Rays to the World Series

So, in May I made a bet with a friend. As my dad will tell you, betting against me is not prudent, especially when it is a sports related bet. Anyway, back in may i bet my friend that the rays would make the playoffs this year. He laughed at me, we named the terms and we shook hands. Long story short, the worst team in baseball over the last decade finished the regular season atop the AL east (arguably the best division in baseball), secured a spot in the playoffs and subsequently laid waste to the white sox and caught fire then overcame a slump against the red sox (in short, the rays did a few loads of laundry). Now it is down to the rays and the phillies. I am proud of the rays. The only problem is, now that they are successful and are catching everyones attention, the rays that i knew will surely disappear. All through law school i have the fond memories of rounding up a few buddies after class on a thursday, driving 10 minutes to the trop, parking for free, tailgating in the shadow of the stadium and walking up to the ticket office to buy tickets for $10 as the game was starting. Earlier this season we ran into matt garza (the star pitcher of last nights game)at a hole in the wall beach bar less than a mile from school. He was nice as can be and talked to us for a long time. Ashley then challenged him (facetiously....kind of) to a throwing contest. Her claim to fame is winning the little league world series in softball as the starting shortstop some years back, so naturally she likes to talk smack. He laughed and was joking with us about how he can only get up to 98mph when he has a fresh arm. Anyway, it is refreshing to have been a part of the rays club while it had a sandlot atmosphere. It almost had a college feeling to it. Players played their hearts out for the love of the game. Our entire lineup, bullpen and coaching staff make less than the 3rd base/shortstop portion of the yankees infield. They all wear mohawks to promote team unity (even the white haired manager joe maddon) Something about that is appealing, and if they can maintain that intensity, I don't see how they could lose the world series.

8th Week Recap

Hello fellow bloggers. As I write this I am at Terry & Henry Christiansen's in Miami watching the Dolphins on TV with Henry, Terry and Ayi. We sure are a sports-crazed family. On the way down to Miami I called my brother Rick who was on his way to Dolphin Stadium with Pity to watch the Dolphins v Ravens. He had an extra ticket and offered it to me. I was sorely tempted because at the very instant we were on the phone I could see Dolphin Stadium from the Turnpike. But I didn't want to let Ayi down who was waiting for me at the Christianson's. Also, as I write this, my son, John is headed to Tampa with his UF roomate to watch the Tampa Bay Bucks at Buck's stadium tonight. I love this blog. It sure has brought us together and serves multiple purposes. For example, yesterday I was chilling at home with my boys watching football (while Rhonda shopped) when I texted Victor about the USC - Wazzu game and realized he was out and about, so at his request, I kept him up on the score until it became such a rout he no longer needed updates. Later I was watching the LSU - So Carolina game and texted Luisleon when So Carolina went up one score. Luisleon, who is a resort executive by day and a rock star by night, happened to be playing guitar with his band at the time and asked me to keep him up to date. Following is the transcript from our hilarious text exchanges late last night. When So Carolina went up one score I initiated the first text message:

• Joaq: "Concho!"
• Luisleon: "Papi, I'm so p'd over FL, I'm not even watching the game. Shoot me a score! (Lie if you need to)
• Joaq: "So Carolina 17 LSU 10"
• Luisleon: "I said lie!"
• Joaq: "Ok. LSU 52 So Carolina 0"
• Luisleon: "Thank You --now that's a true friend for you!!! Me cago en la madre de LSU!!
• Joaq: 17-17
• Luisleon: "Only took them, 8min to score! Wow, we may be turning around the offense! (Not)
• Joaq: "Watch out for the Ole Ball Coach! Carolina is putting together a drive!"
• Joaq: "LSU intercepted!"
• Joaq: :"LSU in red zone."
• Joaq: "Touchdown LSU!"
• Luisleon: "We gonna win????"
• Joaq: "Yep. Geaux Tigers"
• Luisleon: "Ok, I can watch now."
• Joaq: "Victory formation. Game over. Congrats."
• Luisleon: "I've actually been playing guitar in band tonight! Appreciate the updates. Go Gators! Chomp! Chomp!"
• Joaq: "Go forth and beat Georgia and Alabama so we can meet again in Atlanta! Good night!"

