El Gigante

Whilst researching this year's installment of EL GIGANTE'S NCAA Pre-season Top Twenty-five Countdown, I've run across Athlon's top 25 Players of the BCS Era (1998 to present):
 
25) Bryant McKinnie - OT (Miami, FL)
24) Terrell Suggs - DE (Arizona State)
23) Eric Berry - S (Tennessee)
22) Sam Bradford - QB (Oklahoma)
21) Michael Crabtree - WR (Texas Tech) 
20) Patrick Willis - LB (Mississippi)
19) David Pollack - DE (Georgia)
18) Jake Long - OT (Michigan)
17) Joe Thomas - OT (Wisconsin)
16) Ron Dayne - RB (Wisconsin)
15) Pat White - QB (West Virginia)
14) Ed Reed - S (Miami, FL)
13) Julius Peppers - DE (UNC)
12) Michael Vick - QB (Va Tech)
11) Larry Fitzgerald - WR (Pitt)
10) Cam Newton - QB (Auburn)
9) LaDanian Tomlinson - RB (TCU)
8) Darren McFadden - RB (Arkansas)
7) Matt Leinart - QB (USC)
6) Ricky Williams - RB (Texas)
5) Ndamukong Suh - DT (Nebraska)
4) Adrian Peterson - RB (Oklahoma)
3) Reggie Bush - RB (USC)
2) Vince Young - QB (Texas)
1) Tim Tebow - QB (Florida)
 
Reasons I hate polls like this include:

• 7 are Quarterbacks
• 6 are Running Backs
• 18 are Offensive players
• 17 are "skill" positions
• Where's Chris Weinke who won his Heisman by 300+ more votes & 300+ more yards passing than Matt Leinart, beat Michael Vick in the '99 National Championship, won the Davey O'Brien, Johnny Unitas & Heisman Trophies in 2000?
• How 'bout John Henderson from Tennessee?  He was a two-time All-American DT (consensus in '00) & Outland Trophy winner in '99.  Albert Haynesworth was his understudy for God's sake!
• Anyone remember Derrick Johnson from Texas?  He was the 2-time (!!!) {'03 & '04} CONSENSUS All-American Linebacker, Butkus Award & Bronco Nagurski Award winner from Texas. 

 
I mean SERIOUSLY?!?!?  These are guys I just came up with off the top of my head!!!
 
If you want to do whole offensive & defensive teams, I might go with you Athlon.  Otherwise, quit throwing RBs & QBs at us and calling it a credible list!
 
EL G - Guns Loaded

Many are going to say it's "sour grapes" or "homerism" for my beloved Red Sox that I make this entry.  I guess that's why it's taken me so long to put my thoughts out there on the subject.  Ultimately, it comes down to having a 12 year-old who begins his baseball season in a few days that prompted me to finally put "ink to paper" on the subject.

Alex Rodriguez is a lying pile of crap who can't be a man (like many others, I might add) and fully cleanse himself of the filth that his behavior has wrought.  Seriously, is it that hard once fully caught in cheating to tell the complete truth? 

Yes, the tests were supposed to be confidential.  Yes, the person who released the data needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  These are completely valid and "correct."  But once you've been caught in cheating why not show the world that you're more of a man than just a cardboard cut-out of a human being.  Blaming your cousin for supplying you with something that is even illegal in the Dominican Republic doesn't make it okay.

I suppose it's just absurd to expect anything beyond the two WEAK attempts at an explanation we've received from Mr. Rodriguez, but if you're going to actually come out and admit it... admit it.

Finally, the onus now is on Major League Baseball to change their testing program with regard to HGH, steroids & any other kind of illegal physical performance supplements to a method similar to what the Tour de France cyclists & Olympic athletes must endure.  Yesterday, meaning the 80s & 90s are gone; ruined by the likes of McGwire, Canseco, Sosa, Giambi, Palmiero, & Rodriguez.  Tomorrow lives if the League & its athletes will "man up" and deliver on the promise of pure sports.

