heading his way.<br />
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I'm not entirely convinced that Patrick Roy can make the Avs a true contender in the west in his first season as head coach, either. Maybe if this was the mid-1990s and Roy was tending goal, I'd suggest that the Avs were for real. But Roy is on the bench, and as successful as he was in the Canadian junior leagues, the NHL is a much different deal. He might have the Avs playing well now, but let's see what happens when the Avs go on a losing streak. Can he get them righted quickly, or will they fall apart?<br />
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I like the Blackhawks, the Ducks and the St. Louis Blues (5-1-1) out west. The defending champs from Chi-town aren't showing any signs of a letdown following last year's stellar campaign, while the Ducks are playing up to the level I think a lot of people expected them to be at during the shortened 2012-13 season. As for the Blues, they just continue to plug along as that team no one is going to want to face in the playoffs.<br />
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As for the east, what you see is probably what you'll get. The Penguins, the Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs (6-3-0) and the Boston Bruins (5-2-0) will continue to pile up wins, while the Rangers, the Devils, the Flyers and the Buffalo Sabres (1-8-1) will battle each other to see who will get the worst record in the conference. Yes, it's going to be ugly at the bottom of this conference.<br />
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On to the fourth week of the season.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-66924294698089810252013-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:002013-10-20T05:00:03.750-07:00Weekend Musical MomentNow that we have the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, let's go back to the year they last met in the "Fall Classic" for this weekend's song. I'm turning to Modest Mouse for this one.<br />
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<br />Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-5862772238683323902013-10-20T04:55:00.000-07:002013-10-20T04:55:00.686-07:00The Cream Rises to the Top<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Everything is as it should be in Major League Baseball.<br />
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The top teams from the American and National leagues during the regular season will meet in this year's World Series as the Boston Red Sox advance to face the St. Louis Cardinals beginning Wednesday.<br />
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The Red Sox and Cardinals each needed six games to claim their league's championship, though they went about clinching in different ways. The Cardinals received another stellar performance from starting pitcher Michael Wacha (the guy just doesn't give up runs) in finishing off the Los Angeles Dodgers with Friday's 9-0 win, while the Red Sox used a dramatic grand slam from Shane Victorino to rally past the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Saturday. That was the second Sox slam to tie or take the lead in a game in this series.<br />
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Wait a sec. Does this say John Lackey? How can that be? I thought Lackey wasn't supposed to be good. That's what all the Red Sox fans were saying a couple of years ago. He's got a 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP during the postseason, you say? Well then, I guess we'll go with Lackey.<br />
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At the very least this won't play out like 2004, when the Red Sox rode the wave from rallying out of an 0-3 hole to the New York Yankees all the way to a sweep of the Cardinals in the Series. And as a bonus, that became the surprise ending to the 2005 Drew Barrymore-Jimmy Fallon movie "Fever Pitch." Talk about fortuitous timing.<br />
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I'm looking at this series going at least six games, if not seven this time. And really, when you have two teams that play as hard and as well as the Red Sox and the Cardinals, it should go that far. To have it end in four or five games would be a travesty.<br />
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Who wins it? I'm taking the team with the best karma right now -- the Red Sox. They just seem poised for another out-of-the-blue world championship run.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-76305709901602213102013-10-20T04:50:00.000-07:002013-10-20T04:50:00.572-07:00Peyton's return to Indy (and other NFL Sunday stuff)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Get used to hearing about Peyton Manning's return to Indianapolis today, folks. The Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts won't be playing until 8:30 tonight.<br />
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That's not to say the Denver-Indy game doesn't deserve to be hyped. It's a huge mid-season match-up between the high-scoring 6-0 Broncos and the AFC South-leading Colts. A win tonight would give the Colts the shot in the arm they need after a horrible performance in a 19-9 loss to the San Diego Chargers Monday night. A Broncos win would give Manning a chance to prove to the Indy fans that he still has that magic touch.<br />