And now for the weekly recap:

• USC 69 Washington State 0 - A total and absolute rout. Mark Sanchez became the first USC quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in a half and the focused No. 6 Trojans dominated this time as a huge favorite, beating Washington State 69-0 on Saturday a month after they were upset by Oregon State. USC's defense, ranked first in the nation coming in by allowing just 9.4 points per game, ended the Cougars' streak of scoring at 280 games dating to Sept. 15, 1984, when Ohio State beat Washington State 44-0. That scoring streak was second-longest in the nation to Michigan's 295 games. "Our guys had a ball playing football today, from the locker room on out," coach Pete Carroll said. "Right from the start, we wanted to find that focus that we really hadn't had yet." It was the largest shutout victory for USC (5-1, 3-1 Pac-10) since a 69-0 win over Montana in 1931. Congrats, cousins!

• Texas Tech 43 Texas A&M 25 - No. 7 Texas Tech beat Texas A&M 43-25 on Saturday, giving the Red Raiders their best start in 32 years. Harrell completed 44 of 56 passes for 450 yards as the Red Raiders moved to 7-0 -- 3-0 in the Big 12 -- after beating A&M for the seventh time in eight meetings. Sorry, Aggiepete.

• LSU 24 So Carolina 17 - LSU's defense wasn't going to let this one get away. LSU avoided losing back-to-back games for the first time since 2001. The Tigers posted a season-high six sacks. South Carolina, which had its four-game winning streak snapped, had three turnovers and now has 23 on the season. The No. 13 Tigers held South Carolina to minus-7 yards in the fourth quarter and sacked first-time Gamecocks starter Stephen Garcia six times in a 24-17 victory Saturday night. With LSU (5-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) down by seven at halftime after allowing two touchdowns in the last 3 minutes of the second quarter, end Kirston Pittman said the defense resolved to stiffen and not collapse like it did in allowing Florida to score 31 second half points in a 51-21 loss last week. Congrats, Luisleon

• Iowa 38 Wisconsin 16 - Shonn Greene just keeps getting better -- and the resurgent Hawkeyes are following his lead. Greene rushed for a career-high 217 yards and four touchdowns and Iowa pounded reeling Wisconsin 38-16 on Saturday, sending the Badgers to their first 0-4 start in the Big Ten since 1996. Congrats, Big Ten Ted!

• Bucknell 27 Georgetown 24 - A dissapointing squeaker! Marcello Trigg threw two second-half touchdown passes and Andrew Lair for 122 yards and a score to lead Bucknell to a 27-24 win over Georgetown on Saturday. Trigg threw a 15-yard touchdown to Shaun Pasternak in the third quarter. The extra point was missed, but following a Hoyas turnover, Pasternak caught a 15-yard passing score from Trigg to put the Bison 4-2, 1-0 Patriot League) ahead 27-17 in the fourth. The Hoyas (1-4, 0-3) cut the lead to 27-24 with 3:48 remaining in the fourth when James Brady found Collin Meador for a 5-yard touchdown, but Georgetown pulled no closer. Sorry, Willy. Maybe next week!

8th Week Upcoming Games

Upcoming Games for the principal blog participants for Saturday October 18th:

• 12:03 PM ETWisconsin at Iowa TV Big Ten Network

• 12:10 PM ET No. 7 Texas Tech at Texas A&M

• 1:00 PM ET Bucknell at Georgetown

• 3:30 PM ET No. 6 USC at Washington State

• 8:00 PM ET

  No. 13 LSU at South Carolina

• Florida has a bye week getting ready for Kentucky.

Best of luck to all the bloggers, specially Luisleon. Go forth and beat the old ball coach! Remember to click on the title above for a complete schedule of all Div 1 teams.

