***Pre-Season Picks to Win Super Bowl in 2014

Below I have ranked the teams with their (clearly) pre-season odds of winning the Super Bowl.  I will start with my favorite to win and, then detail a little bit about why I think they (each team) has a serious shot at the SB. 

The Denver Broncos--- I believe that they have odds @ (3-1).  Peyton will have tons of fire power. The team is largely intact from last year.  They also acquired a couple great players on "d".  If they do not win it; it will be because Peyton throws an interception and, loses a playoff game.  In all of Peyton's greatness he still loses big games.  No, truly "GREAT" qb has been given so many opportunities and, come away with so little.  Yes, I understand he won a SB already.  But, often he finds a way to lose the big ones.

The San Francisco 49ers-----I believe that they have odds @ (5-1).  As long as Kaepernick(?) is healthy I think they can go a long way.  His mobility makes me nervous & excited to see how they do this year.  They have lost almost no players at all.  Strangely, enough for being as great as they appear to be; they may not win their division.

The New England Patriots------I believe that they have odds @ (6-1).  Tom Brady, Belichick, they always find a way to be in the hunt.  They just do.  Tom Brady always seems to "will" the game no matter what the circumstances are.  Downside on the Patriots is a  young and, inexperienced receiving corp that could drop balls in a playoff run.

The Seattle Seahawks-------I believe that they have odds @ (9-1).  They have beefed up some serious players that are young.  This team has only upside.  This team could easily be talked about for the next 4 years for SB contention.  I take them as the fourth best odds b/c their inexperience could be suspect come playoff time.   

It will be interesting to revisit this particular blog come January and, see how the season has panned out.  I will be shocked if these teams don't make the playoffs.  I think there is a really good shot that these could be the NFC and, AFC championship matchups. 

Paul E. Spors
7-28-2013 

MLB Baseball's "OTHER" problem****

Actually the NBA also in a way has this problem.  The problem that they play way too many games.  Particularly in baseball that they play 7 consecutive nights sometimes; is a problem. I believe that the game is too accessible to the average fan.  Hence, the true demand for baseball drops.  Why buy a ticket today when I can go...tomorrow.  Not only that; from May to about October its like this.  If you can't see your team all the time then maybe people will pay more for their tickets. 

The teams that are average or, below average tend to also be affected more by too much accessibility.  The idea for this specific blog came from me looking into buying Detroit Tigers tickets.  Supposedly, the Tigers have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball.  Scherzer, Verlander, and, Sanchez and I can get a ticket for $7.00 (granted in the upper deck).  This is crazy to me.  Now as a fan; I'm happy the tickets are $7 but, my first thought was....I'll wait.  If in two weeks they still have 40 tickets in the section I want; I'll buy them then.  If they played less games this ticket is $14.50 and still gets sold.  It makes me wonder what management of these pro-MLB teams really think of the product on the field.  Even if they really and, truly back it hard; demand for these games must be crazily affected by the enormously large number of games played. 

My idea for the MLB to counteract this problem is this.  Play half as many games from start of season to the third week of June.  Play the same of number of games (as currently played) from the 3rd week of June to the first week of August.  All of August play at most 4 games a week.  Then play September as currently set up. So as to create a push to the playoffs.  Or, expand playoff structure so 2 more teams make the playoffs in each bracket.  This playoff expansion can cut the regular season off at Sept. 20th and, then hype the playoffs. Make even more $ in the playoffs due to jersey sales and, increased ticket prices etc. With 2 more teams making the playoffs in AL & NL the quality of play will not be a detriment.  And, since they played less games (in Aug) will hopefully be healthier for a great showdown to finish the season with excitement and, higher ticket prices for owners. 

Paul E. Spors
7-28-2013     

CHOKING GF by MTSU player(s)

Wow, the fact that we have come to this is amazing.  I recommend that you view this article in conjunction with my post.  These (3) dudes appear to be redshirt sophomores.  Which is funny cuz they don't even start.  This is my official plee to NFL teams and, all collegiate sporting teams (particularly b-ball and football).  Please, look into a person's background and viability as being "college" material before letting them be on the "team".  I don't believe for 1 second that this is a racial thing; however I do believe it to be a morality thing.  Maybe, just maybe if we as a nation started profiling players before (or even during) looking at their stats. as to their moral past; we could promote our sport(s) better.  Going further, I do not believe that by looking at moral fitness that quality of play on field/court will be influenced one bit.  In fact, I believe that it will enhance it.  It will bring better ambassadors to the sport(s) arena (not intended to be a pun).  Particularly, basketball and football are team games.  In general, they do not live and die by any 1 player on their team.  Keeping this in mind; I think teams everywhere should be very selective about who they use to represent their school/team.  From now on....I promise that I will think of Middle Tennessee State as..."Isn't that where they had those dudes who choked they girl!?"