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Unfortunately, I don't think the game will live up to the hype. Manning has too many weapons at his disposal between Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas. He'll pick apart Indy's secondary, and with Von Miller back from suspension, the Broncos defense will turn in a good-enough effort to keep the Colts at bay.<br />
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Elsewhere on NFL Sunday ...<br />
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Rob Gronkowski FINALLY has the green light to play in an NFL game, which is good news for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots as they visit the better-than-expected New York Jets in an AFC East battle. Gronk may not have a huge game in his return, but he'll do enough to spark the Pats to a victory.<br />
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If you're looking for a marquis wide receiver match-up, look no further than today's game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Detroit Lions. Cincy receiver A.J. Green is coming off a 103-yard receiving day against the Buffalo Bills, and Detroit's pass defense isn't particularly great (25th in the NFL in yards allowed). Meanwhile all eyes in Detroit are on Calvin Johnson, who has been bothered by knee injury lately. If healthy, Johnson can put up huge numbers.<br />
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The "sneaky good" match-up is in Green Bay where the Cleveland Browns pay the Packers a visit. The Packers are missing several key starters due to injuries, including Randall Cobb and Clay Matthews. And the Browns have one of the top 10-ranked pass defenses in the league, which may make life tough for Aaron Rodgers. Good thing the Packers have discovered they have a running back in the form of Eddie Lacy, or they'd be in real trouble. Still, look for the Browns to make the Packers work hard for a home win.<br />
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Finally, keep an eye on the Baltimore-Pittsburgh game. I know the Steelers only have one win this season, but they've improved to the point where I believe they can take down the Ravens. It's just a hunch on my part, but I think the Steelers are poised for a big divisional win.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-83273850665043024342013-10-18T05:05:00.000-07:002013-10-18T05:05:00.295-07:00Friday's Musical MomentReady for the weekend? I am. So, here to get us off to a rocking start is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club with a cover of The Call's "Let the Day Begin."<br />
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FYI: BMRC lead singer Robert Been is the son of The Call's lead singer, Michael Been, who died of a heart attack in 2010 while working as BMRC's producer and sound engineer during a festival in Belgium.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-35278089896091486792013-10-18T05:00:00.000-07:002013-10-18T05:00:12.554-07:00The Tigers are on Their Last Legs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Any hopes the Detroit Tigers had of reaching the World Series for a second straight season dimmed significantly with Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.<br />
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Not only are the Tigers one loss away from the golf course, they are hobbling back into Boston with an injured Miguel Cabrera and a struggling Prince Fielder, who is batting .243 for the postseason with no home runs, no RBIs and three runs scored. If not for Detroit's pitching (which has been great at times), the Tigers might not even have won a game in this series.<br />
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This shouldn't be a total surprise. The Red Sox didn't get to be the American League's top team by mistake. They've got a loaded lineup, a strong pitching staff and a manager (John Farrell) who the players respect.<br />
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On paper, the Tigers could have matched the Red Sox in virtually every department. But Cabrera is nursing an injury, which is affecting his swing (he's batting .263 in the postseason after batting .348 during the regular season). And Fielder has been anemic when runners have been in scoring position for him. If Cabrera and Fielder aren't hitting and driving in runs, then the Tigers are in serious trouble.<br />
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If the Tigers are going to fall short of the World Series, at least they're going to go down with a fight. They have Max Scherzer going in Game 6 Saturday, and if they win they'll have Justin Verlander on the mound in Game 7. Those are good pitchers to have when your season is on the line.<br />
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But unless Fielder and Cabrera start producing at the plate, the Tigers are going to be whimpering their way back to Motown as the Red Sox celebrate their third AL title in the last decade.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-26635130540536298292013-10-18T04:50:00.000-07:002013-10-18T04:50:00.796-07:00A Jimmer Sighting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was only a preseason NBA game, but Sacramento Kings guard (and Glens Falls native) Jimmer Fredette played more like the Jimmer Fredette we all saw at BYU.<br />
