The Sports Party: Episode 003

Drew and I discuss University of Florida football, Will Muschamp, the SEC and "Watch the Throne". I even make Drew admit to who he is following on Twitter. Follow me at Twitter @chrislaprade1 and Drew @ddonovan22.

ACC Power Rankings

FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! It's here. To get yourself acclimated what what is going on in the ACC, the contributors to the site, Pat, Mitch and I, have each made a power ranking for the ACC teams to begin the season. Based on the individual rankings we have a composite power ranking for the ACC. 

     Chris                          Mitch                        Pat

1. Florida State          1. Florida State           1A./1B. Florida State/Virginia Tech

2. Virginia Tech          2. Virginia Tech

3. NC State               3. Clemson                 3. NC State

4. Maryland               4. NC State                4. Miami

5. UNC                      5. Boston College       5. UNC

6. Clemson                6. Georgia Tech          6. Clemson

7. Georgia Tech         7. UVA                       7. Maryland

8. UVA                      8. Maryland                8. UVA

9. Miami                   9. Wake Forest           9. Boston College

10. Boston College   10. UNC                     10. Georgia Tech

11. Duke                  11. Duke                    11. Duke

12. Wake Forest      12. Miami                   12. Wake Forest

Composite Power Ranking

1. Florida State

Mitch: Deep, deep defense. Only two of the first six games should be tough and only on is a conference match-up, at Clemson. The conference schedule sets up favorably.

Chris: The fact that EJ Manuel already has big game experience should bode well for Florida State. He was the MVP of the Gator Bowl in 2010, started in the ACC Championship in 2010 and played most of the game in Chick-Fil-A bowl victory over South Carolina. He's early experience should help him throughout the season.

2. Virginia Tech

Pat: To rank these teams 1 and 2 would be unfair. More like 1 and 1A, these teams are head and shoulder above the rest of the conference. If all goes well for the teams in Blacksburg and Tallahassee, last year’s offensive highlight reel should be an indication of how this year’s face-off will go in the ACC Championship game. E.J. Manuel should fill the shoes of Christian Ponder without busting the Nikes at the seams. Record-breaking Tyrod Taylor’s shoes may be a little too large for Logan Thomas, but all reports of the sophomore seem to indicate their satisfaction. The Jimbo Fisher era at Florida State is trending smoothly and should result in a steady climb to the front of the pack in the ACC, but Frank Beamer’s aggressive hold on the conference is a challenge Fisher is prematurely contesting. The anxiety for a match-up between these two in the conference championship is all too unbearable and could potentially result in a bid for the national championship without too many slip-ups in the regular season for either team. 

Chris:  It's Frank Beamer's 25th season in Blacksburg and he has the task of replacing Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Williams and Darren Evans who together made up one of the most potent backfields in the country last year.  Virginia Tech's early schedule gives backups time to acclimate themselves with their roles before the conference schedule begins. The new quarterback, Logan Thomas, and running back, David Wilson, have the fans excited in Blacksburg and anything less than an 8th straight 10-win season will be a disappointment. 

3. NC State

Pat: The Wolfpack will be a threat in the ACC with the talent they have at each position, but the best thing going for them is scheduling.  Though the Coastal Division has been the more stellar of the two since the realignment began, this season the divisions should be more evenly matched. But, of the three ACC teams the Pack plays from the Coastal division, two should finish in the weaker half of the ACC and the other is the supreme rival Tar-Heels, (of which N.C. State has owned in the last few match-ups) whom they meet at home. The Atlantic Division match-ups they face are not much tougher. There’s no question they are vast underdogs heading to Tallahassee, but besides this blemish on the schedule, the Pack have the decent competition at home and the practice walk-through games on the road. This should make for a great ‘Pack’ing to the Wolfpack’s regular season record…ya see what I did there? But not undeservingly. Tom O’Brien seems so satisfied with his Junior Quarterback, Mike Glennon, that he dismissed his shifty record-setter, Russell Wilson. And rightfully so. Glennon should have enough talent around him to ‘pack’ his stats (once more for shits’n’giggles) and lead the team to a 6-2, 10-2 season.

Mitch: The cajones on Tom O'Brien to get rid of Russel Wilson. The back-up, Mike Glennon, better be good. Due to the fall of UNC and Miami, NC State has vaulted up to 3rd in the ACC depth chart. Oh, ACC how far we have fallen. 

