The History of the Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have been in existence since the nineteen-thirties. They won three NFL championships before the NFL merged with the AFL, so those were not Super Bowl winning teams. The team has played in two Super Bowls. In 1980 they lost to the Oakland Raiders and in 2004 they lost to the New England Patriots. Despite the Super Bowl losses the Eagles have been one of the top teams in the NFL for the past ten years. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Michael Westbrook lead one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL year in and year out.

The Eagles play their home games at Veterans Stadium from 1971-2002 before moving to the new, state of the art, Lincoln Financial Field. They play in front of 69.032 fans each Sunday. The notorious Eagles fans support their team in good times and bad, but they do not hesitate to let the Eagles know when they are not happy. This is a crowd who once booed Santa Claus at a game at the old Veterans Stadium and they haven't become any more easygoing since they moved to their new home. One feature that was removed from the new field was the four cell jail that was a holdover needed for the rowdy crowds at the old Vet.

The Eagles were named in honor of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal which is also why their helmets are adorned with a silver eagle. One of the more interesting facts in team history is that in 1941 they briefly merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was because during World War II the two teams were unable to fill their rosters. The team was known as the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh "Steagles" and the merger was broken up after the 1943 season when the two franchises were again able to field a full roster.

Over the years Eagles fans have been lucky enough to see many NFL greats play for their team. There are eighteen players in the pro football Hall of Fame that played or coached for the Eagles. There are also seven former Eagles players that have had their numbers retired. In addition to the retired numbers there are twenty-eight former players, coaches, or executives who are honored in the Eagle Honor Roll.

In 2008 Forbes magazine ranked Eagles fans as the most diehard fans in America which anyone on the more than forty-thousand person waiting list can attest. Season tickets are renewed at more than a 99.7% rate so the people who are at the bottom of the waiting list are going to be there for quite a few years. Of course, being the most diehard fans in America this doesn't discourage many of them from waiting.

The Philadelphia Eagles have made the playoffs in seven of the last eight years and this trend looks as though it will continue well into the next decade. When Philadelphia fans booed the draft day selection of superstar quarterback Donovan McNabb they had no idea he would become the face of one of the winningest franchises in the National Football League. In this era many people only judge success by Super Bowl wins, but the Philadelphia Eagles are a franchise that plays the right way and has won an awful lot of football games along the way.

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school football coach of 25 years. His love of the game of football is reflected in his words and memories of growing up in the South and playing football in the back yard with his brother, cousins and neighborhood friends. His biggest thrill is watching former high school players he has coached play at the college level. His favorite pastime is watching NFL on tv and attending the games in person every chance he gets. Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles. Check out his Philadelphia Eagles Watch and his Denver Broncos Door Mat.

WSOP "November Nine" - Put Me Down For a 'Nein,' and Here's Why

The World Series Of Poker: The Ultimate Poker Tournament is an event held annually at the Rio Suite Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. To most of us, this is poker "nirvana," especially for those of us in the orange county casino party business. It's a fantastic game, one that we feature prominently in our presentation book portfolios. Bottom line: We LOVE poker, in all forms.

Well, maybe not ALL forms.

Make no mistake about it, we DO love the game, and can't wait to join our card-playing brethren out in the desert, and take our annual shot at the Rio when the WSOP kicks into gear. BUT.... there's something about the WSOP that has been bugging us for about two years now, and it's time to hop on the soap box and pontificate.

It has to do with the WSOP "Main Event," the $10K buy-in tournament that is considered by most as the "World Championship" of the sport. (Yes, I know, the question of 'is poker a sport' needs to be addressed. I'll get to that, sometime later, I promise.) Back in the 1970's, when the World Series Of Poker was in it's infancy, the tournament only took two days to complete, probably because the total number of entries in the tourney 35 years ago usually topped out at around 50.

My, how times have changed.

In 2006, there were a grand total of 8,773 players competing for what turned out to be a $12 million dollar first prize. This year, during what some in Washington might call a 'recession,' there were still 7,319 entrants into the WSOP Main Event at ten thousand bucks a pop. Take it from this casino night blogger: Without a doubt, poker's "World Series" is here to stay, and the Main Event, circus-like as it may be at times, IS for poker's "world title."

And, quite frankly, THIS is where I have a problem. I DO love the Main Event of the WSOP. I just don't like it's current FORMAT.

Let's take a quick peek at the other "world championship events" for some historical background, shall we?

NBA -- The NBA Playoffs began on April 17, 2010, and ended two months later, on June 17, 2010. Start to finish, two months. Two LOOONG months. Ask anyone that tracks the NBA post-season, and they'll tell you that it drags on forever.