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Fredette made five of his seven three-pointers on his was to a 23-point night to help the Kings defeat the Phoenix Suns 107-90 Thursday in Sacramento.<br />
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Fredette was given his second chance to start this preseason by new head coach Michael Malone, and he took full advantage of it -- especially in the second half, when he scored 21 points. It was a far better performance than Fredette's seven-point, three-assist effort he gave during the Kings' 104-86 win against the Los Angeles Kings one week earlier.<br />
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Fredette probably has a long way to go to earn regular playing time in the NBA this season. Though he's had some good games in his first two seasons with the Kings, he's often been left on the bench because there were some really talented guards in front of him in the rotation. That and Fredette can also be a streaky shooter, not to mention a defensive liability.<br />
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Still, it's always encouraging to see Fredette get a chance to prove that he belongs in the NBA. We'll just have to see if he can also prove to be a consistently good NBA player.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-55768422781331900402013-10-17T18:54:00.004-07:002013-10-17T18:54:53.933-07:00Thursday Night's Musical MomentYou didn't think I'd forget to add a music video today, did you? Here you go. A little John Mellencamp for a Thursday evening (1980s hair alert).<br />
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<br />Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-68490388541354808172013-10-17T18:47:00.001-07:002013-10-17T18:47:15.834-07:00The Waiting Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rob Gronkowski's continued absence from the New England Patriots' lineup isn't probably as frustrating to the Patriots themselves as it is to Pats fans and fantasy football owners who drafted the tight end.<br />
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Each week, there's video of Gronkowski in full pads practicing with the Patriots and reports he's even being tackled by teammates. Yet he has not played a single down in a game, and no one seems to know when Gronk will be cleared to play. Not the Patriots coaches. Not the Patriots players. Not any NFL analyst.<br />
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The only person who can say when Gronk is ready to play in a game is Dr. James Andrews. And up till now, Andrews has not given Gronk the green light to take the field and terrorize opposing defenses.<br />
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The significance of Gronk's absence can be seen in the Patriots' offensive woes. Even though the Pats are 5-1, they rank in the lower half of the NFL in passing yards per game (228.3) and they've been limited to one or no touchdowns in two of their six games.<br />
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Fortunately for the Pats, their defense has been pretty stingy in allowing points (97), but that could change now that linebacker Jerod Mayo is out for the season. Couple that with the season-ending injury to defensive tackle Vincent Wilfork, and you have the ingredients for a major collapse.<br />
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Back to Gronk (pun unintended). If the Patriots want to win the AFC East, they'll need Gronk to get on the field ASAP and create those mismatches that Tom Brady loves to exploit. Without Gronk out there (not to mention the oft-injured Danny Amendola), Brady has to rely on the likes of Kenbrell Thompkins, Julian Edelman, Aaron Dobson and Michael Hoomanawanui. Who's Hoomanawanui? The guy who's currently playing Gronk's position, that's Hoomanawanui. Okay, I'll stop now.<br />
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In all seriousness, the Pats have to end their reliance on their defense to see them through and get back to rolling over opponents with their high-powered offense. That's not going to happen if Brady has to keep throwing to stonehands such as Thompkins and Dobson. Brady hates throwing to guys who drop his passes on a regular basis. That's why having Gronk on the field will help. Gronk has caught 71.3 percent of all the passes Brady has thrown to him over the last three years. Having him back will ease Brady's mind for, if nothing else, he can rely on Gronk to catch a clutch pass.<br />
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As for fantasy football owners who have Gronk on their roster, they just want to have a quality tight end to plug into their lineups because there are so few of them this year. Outside of Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas, Vernon Davis and Jordan Cameron, there haven't been any tight ends who consistently score 10 or more points in standard leagues. Gronk could easily average more than 10 fantasy points per week, given his talent and the lack of other reliable downfield threats for Brady.<br />
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So, a lot of people who want to see Gronk on the field continue to play the waiting game. And there's no telling how much longer they'll have to wait.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-73748221636451265172013-10-16T15:13:00.001-07:002013-10-16T15:13:07.749-07:00Wednesday's Musical MomentI just remembered how much I like the Gin Blossoms. Here's one of my personal favorites by them.<br />