Depression / Angst and Hoyas

Please excuse me if I chose, albiet momentarily, to not participate in the colloquial banter of such a lofty blog, but when faced with the events and the record of the last few weeks, both financially and the pigskin, I can not but ask myself; when will it end? It is perhaps in the deepest moments of depression, with the Angels out of the playoffs, with the Hoyas wollowing in abject destitution, that I must turn to the wonderful news that the stock market is now only a negative 48% year to date. As Eeyore states: "Oh well ... thanks for noticing me."

Terrific Pictures: Elena Katnik, Jose, Victor, Nora & Annie

To the right are some absolutely wonderful pictures of Elena Katnik, Jose Cueto, Victor Cueto & Nora Clayton during those glorious moments in "tailgate heaven" before the USC - Oregon game. Below those pictures is one of Nora and Annie Katnik at Moonshadows -- a great restaurant in Malibu. Looks like the weather was "football terrific". Here in Florida, at the Swamp, we usually have to wait for November games before we can wear jackets. I'm envious. Way to go Coast-to-Coast tailgaters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please click on the title to this post above "Terrific Pictures..." and it will take you to a Picassa Web Album where you can see a slideshow of the photos in higher resolution. Enjoy!

Some Things Should Never Be Said

This past Monday LSU defensive lineman, Ricky Jean-Francois, told the press that if he got a clean shot at Tebow, he would try to take him out of the game for good. There was no room for misunderstanding. The LSU lineman told the world, clearly and unequivocally, that he would intentionally hurt Tebow seriously and permanently, if he got the opportunity. Tebow, characteristically, downplayed the comment. After all, last year before the LSU game some LSU fans got Tebow's cell number and peppered him with calls filled with obscenities and death threats. Tebow took it all with a grain of salt. The comment last Monday by the LSU lineman was different. It was public and direct. Unlike Tebow, UF Defensive Coordinator, Dan Mullen, took the comment seriously and told the press that "Intentionally injuring other players is not part of the game that we teach here at UF." LSU public relations issued a statement on Tuesday trying to do damage control and basically saying that Jean-Francois didn't mean to say what he said. But the damage was done. Jean-Francois did not travel with LSU to Gainesville. He stayed behind at Baton Rouge, reportedly as a result of a heretofore undisclosed "groin" injury. Nobody believes that. Not even in Baton Rouge. Unless the groin injury was the result of Les Miles kicking him in the nuts while screaming, "You stupid fool! You just lost Saturday's game!" College football is a highly emotional game. That's why we all love it so much. But some things go beyond the pale. They also fire up the other team beyond all understanding or measurement. The mood in Gainesville, inside the Gator locker room, all over the Gator Nation, this past week was off the charts. All seismic data coming from campus sensors were forecasting a major volcanic explosion. Florida was going to beat LSU and beat them bad, very bad. It was a pre-ordained rout. That's why I gave you all a heads up on the Pickem game. Jason also piped in that it was going to be by a lot of points. Victor knows that I generally don't predict victories. He knows I worry if we're playing the Sisters of Charity. Not this time. I was so sure that UF was going to beat LSU I would have bet whatever's left of my stock portfolio. Obviously Vegas had some inside information because the line was in favor of the Gators, even though UF was #12 and LSU #4 at the time. There was a lot of furious text chatter between Gators all week, specially among the Fraxedas clan. But I was so angry personally that I didn't want to post something I would later regret. In any event, I feel better now. Actually, in retrospect, here's hoping that somebody from Georgia or Kentucky or So Carolina or FSU runs their mouth about taking Tebow out. Any takers? Anybody????

7th Week Recap

• Iowa 45 Indiana 9 - Playing most of the game on a short field, using a masterful offensive game plan and clamping down a suffocating defense Iowa gained a decisive 45-9 victory over Indiana Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Stadium. The win gives the Hawkeyes a 4-3 overall record, 1-2 in the Big Ten Conference. The Hoosiers are 2-4, 0-3. "This was a team win all the way," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. "It's a great feeling for our players. They've been playing tough and all three areas contributed to the victory." Iowa, arguably the best 3-3 team in the nation entering today's game, is now staking claim to being the best 4-3 team in the land. Congratulations Hawkeye Ted!!!!!