NHL -- The NHL playoffs went April 11 / June 10. Two months, and it seems that THESE playoffs drag on longer than the NBA.

NFL -- Basically six weeks of playoffs here, including the Super Bowl. Not too shabby, time-wise. The NFL is also the king of sports marketing, so if THEY say five weeks will get it done, that works for me.

MLB -- Even less than the NFL. Surprisingly, the MLB post-season lasts just about one month (October 7 / November 4, last year). (The season lasts SIX months, though. Maybe THAT'S why we're tired of baseball in November each year.

Hmmmm.... OK.... If my info is correct (and it always IS), the 4 major sports need from 1-to-2 months to determine their champion, and when it comes to marketing the post-season, there's no better commercial for the action taking place than the games themselves, games that are on almost every day.

Now, let's move to the World Series Of Poker. Now, we first take into account that the WSOP consists of not one, but more than 50 separate individual "bracelet" tournaments that started in earnest on May 28th, 2010, and "ended" yesterday, July the 18th, in the Rio's Amazon Room.

Or DID it?

So, the WSOP takes about what, seven weeks from start to finish? But alas, my orange county casino party friends, the WSOP season ISN'T over. There's just one small problem, and that's what the WSOP calls "The November Nine," the last nine players left at the WSOP Main Event Final Table.

And WHY do they call this group "The November Nine?" Easy. Because the WSOP, in their infinite wisdom, is STOPPING the 2010 Main Event on Sunday, July 18th, and making the last nine competitors wait for an astounding 105 days until the tourney is resumed on November 1, 2010.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE DAYS.

Heck, anyone that plays games around MY house knows that if we started a game on day 1, and waited 105 days until we FINISHED it, most of the players wouldn't even remember how to PLAY the game, let alone play it well. Granted, these last nine players have quite a monetary incentive to remember how to play poker (First place in the WSOP Main Event will get you over $8M), but that's beside the point.

WHY in HADES does the WSOP make these players wait for over a HUNDRED DAYS, before getting to the biz of declaring a champion? Do they know something about marketing a major playoff series that the four MAJOR sports DON'T? I doubt it. This event used to be held at Binion's casino downtown up thru 2003, which, for the record, didn't even HAVE a poker room, when the WSOP began back in 1970.

ESPN does a fine job of televising the WSOP events, albeit it a telecast schedule that has gotten smaller and smaller since 2008. Bottom line, the WSOP doesn't do one bloody thing to promote the final table of the WSOP main event. They just delay it unmercifully. In my humble opinion, this does NOTHING for the 'sport.' All this does is take any momentum away from the players that were totally dialed in during the last hours of the tourney, and make them all sit around and get stale.

I HATE this. Hey, sue me, but I don't want to sit around and wait to see all the already-recorded coverage hours of the 2010 WSOP Main Event. I wanna see them NOW.

If the world would ever decide to anoint me as "Poker Czar," there's a couple of things that I would immediately change about the WSOP --

1. Cover more of the other 50+ events that are held earlier in the WSOP. I loved watching coverage of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event (5 types of poker played and rotated every two hours), as well as all of the individual $10K events that are held. Bring all of those back, cover them on a tape-delayed basis, but SHOW them to us after about 7-10 days pass.

2. Cover the 2010 Main Event as usual, but don't hold on to all of the footage that you've already SHOT, ESPN! SHOW IT TO US! It doesn't take months to post-produce the footage. Get to it.

3. OK, I realize that the last day of competition in the 2010 main event took 17 hours to complete, to get down to 9 players from 27. No prob. Give the November Nine a WEEK off to recuperate, not 15 WEEKS! Heck, ANYTHING can happen in 15 weeks. Lord help us if a player is injured in some accident, or worse, and the player(s) can't come back to finish the competition. Give 'em one week, then bring back the "July Nine" to find out who wins it all.

I mean, come ON -- All of the poker aficionados that follow the sport with any diligence whatsoever and have access to a computer or a telephone KNEW who the November Nine were in '09. There's no reason to delay this, WSOP. Do us all a favor, and make this the last year of this stupid elongated poker vacation. It's unnecessary, and it's just wrong.

OK, I've said my piece. Thoughts?

Aces Casino is an award-winning Las Vegas night casino party company based in Southern California, and James "J. J." Stevens has been the President and CEO of Aces Casino Entertainment L.L.C. for over 16 years. J. J. has extensive experience in the field of Las Vegas night casino event entertainment, experience that he's happy to share on the Aces Casino Blog at http://acescasino.blogspot.com. You can also find out more about Aces Casino Entertainment L.L.C., our award-winning Las Vegas night casino party company, by visiting us at our web site at http://www.acescasinoentertainment.com.