4. Clemson

Mitch: Great talent year in and year out on both sides of the ball. The coaching staff is full of great assistants. The only problem? Dabo Swinney. If his learning curve as a head coach occurs he may actually make something of the only team that underachieves more than the University of Georgia. Dabo will squeak out some wins on emotion alone and continue to believe that college football games are won like Disney movies and Tim Tebow say, just "trying harder" than the other team. 

Chris: Clemson has a TOUGH schedule this year. They play Auburn and Florida State at home back to back, go to Virginia Tech, and finish the season at South Carolina. If they win even three of those games Clemson could make some noise on a national level. But expect their solid talent to continue to be done in by poor coaching. 

5. Maryland

Chris: Last year Maryland started a freshman quarterback that led the team to a 9-4 record beating almost no one of note. Their biggest win came against NC State in a game that only three fan bases remember, Maryland's, NC State's, and FSU's. Their victory over NC State gave Florida State the Atlantic Division Championship and the honor of playing Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship. Maryland's quarterback, Dan O'Brien, might be the most solid quarterback in the ACC or at least the quarterback that we know the most about. That should let you know that the ACC is struggling at quarterback. 

Mitch: Everyone say it together "We must protect this house!" I didn't really research Maryland, mainly because they are Maryland.  

6. UNC

Pat: The Tar Heels are reeling from questions facing the program, as well as, an above average purge of remarkable talent to the NFL. The Tar Heels have holes to fill on offense, defense, and the sidelines. Bryn Renner had an optimistic showing in spring practice, a necessary desire for North Carolina success.  The wide-receiving core is good enough to help Renner adjust to T.J. Yeatts’ well-run position. The best thing going for the defense is the experienced they gained last year while their counterparts were forced to sit. Well, that and the three All-Americans that help form the front seven. Quinton Coples has been compared to names like Julius Peppers on the left side. Ideal optimism? We’ll see. But there’s no question he can hold his own, and could be the leader North Carolina needs with so many seniors gone. The Tar Heels could face weaknesses at Defensive Back and Halfback, but the most intriguing position of all is on the sidelines. Interim head coach Everett Withers has been put in a tumultuous position following the delayed firing of Butch Davis amidst controversy. This will be a make or break season for the future of the program and a large portion of it relies on the skills of Withers, on and off the field. The Tar Heels finish 5-3 in conference play.

Chris: Carolina is such a difficult team to rank preseason. They faced a lot of adversity last year with players discovering if they were eligible throughout different points of the season but Butch Davis kept the team together and they played well. Now Butch Davis is gone, in a sloppy dismissal by the University, and the team is now coached by Everett Withers and we don't know if he can handle the pressures of being a head coach. The talent on this team could help Carolina have a solid season or this team could self-destruct due to the off-field mess.  

7. Georgia Tech/UVA

Chris: "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer, 

A helluva, helluva, helluva, hell of an engineer, 

Like all the jolly good fellows, I drink my whiskey clear, 

I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer." 

Hands down best fight song in college football. Too bad there won't be that many touchdowns to hear this played. 

Mitch: Georgia Tech and that triple option. Maybe the Ewing Theory (see: Simmons, Bill) will kick in with Nesbit. It's a system and it's possible he grew too big for it. 

Chris: UVA is probably helped most by the scandals at UNC and Miami. We don't know what to expect from those Universities and UVA is on the rise. Mike London was a great hire by the University and has dedicated himself to recruiting hard in the state of Virginia. This team could potential finish second in the Coastal division almost by default. 

Mitch: At least they can still call themselves "Mr. Jefferson's University."

9. Boston College

Mitch: Competing with NC State as the Atlantic Division dark horse. Boston College grinds out at least eight wins every year and they upset a team because of their God awful November weather (watch out FSU). Plus, they have hogmollies like no other, on both lines every freaking year. If only they had Matty Ice again. 

Chris: Boston College goes on the road to Virginia Tech (though they don't seem to be scared of playing in Blacksburg) and Notre Dame. They do get FSU at home but the talent level shouldn't be close. I had to check to see who Boston College's head coach is, Frank Spaziani, and for a few years there they seemed to change every off-season. It seems that all the coaching changes finally diminished the talent level at Boston College. 