• Kansas State 44 Texas A&M 30 - Josh Freeman completed 21 of 26 passes and ran for four touchdowns as Kansas State snapped its five-game losing streak to Texas A&M with a 44-30 win Saturday. Courtney Herndon returned a blocked punt for a touchdown for the Wildcats (4-2, 1-1 Big 12), who moved the ball at will in the first half and led 27-10 at the break. Sophomore quarterback Jerrod Johnson tried to rally the Aggies, but the comeback stalled when Kansas State's defense stuffed Jorvorskie Lane twice at the goal line midway through the fourth quarter. Freeman led a 98-yard drive the other way and sealed the win on a short touchdown run with 4:37 left. Johnson, starting again for the injured Stephen McGee, completed 29 of 41 passes for a school-record 419 yards. He also ran for a score and finished with 487 total yards, also a school record. The Aggies (2-4) gave up 451 yards and dropped to 0-2 in the Big 12 for the first time. Sorry Aggipete, the Aggies need a shot of redemption pretty soon or they are going to turn into a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard. Better luck next week!

• Penn 27 Georgetown 7 - Penn returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and scored another seven points off of a Georgetown interception en route to a 27-7 win over the Hoyas in front of 3,135 fans on Homecoming Day at the Multi-Sport Field. It was the first game for Georgetown after last week's game against Colgate was cancelled due to an outbreak of norovirus on the campus (you thought I was kidding last week when I talked about norovirus). Georgetown falls to 1-4 overall while Penn improves to 2-2 overall. Man, Willy, you guys also need a shot of redemption! Better luck next week!

• USC 28 Arizona State 0 - A convincing victory was of little consolation to Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez, who reacted as if he was on the losing side. Perhaps he might have been had it not been for the Trojans' dominating defense. Sanchez passed for one touchdown and ran for another, and No. 8 USC overcame five turnovers and nine penalties to beat Arizona State 28-0 on Saturday for its ninth straight victory over the Sun Devils. The Trojans have won those nine games by an average of 20.1 points. "It was a tough outing for me and the offense as a whole," Sanchez said. "I think that we beat ourselves. We didn't see anything that we weren't prepared for. We just didn't execute the way we would have liked." Victor, first congratulations on a thorough defeat of Arizona State. Second, man, USC and UF are leading parallel lives. Sanchez' reaction to a 28 point shutout over the Sun Devils was almost identical to Tebow's reaction to our 38 to 7 beatdown of Arkansas at Arkansas last week. Tebow was dejected and it fell more like a loss than a win to the Gator Nation. But if our performance against LSU last night is any indicator you will absolutely destroy Washington State next week. I feel sorry for them already! Congratulations again, Victor!

• Florida 51 LSU 21 - Florida utterly crushed LSU last night at The Swamp. The Gators shot out of the tunnel breathing fire and cut lose with all offensive weapons at once. It was a feast of firepower. Fast and furious. Within seconds of the opening kickoff Tebow threw a 70 yard TD pass to Percy Harvin. Then things really got going after that opening bomb. What followed was a blur of scoring and speed. By the end of the first quarter the Gators had racked 186 offensive yards and LSU had 4. It was pure unmitigated slaughter, just as I had foreseen and gone on record on the blog a few days ago. I will explain my thoughts in a posting just after this recap. Sorry Luisleon, Les Miles should have wrapped duck tape around your loudmouth defensive lineman's mouth. Too bad he stayed behind in Baton Rouge, cowering under his bed. We had prepared a special welcome for him at the Swamp. I am sorry he missed it.

7th Week Upcoming Games

The upcoming games for the principal blog participants for Saturday October 11, 2008 are:

• 12:00 PM ET Iowa at Indiana TV: Big Ten

• 2:00 PM ET Kansas State at Texas A&M

• 2:00 PM ET Penn at Georgetown. NOTE! LIVE Video & Audio at www.guhoyas.com

• 3:30 PM ET Arizona State at No. 8 USC TV: ABC

• 8:00 PM ET No. 4 LSU at No. 11 Florida TV: CBS

Other game of note:

• 12:00 PM ET No.5 Texas vs. No.1 Oklahoma (Neutral Venue) TV: ABC

As always, best of luck to all our bloggers. And, to Luisleon, may the best team win. Forget the market. Have a great weekend!!!