For years now I have been screaming what most people in the South say about why the Southeastern Conference is the best in the nation when it comes to football:  It is the best top-to-bottom from a competitive quality perspective.  While there is no doubt that Alabama & Florida represent the pinnacle of NCAA football this year (along with a couple of  Big XII - South teams), I have revised my opinion.  Too many of its usually very strong teams did not show up in 2008. 

Look at the below comparison to illustrate my feeling.  Remember, the widely-held feeling was that the SEC was the best conference top-to-bottom.

ACC

• Boston College 9-3
• Georgia Tech 9-3
• Virginia Tech 8-4
• Florida State 8-4
• North Carolina 8-4
• Maryland 7-5
• Wake Forest 7-5
• Miami (FL) 7-5
• Clemson 7-5
• North Carolina State 6-6
• Virginia 5-7
• Duke 4-8

SEC

• Alabama 12-0
• Florida 11-1
• Georgia 9-3
• Mississippi 8-4
• LSU 7-5
• South Carolina 7-5
• Vanderbilt 6-6
• Kentucky 6-6
• Tennessee 5-7
• Arkansas 5-7
• Auburn 5-7
• Mississippi State 4-8

Again, clearly the Tide & Gators have shown themselves to be the highest of the high when it comes to coaching & execution.  They deserve every accolade the receive.  With many teams down (Tenn. & Auburn especially), though, the SEC is not the "deep" conference it has been in the past.  Heck, only 6 teams are above 0.500 vs. 9 in the ACC. 

Am I saying the ACC is a better football conference?  No.  What I am saying is that in 2008 the SEC looks more like what the Big 10+1 used to be; a two-team-conference.  These "down" programs will return in time, but this year is not a banner one for the SEC.

With Paul Newman's passing, I started wondering who were the greatest American movie stars (that can actually act) still living?  Here goes (politics not withstanding):