10. Miami

Pat: Though the Hurricanes are facing sanctions that could eliminate any near future for the program. The line-up for the U…niversity of Miami is all too appealing to miscarriage a successful season. The schedule they face is unforgiving with visits to Blacksburg, Tallahassee, College Park, and Chapel Hill, which could be an Achilles heel for the youthful squad. The only question is who will play? Jacory Harris has been announced as ineligible (along with 12 others), but he was already a concern of reliability. Harris’ preseason competition, Stephen Morris, will have to step up to the plate with the talent around him. If he can become a bit more dependable than Harris’ 1 to 1.1 touchdown/interception ratio of the previous year and his own 9-interception/7-touchdown spree, the talent at wide-out and running back could pull an 8 win season. We just feel for Al Golden…What a mess to inherit?

Chris: Ohhhhhhhhhhh Miami!! Thirteen players have already been declared ineligible until the NCAA says differently and there is really no time table for when the NCAA will make their ruling (See the University of North Carolina last year). The off the field mess will be too big to keep out of the locker room as the University could be struggling to keep the team and not catch the ultimate wrath of the NCAA, the dreaded "death penalty". Expect a tough season down there at the Sun Life, Landshark, Pro Player stadium, but don't worry there still won't be too many people there to see it. 

11. Duke/Wake

Mitch: A Good coach and a few talented players. Steve Spurrier was successful there because college football wasn't what it is today and the ACC didn't have FSU or Virginia Tech. Unfortunately for the few Duke football fans, academics are a priority. Duke would never make it in the SEC. 

Pat: You ever go to a fancy restaurant with all the accouterments (Editors Note: What?) that emphasize a quality meal? You anticipate everything from the fine wine to the 5-star filet…an all together unforgettable experience. You know that glass of water sitting just inside your reach at the table? The water you won’t touch while you anxiously anticipate a drink and a menu? Extensive metaphor, but analogous to the football season/basketball season quality and fan following in Durham. The Blue Devil nation does not awaken until November. Too bad, because the Devils should have a few impressive athletes on the field in early October. Quarterback play has been a hallmark of David Cutcliffe’s career. This year Sean Renfree will have a fine wide-out tandem with ACC leading receiver Conner Vernon and teammate Donovan Varner. The defense is another story. There are significant holes on defense that should cater to any foe’s running game. As unappetizing as a glass of water, the Blue Devils should fall well short of a .500 season, again.

Mitch: Poor Jim Grobe. He had a good year with a fluke collection of seniors and a down FSU team. He has a good system but not that good. Hey, thank God for Miami and UNC, oh...and, I guess, the NCAA's need to seem relevant and vaunt an antiquated idea of amateurism. 

Chris: Wake Forest and Boston College's big games are actually against the three same teams. Wake Forest will play Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Notre Dame all at home. Congratulations Wake Forest fans you will see exactly three good football teams this season. You will see one horrible team every weekend. That is your own. 

Thanks for your continued support of The Sports Party. 

The Sports Party: Episode 002

Mitch and I discuss Florida State's football and the upcoming college football season. We touch on Miami, the future of the NCAA and a couple other subjects.

Frank Beamer is 67. I said 73 which I think is my grandfather's age. I get them confused a lot.

Here's the link to Mitch's blog and the article we mentioned while discussing the future of the NCAA. The Process

Here's the photo we discussed while breaking down Miami's investigation

Thanks for your continued support of The Sports Party.

For the Love of the Game

I made a joke on twitter the other day that my favorite thing about the Little League World Series is that it's the last sporting event before college football begins. Every year I decide I am not going to watch the Little League World Series, I mean I barely even watch Major League Baseball, but then every year around this time I tune in and enjoy it.

The thing about the Little League World Series is that it's fun. These kids are enjoying playing baseball. There's no playing for a contract, there's no keeping your girlfriend separate from your wife in the stands, no steroids, no egos, it's just boys playing baseball and loving the game. When we were 12 we all had something we did because we loved it. It might have been baseball, soccer, ballet, reading or horseback riding (I tried to reach my small female audience a little bit there. Hey mom!) but whatever it was we did it because we loved it.

As we get older we stop doing those things either because of peer pressure, lack of time or your soccer career ends after high school. Whatever the reason it's sad that we don't do those things anymore. I haven't played competitive soccer since my senior year of high school, back in the fall of 2005, and I miss it. I got to play soccer everyday with some of my best friends at the time and with my younger brother. I was able to do something I loved with the people who meant the most to me. I am not sure that same type of experience exist as an adult.