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/middle-tennessee-state-player-jd-jones-seen-choking-woman-on-tape-while-teammates-watch-072213

Paul E. Spors
7-23-2013

Ryan Braun Suspension****

It seems strange to me that Ryan Braun is the first domino to fall in the most recent round of drug abuse/misuse in the MLB.  First of all, my gut suspicion says that there are many (2-3) other big name guys that are "active" on rosters involved with this story.  Ryan Braun and, A-Rod are both the 2 names that keep coming up on this list of drug abuse.  Where are the guys that hit homers and, are offensive power houses for their teams?  Now let me be clear; I am not accusing any "one" player at this point.  But, I find it very, very convenient that Braun and A-Rod are the guys that the media and, MLB keep pointing to.  Its ok to point the finger at them b/c everybody knows that when you do steroids you start to play poorly or, have an injury to your thumb. 

On a side note; Why is Joe Girardi talking about how the game has cleaned up?  Really!? They (MLB) went like 15 years (something like 6-7 for darn certain) of knowing that this was going on and, did "NOTHING".  They had no problem taking that money from fans while Barry blasted it 500 feet.  We had no idea what was going on! Really!?  As far as I'm concerned Girardi in a very strange way....I think the game is as dirty as ever.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why baseball's popularity over the last 20 years in general has dropped.  Moms want their kids to play soccer b/c they don't want them to do steroids.  Don't worry when the NFL (due to safety issues/concussions) and MLB (due to steroids) can't get kids to play on the school yard; soccer will be there to pick up the pieces. 

Paul E. Spors
7-23-2013

Take Away His Cape!

Max Scherzer finally gets a loss.  As far as, I'm concerned so far he is the biggest story of the 2013 baseball season.  Giving up four runs and, not getting enough run support from an explosive offensive unit caused this loss.  It is almost a foregone conclusion that proportionately he will be the best pitcher this year and, we aren't even to the All-Star break yet.  The one big question I have is....At the end of the 2014 season will the Tigers be able to afford this type of an arm.  Or, can we get Verlander back to "out of this world" type pitching to the put the Tigers into real serious contention again. 

Along, with getting pitching straight and, riding Scherzer hard.  The Tigers should be able to make the playoffs and, make a deep run.  I am excited to see how Scherzer does the rest of the year and, ultimately see how he finishes his contract.   Are we looking at the next Yankee? 

Paul E. Spors

7-14-2013 

LeBron VS JORDAN

First, of all let me say that there is no way in "H" that LeBron is leaving Miami.  They're crazy if you think; he thought about this for one second.  The Heat are poised to be "THE" title contender for next year.  Onto, my point...Every era has their legends.  When I was 10 y.o. I didn't think it was possible to have anybody be better than Jordan.  I think that it is time; if you haven't already to visit or, revisit the...."IS LEBRON BETTER THAN JORDAN?" question.  At this point in time of being the same age LeBron and Jordan have the same number of titles. 
Admittedly, when LeBron, Bosh, and D-wade went to Miami in that super ridiculous media conference and, they said not 5, not 6, 7 championships....I laughed.  And, I laughed real hard.  Now no one can predict the future.  And, Erik Spoelstra is not Phil Jackson.  Albeit, that I do like Spoelstra.  The following are some questions that you should ponder.....
1. What would it look like if LeBron developed a "kill" mentality that Jordan had? (B/c currently I don't think he has it in him or, rather hasn't developed it.) 
2. Who is better defensively Jordan or LeBron?
3.  What would LeBron have looked like/been like had he been on the Bulls instead of Jordan and, vice versa?

I don't think for one second that someone would dispute LeBron being a better passer than Jordan.  As far as, question 3 is concerned....I believe Jordan had a much better team around him than LeBron ever thought of.  So the question continues is LeBron better than Jordan? 

Paul E. Spors
7-14-2013