• Kirk Douglas - Last of the Golden Agers; "Champion," "The Glass Menagerie," "Ace in the Hole," "Detective Story," "Ulysses," "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," "Lust for Life," "In Harm's Way," "Seven Days in May," "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," "Paths of Glory," "Spartacus," "Lonely Are the Brave," "The Man From Snowy River," "The Devil's Disciple," and "Last Train From Gun Hill."
• Gene Hackman - Though he's not made much since "Welcome to Mooseport" (yech!), Hackman has made "Bonnie & Clyde," The French Connection," "Scarecrow," "The Poseidon Adventure," "The Conversation,"  "A Bridge Too Far," "Hoosiers," "Unforgiven," "Mississippi Burning," "Crimson Tide," "Absolute Power," & "Twilight (with Newman)."
• Al Pacino - Hackman's co-star in "Scarecrow," along with "The Godfather," The Godfather Part II," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Serpico," "...And Justice For All," "Bobby Deerfield," "Scarface," "Carlito's Way," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Donnie Brasco," "Angels in America," & "Heat."
• Robert De Niro - a chameleon of sorts, De Niro is famous for "Bang the Drum Slowly," "Mean Streets," The Godfather Part II," "The Untouchables," " Raging Bull," "Midnight Run," "Taxi Driver," "The Deer Hunter," "Awakenings," "A Bronx Tale," "Once Upon a Time in America," "Casino," "Heat," "Jackie Brown," "GoodFellas," "Ronin," & The "Fockers" movies.
• Jack Nicholson - While considered a professional letch, Nicholson's body of work is impressive: "Chinatown," "The Shooting," "Easy Rider," "Carnal Knowledge," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Reds," "The Shining," "Goin' South," "A Few Good Men," "Terms of Endearment," "Prizzi's Honor," "Batman," "As Good As It Gets," "The Crossing Guard," "The Departed," & "About Schmidt."
• Dustin Hoffman - From this same generation of actors born in the late 30s / early 40s, Hoffman's work includes "The Graduate," "Midnight Cowboy," "Little Big Man," "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Lenny," "Papillon," "The Marathon Man," "Tootsie," "Rain Man," "All the President's Men," "American Buffalo," "Wag the Dog," and "Moonlight Mile."
• Robert Duvall - Incredibly long-lived career in Hollywood; "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Bullitt," "M.A.S.H.," "The Godfather," "The Godfather Part II," "The Conversation," "Network," "Lonesome Dove," "Tender Mercies," "The Great Santini," "Apocolypse Now," "Convicts," "Colors," "Falling Down," "Sling Blade," "Thank You for Smoking," "Secondhand Lions," & "The Apostle,"
• Morgan Freeman - Starting with "The Electric Company" Freeman's resume has exploded to include "Street Smart," "Clean and Sober," "Glory," "Unforgiven," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Driving Miss Daisy," "Seven," "Amistad," "Million Dollar Baby," "Gone Baby Gone," and "Lean on Me."
• Clint Eastwood - From his "Rawhide" days, Eastwood saw value in the character of Westerns and other dramas like "Fistful of Dollars," "The Good, the Bad & The Ugly," "Where Eagles Dare," "High Plains Drifter," "Play Misty for Me," "Dirty Harry," "Magnum Force," "Pale Rider," "The Outlaw Josey Wales," "Escape from Alcatraz," "Unforgiven," "In the Line of Fire," "Million Dollar Baby," "Absolute Power," "Mystic River," and "Flags of Our Fathers."
• Sidney Poitier - Older than you might think at 81, Poitier has appeared in "Blackboard Jungle," "A Raisin in the Sun," "Porgy and Bess," "Lillies of the Field," "In the Heat of the Night," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "The Defiant Ones," "Cry the Beloved Country," and "Band of Angels."
• Christopher Walken - Almost a parody of himself these days, Walkens work includes "Annie Hall," "The Deer Hunter," "The Dogs of War," "King of New York," "The Dogs of War," "The Dead Zone," "The Milagro Beanfield War," "Pulp Fiction," "True Romance," "The Funeral," "Sleepy Hollow," "Catch Me If You Can," "Wedding Crashers," and "Hairspray."
• Robert Redford - Not the biggest fan personally, but you can't deny his body of work: "A Bridge Too Far," "The Great Gatsby," "Barefoot in the Park," Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (with Newman)," "The Sting (also w/Newman)," "The Candidate," "Jeremiah Johnson," "All the President's Men," "The Way We Were," "Out of Africa," "Three Days of the Condor," and "The Electric Horseman."
• Denzel Washington - Beginning with "A Soldier's Story," Washington's career is amazing: "Cry Freedom," "Glory," "Mississippi Masala," "Malcolm X," "Crimson Tide," "Philadelphia," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Training Day," "Out of Time," "The Hurricane," "Antwone Fisher," "Inside Man," "Remember the Titans," & "American Gangster."
• Tom Hanks - Oh, how our Bosom Buddy has grown; "Bachelor Party (for the guys)," "Splash," "Nothing in Common," "Big," "A League of Their Own," "Apollo 13," "Philadelphia," "Sleepless in Seattle (for the gals)," "Forrest Gump," "Saving Private Ryan," "Cast Away," "The Green Mile," "Road to Perdition," "Catch Me If You Can," & "The Da Vinci Code."
• Sean Penn - Yep, here's where people start going "Ooooh no...no way."  Bear with me, though: "Taps," "Fast Times At Ridgemont High," "The Falcon and the Snowman," "Carlito's Way," "Colors," "Casualties of War," "The Thin Red Line," "The Game," "Dead Man Walking," "Hurlyburly," "Before Night Falls," "21 Grams," & "Mystic River."  Not bad for a guy 20 years younger than all of the above.
• Tom Cruise - Hate 'im, but you gotta respect the huge body of work; "Taps," "Top Gun," "Rain Man," "Born on the Fourth of July," "A Few Good Men," "The Firm," "Jerry Maguire," "Magnolia," "Collateral," "The Color of Money (with Newman),"  & "Minority Report."
• Johnny Depp - Getting younger; "Platoon," "Edward Scissorhands," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Donnie Brasco," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "Ed Wood," "Blow," "Sleepy Hollow," "Chocolat," "Finding Neverland," "Pirates of the Caribbean (all 3)," "Before Night Falls," and "Sweeney Todd."
• Leonardo Di Caprio - Younger still; "This Boy's Life," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Marvin's Room," "Titanic," "The Basketball Diaries," "Catch Me If You Can," "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator," "Blood Diamond," & "The Departed."