Watching the Little League World Series takes me back to that time and it is fun to see those kids having those same experiences. As much fun as that is to see, it's just as tough to see the losing team moments after the last out. Those faces, with eyes full of tears, are tough to see. At that second those boys are crushed. One day, just like with the rest of us, those boys will look back at these moments and when they do, they won't remember the losses, they will remember what it was like to do something that you loved. No money, no grades, no promotions or deadlines, just baseball.

Friday Night Lights

The goal of this site is to write about sports, not to talk about my personal life but sometimes those two things intersect. In about an hour I will leave the house I moved into today and go to Fred T. Foard High School in Newton, North Carolina. Tonight the Fred T. Foard Tigers are playing the North Lincoln Knights at 7:30 and someone has to be there to cover the game. That person is me.

I am excited, a little nervous, but mainly excited. I haven't been to a high school football game in about five years and I am sure I never looked forward to one as much as I do the game tonight. It's crazy to think that on Monday I will have a piece published in an actual newspaper. It won't be anything flashy, just a basic game story, but it will have my name and possibly my picture above it.

Things are moving at a crazy speed right now. I moved today, I start work today and I start going to school full-time next week for the first time in a few years but this is all so much fun. I'm getting to do the things I am passionate about and that seems to make everything easier. And even with everything moving so quickly I am happy to stop, take a moment, and recognize how fun this all is.

The Sports Party: Episode 001

I am excited to present the first ever Sports Party podcast. This is a fun conversation with my friend Pat about the upcoming college football season and the University of North Carolina team.

Trouble Looming for Miami

This is not the Miami from Will Smith's "Welcome to Miami" this is Dexter's Miami. Prostitutes, abortions and bounties for injuring opposing players are just some of the allegations that the University of Miami's basketball and football teams have been accused of in this Yahoo!Sports article. The allegations are based on a former booster and his financial records in which he claims to have paid over $1 million over almost a ten-year span to over 72 players for housing, prostitutes, abortions and several other activities. This could very easily be the biggest thing the NCAA has ever faced.

The NCAA has been stepping up the past few years and trying to have a little more control over collegiate sports. It started at USC with Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo, then moved to the University of North Carolina and their players. Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, Auburn and Georgia Tech have all been or are currently being investigated. None of those seem to compare with what Miami is accused of and it should be noted that this is just an accusation at this point. An accusation made by a man that is serving 20 years in prison for creating a Ponzi scheme. He does not seem to be the most credible witness but he has financial records. Those financial records are exactly what could bring Miami down.

I hope these allegations are not true but if they are, Miami should be punished in a way we haven't seen over the past few years. I don't know if they deserve the SMU death penalty but I have a hard time believing the ACC is going to feel comfortable being associated with Miami. Miami isn't an original ACC team and I don't believe the ACC would have a huge problem disassociating themselves with the University. I don't think expulsion from the league is likely but it very well could happen if the allegations are proven true. There will be forfeited wins, loss of scholarships, post-season bans and fines levied on Miami if any of these allegations stick but the level of things being accused probably deserves much more in punishment. Hold on for the next few months, this thing in Miami is going to get real ugly.

Top 5 Games of the 2011 Season

Every year there are games that you can circle on your calendar at the beginning of the season. Before the season started I wanted to help in your planning and give you the top five games for 2011.

5. Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech (November 10)

These two programs have won the ACC Championship the last four years, Virginia Tech in 2007, 2008, 2010 and Georgia Tech in 2009 though they recently had to vacate that title due to NCAA violations, and this match-up has proved to be one of the best in the ACC. The last three seasons the average margin of victory has been 5 points in closely contested battles and these two teams are quickly becoming rivals as they compete for the Coastal championship. A late season match-up in Atlanta should once again prove to be a good game as the Coastal Division title could once again come down to these two teams and, if not, bragging rights will definitely be on the line in this budding rivalry.

4. Arkansas-Texas A&M (October 1)

This game takes an interesting turn with Texas A&M doing their best to join the SEC and this will be a good chance to see how the compare to a middle of the road SEC team, a middle of the road SEC team that still starts the season ranked 14th in the country. Arkansas lost their running back, Knile Davis, and they have to replace their quarterback from last year, Ryan Mallet, but have a sneaky offensive genius in Bobby Petrino. Arkansas will be a tough test for a Texas A&M team who has their eyes on the Big 12 Championship and more this season.

3. LSU-Oregon (September 3)

Our first big match-up of the season, though it could be second depending which game starts first this one or the Boise State-Georgia game, both are supposed to kickoff at 8. We have the loser of last years National Championship and the preseason 3rd ranked team in the country in Oregon and the team ranked 4th in the preseason polls in LSU competing in the first week of the season. The explosive offense of Oregon meets the tough defense of LSU and the game will be played in the huge Cowboys Stadium, which is following the precedent of big time non-conference games played in neutral locations.