Apologies

I, like a lot of Gators, was more than a little spoiled in my rant this past Sunday criticizing our team after we beat Arkansas 38-7 and racked up over 500 offensive yards in the process because the victory wasn't "pretty" enough. The truth is that we have all become spoiled and I owe the Gator team and coaches an apology. I'm sorry. I'm grateful we have such a great team with such great players and coaches. It's truly great to be a Florida Gator. It's a privilege. Like the old bumper sticker said: "Cuban by birth, Gator by the Grace of God." I have a strong feeling we are going to beat LSU on Saturday. I'm not kidding. We are going to beat LSU. You heard it here first. I'm on record. If anyone picks LSU on the pickem, it's your own darn fault. GO GATORS!

6th Week Recap

• USC 44 Oregon 10 - Nora and Victor were present at the Coliseum and enjoyed a terrific game as Southern California roared back from its stunning loss last week and crushed No. 23 Oregon 44-10 Saturday night. "This is exactly what we needed to do," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "This was exactly the game we were looking for to bounce back and get back on track. USC scored the game's final 41 points and avoided losing consecutive games for the first time since 2001, Pete Carroll's first year as coach. "These guys came out and played like crazy. This was a big moment for us."The "big moment" was keyed by quarterback Mark Sanchez, who had a so-so outing in the 27-21 loss at Corvallis that cost USC (3-1, 1-1) the No. 1 ranking, and by the Trojans' defense, which had been pushed around by the Beavers. Sanchez threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns in the Trojans' 598-yard offensive avalanche, and their defense held the Ducks (4-2, 2-1), the Pac-10's best rushing team coming in, to 60 yards on the ground and 239 overall. Oregon had been averaging 308 on the ground alone. Congratulations Trojans, Coast-to-Coast!

• Florida 38 Arkansas 7 - The score is somewhat misleading because Florida played a pretty boring game on offense for three quarters and then woke up from a fog of offensive mediocrity during the fourth quarter and said, "Wait a minute, aren't we supposed to be a BCS team????" We then proceeded to put points on the board, like we should have from the start. What's going on with Florida is horribly frustrating. Early in the season the theory was that we were "holding back" and not running any offense worthy of the name. Just winning with defense and special teams to save our offensive schemes and high-powered ways for the truly important games. Well, that nonsense caught up with us during the Ole Miss game last week. We let them hang around for four quarters and that foolishness got us a loss we should not have had. Well, next Saturday we got a real tough team coming to The Swamp. LSU is coming to town and we better come out of that tunnel breathing fire, hitting on all cylinders, firing everything we have from the get-go. If we don't, the season will truly be over and our offensive coordinator, Dan Mullen, will be coaching at St. Elsewhere.

• Georgetown 0 Colgate 0 - The Georgetown / Colgate game was cancelled because of norovirus on campus. That is the weirdest thing I've ever heard. I thought people got norovirus on cruise ships, not football fields. Oh, well.

• Oklahoma State 56 Texas A&M 28 - The Aggies were destroyed by Oklahoma State. What can I say. Sorry Aggiepete. Better luck next week.

• Michigan State 16 Iowa 13 - Pretty frustrating. Iowa passed up what could have been a tying field goal at the end and instead went for it on 4th and 1. Exactly like Florida last week against Ole Miss, Iowa didn't make it and lost on the road to the Spartans.

Other than a terrific victory by the Trojans (who also started slow) it was a horribly frustrating week for the bloggers. Yeah, yeah Florida won by 31 points on the road. Beat the spread. But it really felt like a loss. Hope we all have a better week coming up. Except for luisleon. I hope his Tigers have a terrible day at The Swamp. Four or five turnovers would be great. Can you help us out here LouLion?