Honorable Mentions go to:

• Ed Harris - Amazingly versatile and talented; "The Right Stuff," "Places in the Heart," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Apollo 13," "Absolute Power," "The Truman Show," "The Hours," "Pollock," "The Human Stain," "A History of Violence," "Gone Baby Gone," and "The Firm."
• John Travolta - Not sure about the "acting" part, but a nice body of work: "Grease," "Saturday Night Fever," "Urban Cowboy," "Blowout," "Pulp Fiction," "Get Shorty,"  "The Thin Red Line," "Primary Colors," "A Love Song for Bobby Long," & "Basic."
• Brad Pitt - On the job training has helped this guy; "Thelma and Louise," "A River Runs Through It," "True Romance," "Legends of the Fall," "12 Monkeys," "Seven," "Fight Club,"  "Ocean's (insert number)," "Troy," "Burn After Reading," and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."
• Dennis Quaid - Could never quite maintain his stardom; "Breaking Away," The Right Stuff," "Innerspace," "The Big Easy," "Everybody's All-American," Postcards from the Edge," "Great Balls of Fire!," "Flesh and Bone," "Smart People," & "Traffic."
• Michael Douglas - Mr. Zeta-Jones; "The China Syndrome," "Romancing the Stone," "Wall Street," "Black Rain," "The War of the Roses," "Basic Instinct," "The Game," "The American President," "Falling Down," "Wonder Boys," & "The King of California."
• Robin Williams - "The World According to Garp," "Moscow on the Hudson," "Dead Poet's Society," "Awakenings," "Dead Again," "The Fisher King," "Mrs. Doubtfire," and "Good Will Hunting."
• Nicholas Cage - or Coppola, whatever: "Moonstruck," "Raising Arizona," "Peggy Sue Got Married," "Wild At Heart," "Leaving Las Vegas," and innumerable action films.
• George Clooney - "The Thin Red Line," "Michael Clayton," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Ocean's (number here)," "Out of Sight," "O Brother, Where Are Thou?," "The Perfect Storm,"  "Syriana," "Three Kings," & "Burn After Reading."
• Burt Reynolds - "Deliverance," "Semi-Tough," "Gator," "Smokey & the Bandit," "Boogie Nights," "The Player," "The Longest Yard," & "Sharky's Machine."

I'm sure I've forgotten someone (a few), and that you'll let me know.

Title seems self-explanatory enough:

#25) FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS - Pat Hill’s Bulldogs are looking to erase the embar-rassment of their conference from Hawaii’s exposed farce of last season. With 3 of their first 4 games @UCLA, @Rutgers & hosting Wisconsin, Fresno State will look to pounding their own conference for eight to nine wins. Quarterback Tom Brandstater is the real deal and will throw well beyond last season 15 T.D.s.

#24) ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE - It was only a matter of time before journeyman Saban got the Tide back to the Top 25. If, by some miracle, ‘Bama could win their season-opener with Clemson, they could reach even higher. Playing @Georgia, @LSU, @Tennessee & hosting Auburn won’t make that a long-lived success, though. Eight wins is where I see them ending up.

#23 WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS - Defense is the name of the game in Winston-Salem these days. Nine returners on a defense of all upperclassmen ensure the Deacs will better their 22 pts./game from last season. Nine wins are within reach even with an average offense in the ACC. @Florida State, @ Maryland & home versus Clemson are the only clear-cut losses on the board.

#22) PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS - Honestly, JoePa’s boys could be rated higher than this, but off-field issues and questions as to Quarterback make this a comfortable pick. Darryl Clark seems to have won the QB job over Pat Devlin (for now). And with 17 returners among the offense & defense, you would think higher of the Lions, but I see them losing to Illinois, Ohio State, Wisconsin and possibly Michigan State.