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<br />Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-37387385393047822902013-10-16T15:08:00.001-07:002013-10-16T15:08:52.336-07:00The Devils are on the clock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that the Buffalo Sabres defied my expectations and beat the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night, the New Jersey Devils are now the lone winless team in the National Hockey League.<br />
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It's not like the Devils haven't had their opportunities to break into the win column. They went into overtime three times and into a shootout twice before losing. They've blown second period leads four times. And against the Edmonton Oilers Oct. 7, the Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead before losing 5-4 in a shootout.<br />
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For once, you can actually blame the goaltending in New Jersey -- something that has never been said or written during the Martin Brodeur era. Well, Brodeur is now 41 years old and is slowing down, as his 3.19 goals against average and his .878 save percentage can attest to. I'm not saying Brodeur has become a liability between the pipes, but he's not the same brilliant netminder he once was.<br />
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Fortunately for the Devils, they have Cory Schneider to split the starts with Brodeur this season and to take over for Brodeur once he retires. Schneider has put up solid numbers thus far (2.65 GAA, .908 save percentage), but he hasn't gotten the offensive support he's needed to post a win yet (the Devils are averaging .33 goals per game in Schneider's starts). Once the Devils start scoring goals for Schneider, the wins should come.<br />
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That first win should come fairly soon for the Devils. After visiting the Ottawa Senators Thursday, the Devils host the New York Rangers Saturday. If that first win doesn't come in Canada's capital, it should come Saturday against the Rangers, who are having major goaltending issues between Henrik Lundqvist's weak work and giving up on Martin Biron, who was waived earlier this week.<br />
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Of course, I thought it was going to take the Sabres until the end of the month to get their first win, and they got it Tuesday. So, take whatever I say about the Devils with a grain of salt.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-84451348250044684292013-10-15T14:31:00.001-07:002013-10-15T14:31:23.195-07:00Matt Schaub has become the scapegoat in Houston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When a team falls short of its goals, someone has to be the scapegoat. Matt Schaub is that person with the Houston Texans.<div>
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That much became clear Sunday when some Texans fans cheered after Schaub suffered an injured ankle in the Texans' 38-13 loss to the St. Louis Rams, which dropped their record to 2-4. The reaction by those fans and the subsequent loud cheers from the whole stadium when backup T.J. Yates came in showed who folks are blaming for the mess the Texans' season has become.<br /><div>
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Granted, Schaub hasn't helped himself by throwing more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (eight) in the Texans' first six games -- four of which were returned for touchdowns. But it's not like Schaub is the only one under-performing on the team. Houston's vaunted defense has been abysmal in terms of stopping the run (121.5 yards per game allowed) and allowing opponents to score (29.5). And let's not ignore the fact that the Texans are an AFC-worst -12 in giveaway/takeaway ratio primarily because they've only forced three turnovers in six games.</div>
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In reality, Schaub hasn't been too bad this season. He's currently tied with Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton for 11th in passing yards (1,552 yards) and is 10th in completion percentage (64.4). It's just the nine interceptions, the four pick-sixes and the 2-4 record that have Texans fans ready to run Schaub out of town.</div>
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Those fans might get their wish if the Texans' struggles continue. Scapegoats have a funny way of leaving town once a season ends. If the Texans -- a team picked by many as an AFC championship contender -- don't turn their season around and make the playoffs, the demand for change will be strong. That likely will include Schaub, who has yet to guide his team beyond the divisional playoff round.</div>
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I hope Schaub avoids that fate because I believe he's not as bad of a quarterback as he's being made out to be. He's not Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees, but he's thrown for more than 4,000 yards and 20 touchdowns three times in the last four seasons, or every time he's made it through a 16-game schedule relatively healthy. In an NFL world littered with second-rate signal callers, the Texans could do a lot worse than Schaub.</div>
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Don't tell that to Texans fans, though. They've made Schaub the scapegoat for their team's woes.</div>
Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-85896626505844740582013-10-15T10:40:00.000-07:002013-10-15T10:40:01.043-07:00Tuesday's Musical MomentEver wonder where the riff for this Gillette commercial comes from?<br />
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It comes from this song by Saratoga Springs duo Phantogram ....<br />
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Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-60042037479573224502013-10-15T10:39:00.000-07:002013-10-15T10:39:00.290-07:00That's just Puig being Puig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yasiel Puig's RBI triple in last night's NLCS Game 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals could have been a two-run homer if he hadn't thought it was already a home run when he hit it.<br />
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In case you've been living under a rock, the Los Angeles Dodgers' wunderkind thought his fourth inning blast to right field was going to clear the Dodgers Stadium fence, so he stood at home plate with his arms raised and his bat flipped to the ground.<br />
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Only one problem with that. In baseball, you NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING!<br />
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In Puig's case, he assumed he had hit a two-run blast. Instead, it merely bounced off the wall.<br />
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To Puig's credit, he got up to speed quickly once he realized he hadn't hit it out and wound up with a stand-up triple. However, if he had simply taken off from the moment the ball left his bat, he could have turned that into an inside-the-park homer with his speed (especially since Cardinals' right fielder Carlos Beltran loafed after the ball at first).<br />
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Fortunately for Puig, his grandstanding didn't lead to a rally-killing out, and the hit helped the Dodgers beat St. Louis 3-0 to cut the Cardinals' lead in the NLCS to 2-1.<br />
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<br />Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-45828575979092887552013-10-15T10:38:00.000-07:002013-10-15T10:38:00.612-07:00When will the Buffalo Sabres win a game?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Holy catastrophes, Batman. The Buffalo Sabres look awful.<br />
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The Sabres haven't won a game so far this season, and it may be a while before they do. Their next four games are against the New York Islanders, the Vancouver Canucks, the Colorado Avalanche and the Boston Bruins. They may have to wait until they face the Florida Panthers on Oct. 25 before they get in the win column.<br />
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You can't blame the Sabres' goaltenders for this mess. Ryan Miller (2.29 goals against average) and Jhonas Enroth (2.66 GAA) have both played well this season.<br />
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It's the horrendous offense that has the Sabres reeling through the first two weeks. They have yet to score more than two goals in a game, and they've been limited to one goal four times. About the only good thing you can say about the Sabres is that they're fortunate they have been shut only once this season.<br />
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One look at the Sabres' roster is all you need to understand what's gone wrong with the offense. Outside of Thomas Vanek (who probably should consider demanding a trade), the Sabres have no proven playmakers up front. That, my friends, is what I call a major problem. No hockey team will win a lot of games if it can't generate some offense on a regular basis. The Sabres can't even do that right now.<br />
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Maybe some of the Sabres' young players -- such as 19-year-old centers Zemgus Girgensons and Mikhail Grigorenko, and 22-year-old left winger Johan Larsson -- will step up and start producing. But until someone steps up at the offensive end, Miller and Enroth are left to do their best to keep the Sabres in games at their end.<br />
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Frankly, it doesn't look good in Buffalo.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-30242900892625635952013-10-14T05:10:00.000-07:002013-10-14T05:10:00.769-07:00Monday's Musical MomentI'm going to make a habit of starting each day with a song. It's really the best way to start, don't you think?<br />
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Here is today's selection. Enjoy.<br />
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<br />Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-17474078294237898662013-10-14T05:08:00.000-07:002013-10-14T05:08:00.471-07:00A Little Boston Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just when New Englanders were ready to throw in the towel with two of its pro teams, the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox delivered wild, come-from-behind wins Sunday.<br />
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It started in the early evening down in Foxboro. The Pats trailed the New Orleans Saints 27-23 when they gained possession of the ball at their own 30-yard line with 1:13 left in the fourth quarter. A sizable portion of the crowd had already left Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady had completed a total of 20 passes for 199 yards at that point. It looked bleak.<br />
