The Dugout - October 29
Important Announcement
People. The NBA has returned! No more long winter days without hoops and alley-oops. Without layups and drives and fouls and clutch threes. So take a moment now to be grateful for what we are about to consume (sportingly) and pour one out for the teams whose seasons are already gone. I’m looking at you, Tank-adelphia.
MLB World Series
There will be one more game of baseball this season: Game 7.
That’s because Kansas City found a little offence to run away with the sixth game after dropping the previous two giving San Fran the chance to claim the title. The dream is still alive for both teams.
I could try make predictions but there are none to be made. These teams have clashed and split so far, whatever happens next is at the whim of the Gods. I’m not brave enough to even toss a coin. I don’t even want to. I just wanna sit there all afternoon tomorrow and soak up the most pressure filled, momentous occasion in baseball – A World Series decider.
Game 7: San Francisco Giants @ Kansas City Royals, 1.07pm Thursday afternoon (NZT).
NFL Week 8
And now we see why I was reluctant to get so excited over the Dallas Cowboys. As soon as either Tony Romo or DeMarco Murray gets hurt, they look a different team. Both guys have serious injury history too. The overtime loss against the Washington Pro Football Team wasn’t the fault of Romo getting hurt or coming back, it was more blown opportunities, struggles against third down blitzes and a few defensive struggles. We all thought they’d be an awful defence, but the offence keeps them off the field a lot and they’ve been something close to average – waaaay better than predicted. Hell, even Brandon Weeden was kinda great. But you can’t help but wonder if things woulda been different if he’d been able to punch his first drive in for a TD, or if Murray hadn’t got greedy and fumbled in the first half 10 yards out. They’re better than this, though probably not quite as good as the win streak had folk thinking. As a ‘Boys fan myself, the goal is a playoff win as it has been all season.
The Falcons managed to make it to London, in fact it was the Lions that seemed lost when Atlanta found themselves 21-0 up. But D-Town rallied and good Lord whouldja believe it – they won on a field goal! Well, they did their best to blow it, Matt Prater actually missed it at first but the kick came after the play clock expired and he got to have another go from 5 yards back.
The Denver Broncos showed their pedigree in beating a superb San Diego team. Denver are the clear favourites right now, especially with Seattle slumping a bit. The Seahawks snapped their 2-game loss streak but only just, they beat Panthers 13-9. The Bengals took down the Ravens in a close one between a couple playoff likely teams, while the Chiefs were too good for the Rams and the Cardinals beat the Eagles in a game that could have gone either way.
The stars of the week were a couple aging QBs. Big Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady were outstanding. Hence the Patriots annihilated the woeful Bears and the Steelers held off Andrew Luck. Mr Luck looks unplayable at times, especially in the fourth quarter, though he’s making the odd mistake early on.
Arian Foster was great as the Texans beat the Titans, as was Sammy Watkins for the Bills in beating the Jets. The Vikings won on a pick-6 in OT against Tampa Bay and the Browns avoided losing to 0-6 teams back to back with a win over the Raiders. The Dolphins were expectedly too good for Jacksonville while New Orleans had their best game in ages to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
Power Rankings:
- Denver Broncos
- Arizona Cardinals
- Dallas Cowboys
- San Diego Chargers
- Detroit Lions
- New England Patriots
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Indianapolis Colts
- Green Bay Packers
- Seattle Seahawks
No, I’m The ‘OTHER’ Anthony Davis!
Pop’s IV Game Is In Midseason Form
As Is His Beard
Spare A Moment For Vintage Steve Nash
Weekly Pondering:
I’m picking this stretch of time without Kevin Durant as a massive explosion form Russell Westbrook. I think he’ll thrive playing as the leader of a team, something he’s never been able to do for an extended period. He’ll run things through himself, shooting often but moving the ball quickly too. Look for increased maturity and leadership, with more assists and plenty of Steven Adams screens. OKC need others to step up with the scoring too, so if they do well there’ll be other heroes too. There’s a thought that Westbrook will be out the door come free agency. LA Lakers? This time will be a great indication of the kind of player teams will be recruiting, and it may just give him a taste he’s keen to keep tasting.
Quote of the Week:
"I told him every dinner on the road this year is on him because it's my money anyway."
- Dirk Nowitzki on Chandler Parsons, who signed a big money deal with the Dallas Mavericks after Dirk took a pay cut to free up cap space.
Runner Up
Fan of the Week:
Good Week:
Rob Gronkowski & Tom Brady (New England Patriots) – They always say when these two are both playing, the Pats are a different side. Just look what they teamed up to do against the Bears. Brady went 30-35 for 354 yards and 5 TDs, with Gronk grabbing 9 of those passes, 149 of those yards and 3 of those TDs.
Colt McCoy (Washington PFT) – 25/30, 299 yards. No TD passes, but he ran for one and completed a bunch of crucial third downs. Not bad for a guy who last played at Cowboys Stadium in college with Texas in 2009. It’d been 3 years since he won an NFL game as a starter.
Madison Bumgarner (San Francisco Giants) – Game 5 is often the most important in 7 game series. Well, in comes Bumgarner and he tosses a complete game shutout. He has an ERA or 1.13 for the entire postseason. Just incredible.
Bad Week:
Geno Smith (New York Jets) – Benched midway through the Bills game after throwing 3 picks in just 8 passes, in came Mickey Vick, who wasn’t especially great, but he’s been given the starting job for the foreseeable future. I’d say that’s just about that for Geno in NY. Next on the chopping board will probably be Rex Ryan, sadly.
The Chicago Bears – What a mess.
Player of the Week:
Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) – One of the proudest moments of my sportswriting life, nay my life as a whole, was the moment I realised that I knew how to spell ‘Roethlisberger’. Big Ben had a day so impressive against the Colts that you immediately realised why this man has multiple Superbowls. He gets forgotten a bit behind Brady/Manning but he’s still great. Unfortunately his team went south before Brady’s ever will and Manning jumped ship to Denver (and the Colts are still pretty damn decent). Big Ben threw 522 yards and 6 TDs. Monstrous.
Upcoming Dates (NZ Time):
October 29 - NBA Regular Season Begins (TODAY!)
January 4 - NFL Playoffs Begin
February 2 - Superbowl XLIX