#21) VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES - After winning 42 games over the last four seasons, this will mark a “down” year for the Hokies. While special teams are always amazing in Blacksburg, both the offense and defense up to snuff. Look for Frank Beamer to keep splitting time between Tyrod Taylor & Sean Glennon at Quarterback. With new Receivers and Running Backs, plus suspect line play last year, Va. Tech could lose 4 games.

#20) SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS - A couple of years ago, who would’ve thought the ‘Noles and ‘Canes would be out of the top 25 and the Bulls would be in? Here they are again after a near-dream season in ’07 to continue to be competitive nationally. Led by Matt Grothe & Tyrone McKenzie, the Bulls are good for nine wins in a weak Big East, but should lose to Kansas & West Virginia.

#19) ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI - After pulling a nine-win season last year (preceded by 7 wins in previous 3 seasons combined), a lot of folks are expecting more of the same from Juice Williams & Co. With the loss of Rashard Medenhall, though, I’m guessing there will be a bit of a drop-off. Also, the Illini are expecting to start 11 underclassmen this year.

#18) ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS - Rudy Carpenter will need his line to give him a whole lot more in the way of protection this year compared to last. The defense will have to improve greatly against the pass though it has only one returner to the secondary. The ‘Devils’ success will lie primarily with the weakness of their schedule. Eight to nine wins are doable.

#17) TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS - Very quietly the Vols have recovered from a 5-win season in ‘05 to get back to respectability and ten wins last year. The loss of Erik Ainge is actually a plus for Fulmer’s team in some people’s minds because he just couldn’t make them “comfortable.” New QB Jonathan Crompton hosts Alabama and Florida, but must go to Georgia and Auburn. Expect nine wins this year.

#16) TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS - Light out-of-conference schedule w/E. Washington, @Nevada, SMU & U.Mass make the front end easy for Tech, but games against Texas, @Oklahoma & @Kansas make for big speed bumps. The Raiders do return 10 (TEN!) starters on offense including Graham Harrell at Quarterback, along with their whole defensive line.

#15) BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS - A pathetically easy schedule makes the Cougars this year’s pick as mid-major “spoiler” of the year. Quarterback Max Hall leads BYU to a guaranteed-minimum ten wins with “challenging” games against UCLA and @Utah. The hope is that they don’t squeak into a BCS berth with this dreck, but be prepared for the outcry from each direction.

#14) KANSAS JAYHAWKS - Not just out of fear of being eaten by Mangino, either. The ‘Hawks don’t rate as high as they did last year due to a substantially more difficult schedule; they have to play Texas, Oklahoma & Texas Tech this year, while they didn’t last year, and they visit Tampa to play USF. Eight wins for sure, though.

#13) OREGON DUCKS - The quack attack returns without Dennis Dixon, but with phenomenal talent, especially among their back seven on defense. Look for the Ducks to have growing pains at the beginning of the season as they break in some new players, then ultimately lose 3 games.

#12) TEXAS LONGHORNS - Quarterback Colt McCoy returns along with two starting Wide Receivers and most of his offensive line to scorch the bulk of their opponents. They will miss the strength and speed at Running Back of Jamaal Charles, though. A tough schedule (Oklahoma, Mizzou, @Texas Tech & @Kansas) makes it tough, but they’ll win 9 games.

#11) WISCONSIN BADGERS - A team that could easily be in the top ten, the Badgers have 9 starters back on offense, but one that’s new is the Quarterback; Allan Evridge. He is a senior, but he’s battling every day with Dustin Sherer just to see the bulk of the snaps. Games @Fresno State, Ohio State & Illinois will present Wisconsin with their biggest challenges.

I'll have the Top 10 posted soon.  Same Bat-time....Same Bat-channel....