2. Alabama-LSU (November 5)

The thing with the SEC is you could almost select a match-up in any particular week and find a game that could go on this list so I picked the one I am most excited about. Two teams that are ranked in the preseason top 5 and both have chances at SEC and National titles. Both teams bring in a great deal of talent and great coaches and should both have excellent seasons. This match-up with help determine the SEC West Division champion and probably have big implications for the National Champion as well.

1. FSU-Oklahoma (September 17)

This match-up has the number one team in the country playing the number five ranked team in the country. Both teams should still be ranked there has the toughest match-up for either team is when Oklahoma plays Tulsa on September 3. FSU will play Louisiana-Monroe and Charleston Southern before their game against Oklahoma. This game will have a team that has spent years at the top of the polls and a team trying to recapture their former position there. A win here would show that both FSU and the ACC need to paid attention too.

Honorable Mentions: Boise State-Georgia (September 3), Ohio State-Miami (September 17), Oklahoma-Texas (October 8)

If there are other games you are excited for throw them down in the comments section. Thanks for your continued support of The Sports Party.

Summer Vacay?

This week has been slightly crazy and I have not been able to give this site the time I wanted to give it. There were times I could have posted something but I didn't have the time to put something on here I could be proud of. So I took the week off but have felt guilty everyday. I started this is a place I wanted to write everyday to prepare myself for having to write everyday (hopefully). This week life caught up with me though. I know I promised a college football preview this week but I'll be one week off and start it Monday. The first Sports Party podcast should be this week if I can work out all the bugs.Welcome back to The Sports Party.

One Month Anniversary!!

One month ago my friend Drew threw out the name The Sports Party on twitter and I realized I finally had my blog name. I have spent the last few years dreaming about writing about sports and in the span of just a few days I got a job doing game stories for high school football and started this blog. Exciting times for a young writer.

Even more exciting is the next few weeks and months with this blog. The college football preview starts on Monday(!!!) and there is a plan to begin a podcast shortly after that. I have even looked into the possibility of having a live chat during a big college or NFL game. I would love for the comments section to become big on the site as well and I will do my best to give better articles to discuss.

I want to thank everyone for continuing to support The Sports Party. I would still probably do this if no one was reading but it helps knowing that people are reading what I have to say. I want to publicly thank Mitch Cumstein  for writing on the blog a few times when I wasn't able and for allowing me to pester him with questions about the blog. I've told him before and I will say it again the first dollar I get paid writing about sports is his.

Come back Monday to usher in the start of college football coverage. Enjoy your weekend folks.

Jersey Shore

There aren't many good teams in the sports that have bad looking jerseys, outside of Oregon's football team. "Look good, play good" is a motto I will always stand by. (Looking back at pictures from when I played high school soccer I had a beard and long hair which shows I didn't always follow this saying.) To celebrate good looking jerseys I am going to take a look at some of the greatest jerseys and equipment of all-time. 

FSU's Nike Pro Combat Helmet

Over the last few years Nike has introduced their Pro Combat line by unveiling new jerseys for select universities. Nike has used Virginia Tech, Florida, TCU, Ohio State, Michigan and several other universities to show off this new equipment. But my favorite piece from all the different universities is the helmet FSU wore last year for their Pro Combat jerseys. The design of the helmet looks great, the spear looks amazing, and I really like the all-black helmet. The rest of the jersey was nice but this helmet was really my favorite piece. 

Virginia Tech's White Helmet

Virginia Tech unveiled these a few seasons ago and they quickly became my favorite helmet the team has worn the last few years. Very simple white helmet with an orange state of Virginia and TECH written out in maroon. 

Golden State's Throwback Jersey

I really enjoy this jersey and this is probably my favorite NBA throwback. Nice color scheme with the blue and yellow and I love the state of California with the star over Oakland. 

Oklahoma City's Jerseys

I really just like simple, basic jerseys and this is a perfect example. Logo's can be done well, as in the Golden State throwback, but this jersey has no logo, just the name of the city. Orange and blue are two colors many would assume that would work together but the small orange trim really works on this jersey. 