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But then, Brady did what he's done so many times before. He completed a 23-yard pass to Julian Edelman. He completed a 15-yard pass to Austin Collie. He completed a six-yard pass to Aaron Dobson. Two incompletions later, Brady finds Collie for nine yards and a first down. Then with five seconds left, Brady connects with Kenbrell Thompkins for the go-ahead 17-yard touchdown. Pats win 30-27.<br />
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New Englanders would have been happy with just that comeback. But a few hours later at Fenway Park, they witnessed another miracle.<br />
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Trailing the Detroit Tigers 5-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Red Sox were facing an 0-2 deficit in the American League Championship Series. They had been dominated by Max Scherzer, who limited them to one run on two hits and struck out 13 batters in seven innings. That came on the heels of Game 1, when four Tigers pitchers combined on a one-hit 1-0 shutout. Again, it looked bleak for a New England team.<br />
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Will Middlebrooks got a one-out double to get the Sox in business. A walk to Jacoby Ellsbury put two runners on, but then Shane Victorino struck out. Would the Sox let a scoring chance slip away?<br />
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Dustin Pedroia laced a single to right field to load the bases for David Ortiz, a player who seems to live for big moments. And wouldn't you know it? Big Papi went yard for the tying grand slam and took Torii Hunter along for the ride (Hunter fell into the Sox bullpen trying to haul the ball in). The next inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled home Jonny Gomes to give the Sox a 6-5 win.<br />
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Two comeback wins less than five hours apart from each other in the Boston metro area. Unbelievable.<br />
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Admittedly, the Sox win was more important in the grander scheme of things. If they had gone to Detroit down 0-2 in the ALCS, they might not have gotten another game at Fenway. Being tied at one game apiece isn't great, but it's a lot better than being two losses away from the golf course.<br />
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However, give credit to Brady and the Pats. They've had a tough off-season where they lost practically every receiver they relied on last season, and it's taken a while for Brady to get used to this new group. Yet, the Pats are 5-1 and in first place in the AFC East. The more things change, the more they stay the same with the Pats.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-15080545451606876912013-10-14T05:06:00.000-07:002013-10-14T05:06:00.976-07:00Loud, Proud and Undefeated in Kansas City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The undefeated Kansas City Chiefs (yes, I said undefeated) have given their fans plenty to cheer about this season -- enough so that they set a new Guinness World Record for being the loudest of all time.<br />
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The Arrowhead Stadium faithful clocked in at 137.5 decibels in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 24-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders to shatter the previous mark of 136.6 dB set only last month by Seattle Seahawks fans.<br />
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The world record isn't as impressive as how the Chiefs are playing this season. They have the stingiest defense in the National Football League (11.6 points per game), and their offense has been nicely balanced between the running of Jamaal Charles and the passing of Alex Smith. They're not as offensively prolific as their AFC West rivals from Denver, but they are playing well and within themselves.<br />
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The Chiefs should keep it going through their bye week, as their next three games are against the limping Houston Texans, the hot-and-cold Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills. But once they get through their bye week, they have a massive challenge ahead of them as they sandwich their two meetings with the Broncos around a home game against the San Diego Chargers. If they win any of those three games, they have a legitimate shot at the division title.<br />
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And let's not forget, the Chiefs were 2-14 last season. Their six wins is already triple the total they had in 2012. Not too many teams have a dramatic turnaround like that.Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4578012462148570515.post-14726865466922016492013-10-13T11:45:00.000-07:002013-10-13T11:45:00.483-07:00It's Good to be Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I couldn't think of a better way to resume this blog than to go with this classic by The Beatles. It's time to have some fun again. Hope you'll enjoy the ride I'm about to take you on.</div>
Rob Jonashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876171283344916085noreply@blogger.com0