 

 

 

 

With the 2008-09 NCAA Football season about to begin I thought I would give you this year's Best Names In College Football:
 
Riley Skinner (QB) -          Clemson
Stryker Sulak (DL) -         Missouri
Rashad Bobino (LB) -        Texas
Woodny Turenne (CB) -    Louisville
Noel Devine (RB) -           West Virginia
Juice Williams (QB) -        Illinois
Anthony Scirrotto (S) -    Penn State
Zack Slate (DL) -            East Carolina
Cody Slate (TE) -            Marshall (NOT RELATED!)
Britt Barefoot (P) -          Southern Miss (a Punter named Barefoot, priceless)
Ell Ash (DL) -                  Houston (Sounds like a Sesame Street bit)
Sinisa Vrvilo (K) -            Bowling Green
Harvey Unga (RB) -         BYU
Ray Feinga (OL) -            BYU (Mormons?)
Rafael Priest (CB) -          Texas Christian Univ. (should've been Notre Dame?)
Josh Syria (P) -               Oregon
Rob Gronkowski (TE) -      Arizona (Screams "football")
Captain Munnerlyn (CB) -  South Carolina
Diivory Edgecomb (KR) -   Florida Atlantic (yep, two "i"s)
Joe Alajajian (OL) -          Florida Internat'l ("can I buy a consonant?")
Kartey Agbottah (S) -      North Texas
Solomon Elimimian (LB) -  Hawaii (L-M-N-O-P...)
Beanie Wells (RB) -          Ohio State
Asher Allen (KR/PR) -        Georgia (alliteration is fun!)
Chase Coffman (TE) -      Missouri
Chase Daniel (QB) -         Missouri
Chase Patton (QB) -         Missouri (ALL on the same offense!)
Selvish Capers (OL) -        West Virginia (sounds like a scallop dish)
Boogie Allen (S) -             West Virginia
Rodgerique Smith (WR) -   Auburn
Sen'Derrick Marks (DT) -    Auburn (do I really have to say more?)
Tertavian Ingram (WR) -    Kansas
J.J. Di Luigi (RB) -              BYU (seriously?)
Brouce Mompremier (LB) -  South Florida
Sabbath Joseph (LB) -        South Florida
Cordarrow Thompson (DT)- Virginia Tech
San San Te (K) -                Rutgers
Taiwan Easterling (WR) -     Florida State University (finally got rid of Fagg)
Micah Kia (OT) -                  Michigan
Micah Reed (C) -                Michigan (on the same offensive line)
Nate Longshore (QB) -        Cal (still a classic)
Darrius Massenburg (DE) -   North Carolina (and his back-up's name is Darius, too)
Sir Marco Bledsoe (S) -       Texas Christian Univ.
Slick Shelley (WR) -            Tulsa
Zipp Duncan (OL) -             Kentucky
Darrell Catchings (WR) -      Oregon State (good name for a receiver)
Darius Passmore (WR) -       Marshall (GREAT name for a receiver)
Ras-I Dowling (CB) -            Virginia (?)
Boris Lee (LB) -                  Troy
Elisha Joseph (DT) -            Temple (not misspelled)
Skylaar Constant (DT) -       Toledo
Polo Guiterrez (OL) -           New Mexico State
 
These are just a few of the names you'll hear during the upcoming season.  I just didn't want you to double-take when you heard them for the first time during games.

Having played competitive sports in college, I understand the love of the comeraderie in the lockerroom.  There can be no better (and sometimes worse) feeling than to achieve something as a part of a larger machine.  So, hearing Brett Favre decided to come back was no great shock to me.  What amazes me is that it has shocked anyone.  We all knew as Favre cried before us that we'd not heard the last of him.  It took months for him to clean out his locker, for crying out loud.

Now, we hear that his agent has requested a release from the Packers, since they have absolutely no interest in keeping him around, to pursue other opportunities around the league.  For the record, the Ravens and Buccaneers seem to be the front-runners due to need and the fact that Jon Gruden has never said "no" to an aging quarterback, to play that is. 

So, here are the questions I have for you fine readers:

1)  Who's in the "right" here?  An aging Hall-of-Famer who at the eleventh hour plus decides to return to the game that gave him everything or the team that he retired from and told to move on and develop Aaron Rodgers or some other QB?

2) What happened?  Seriously, what occured to make him not be "mentally tired" enough to have retired on March 5th?

Give me your thoughts and I'll elaborate on mine.