Washington Wizards 2011 Jerseys

The NBA team in our nation's capital needs to be wearing red, white and blue and (maybe) this year the Wizards will be doing just that. They will actually be wearing jerseys very similar to the Washington Bullets, which was the name of the franchise until the late 90s. My patriotism swells just by looking at John Wall. The Wizards made a great choice by going back to these jerseys.

Old Pittsburgh Pirate's Hat

I can't wear baseball hats they just make me look funny. It wouldn't be as bad if all hats looked like the ones that the Pirates used to wear. The hats were deep, most likely to keep afros underneath them, and didn't seem to fit anyone correctly. But they looked cool and the Pirates were able to win the World Series in those hats in 1979 so maybe it's time to bring them back. 

If you have another favorite jersey throw it down in the comment section. There have been a lot of great jerseys over the years so I know I missed some classics. 

Throwback Tuesday

On Tuesday I take the time to look back at sports moments that stand out to me in a series called "Throwback Tuesday". Today I am going to look back at the summer of 1999 and relive the home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Obviously this moment is tainted by the admission of steroid use by McGwire and the allegations of steroid use against Sosa but that summer can still be looked at as one off the biggest sports moments in American history.

The 1994 Major League Baseball post-season was cancelled due to a strike by the players and in 1999 the sport was still reeling from the effects of the lockout. Fans were still not supporting baseball in the same way they had before the lockout. Baseball was struggling and the sport needed to bring back fans to the sport and that's what baseball got with McGwire and Sosa.

We learned that summer that not only do "Chicks dig the long ball" but the rest of America does as well. McGwire would finish with 65 home runs and Sosa with 63 and as they continued to hit home runs it was big news across the country. The country was fascinated as these larger than life athletes crushed the ball deep into the stands. We love to see home runs and these two players were fulfilling our desire on an almost nightly basis. They were pushing each other to a different level and the home run chase enthralled us.

I remember this being the first time I actively turned on SportsCenter to find out what happened the night before with McGwire and Sosa. I have memories of eating breakfast and watching SportsCenter which has since become a morning tradition. At 11 you see these huge men smashing home runs and your imagination runs wild. I thought I could become Mark McGwire and hit home runs like he could, just like I thought I could be Michael Jordan and win NBA Championships. That summer was one of those moments that help build your love of sports and get a young kid dreaming of what he can grow up to be.

So looking back this moment is not as pure as it seemed to be in time. McGwire and Sosa were aided by steroids to reach the lofty home runs totals they achieved but what it meant to my development as a sports fan cannot be taken away. It helped bring fans back to baseball in droves. We fell in love with both men, and though they would let us down over the next few years, we were drawn in that summer and enjoyed the home run chase.

Thanks for your continued support of The Sports Party.

The Weekend That Was

Here are a few observations from the weekend.

Move out of the way July it's time for August! All the NFL teams have started training camp and college teams will report and begin practice this week. Baseball's trading deadline passed on Sunday and the pennant races are heating up as the MLB's regular season ends on September 28. Tiger Woods is playing in a tournament this weekend after not playing since The Players Championship in May and the US Open in Tennis begins at the end of this month. We got through the slow part of the summer and we are headed into the fall. Congratulations everyone. 

The problem with subleasing a room in an apartment is when everyone else leaves they take all their stuff with them and then you don't have a television. This was no fun this morning when I wasn't able to watch SportsCenter while eating my eggs.

When the band at a bar tries to leave after their intermission they will probably play an uninspired second half of their set. 

Kobe Bryant does have some soccer skills or can at least juggle pretty well. That PK seems block-able though. Uninspired goalie there.

Girls like to dance to Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show. Note that younger males if you ever want to dance with a girl play this song. (This might only work in North Carolina but I doubt it)

In five weekends we will be watching college football.

The Philadelphia Eagles are going to be picked a lot on Madden this year. The team improved their defense by getting two new corners Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and two new defensive linemen Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins. The offense already has Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek, and DeSean Jackson. The Eagles have been aggressive in free agency and will be a lot of people's choice to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. 

When people are more interested in playing darts where the band is set up at than actually listening to the band, then they probably didn't need to play that second set anyway. 

The US Men's National Soccer team hired former German National team coach and player, Juergen Klinsmann, to be the teams new coach. This is a great hire for the US as Klinsmann is international respected as a player and with his work as an international coach. Klinsmann won a World Cup with Germany as a player in 1990 and took the team to a third place finish as a coach in 2006. Fans should be very excited about this hire and what it means for the Men's National program moving forward.

Thanks for you continued support of The Sports Party.