Sports Betting 101- How to Bet on College Football

College Football is still considered the king amongst many for wagering purposes due to the sheer number of games played by the various teams in the various divisions on a weekly basis, which means that in truth there are indeed many more opportunities that can be found in terms of sheer "value" in College sports over professional sports, however, most do not understand that while wagering on College football is almost identical to wagering on the NFL, the handicapping principles involved are totally different, below you will find some solid advice from Jim Campbell which has greatly contributed to his achieving a total combined average winning rate of 59.88% in all sports over the past EIGHT years.

1) Use discipline in the number of games you wager on weekly, you must have a sound money management game plan in place which from the outside looking in, is based on a wagering concept of "units per game", but on the inside is really based on percentage of bankroll. I recommend NEVER wagering more than 5% of your total bankroll on any given game and no more than 25% of your total bankroll on any given weekend. Most wagers should fall within the 2% or 3% range, you can then either use a "flat betting" system in which you wager the same amount on each game or use a "best bet" format in which you rate your games highest to lowest and assign your betting percentages accordingly.

2) Most novices or beginning gamblers should use a flat betting system based on percentage of bankroll for the best long-term results, for example, if your starting bankroll is $5000 then a 2% wager on a contest would be $100, meanwhile a 3% wager from the same $5000 starting bankroll would be a $150 wager. A flat bettor would then wager either $100 or $150 on each contest but not exceed the 25% of total bankroll mark of $1250 (based on the same starting bankroll of $5000) over the course of the week. Once the weekend results are finalized you would then have a different bankroll total based on your winnings or loses for the week, this becomes your new bankroll, the next week you would then adjust upward or downward the amounts wagered on a per game basis based on your new "percentage of bankroll" numbers. Remember that everyone will have their share of good weeks and everyone will have their share of bad weeks, the idea is to not place all of your eggs in one basket, you must be able to survive the bad weeks if you want to come out ahead in the long term.

3) A good strategy to follow is to focus in on the local teams in your neck of the woods, the reasoning is simplistic in that in most cases a gambler first started as a fan, meaning that in general terms no one knows the local teams better than a local fan which in this case is YOU, however, you must be careful not to bet with your heart and instead use your head, for example, although I advocate using off-shore sports books as a means of having multiple outs for the purpose of "line-shopping", I also advocate using a local book when placing a wager against a local team, the reason is based on line "value", in many cases a local line on a local team can vary by as many as one or two points, mainly because of the fact that the vast majority of local fans wager on local teams which in turn means that a local line is often different that a national line on the very same game.

One of the nations most prolific handicappers is Jim Campbell who can be found at http://www.footballforecastor.com, he once again showed his expertise by finishing the 2005-2006 college football season with an overall amazing and eye opening mark of 49-32-1 ATS for a winning rate of 60.49% which includes a record of 9-4 ATS with his College Bowl selections and also includes his winning selection of Texas over USC in the BCS National Championship Game, that winning result on Texas means that Jim Campbell has now correctly picked the point spread winner in the past EIGHT straight College National Championship games.

Over the past 35 yrs plus, Jim Campbell has been on both sides of the Sports Investment Business, as a entrepreneur that ran his own business, to building and maintaining a private clientele base that greatly benefits from his superior handicapping expertise in the sporting arena.

Jim Campbell runs www.FootballForecastor.com which has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, you will be hard pressed to find another handicapper that has had the kind of success Jim has had, over the past eight years he has maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.

Jim Campbell finished the final four weeks of the 2005 NFL regular season with a mark of 14-5-2 ATS coming down the stretch for a winning rate of 73.68% and for the season in the NFL he finished with an overall mark of 48-33-4 ATS for a winning rate of 59.26% and that includes a perfect mark of 7-0 ATS in the NFL Playoffs, Jim has posted a mark of 6-2 ATS over the past EIGHT years with his Super Bowl selecton.

Find Discount NFL Merchandise and Special Deals Online

Finding great prices on discount NFL merchandise is at the top of everyone's list. It doesn't matter whether it's the holiday season or any other time of the year, because it's always important to save some money and it's always fun to support the team. So take advantage of some of the great online blogs and retailers out there today and you'll enjoy great prices on cheap NFL jerseys and so much more.

As mentioned, cheap NFL jerseys are only the beginning in terms of what you can expect to find online today. Discount NFL merchandise is available in all sorts of categories and products, and you'll love the selection that you can have access to for each and every time. Besides other apparel like t-shirts, hats and jackets, you can find many other products like NFL Fatheads. You can also purchase NFL skins for your favorite electronics and other gadgets and you can purchase NFL bedding and other decor as well.

Basically anything that you would have interest in is available, and then even much more besides that. NFL flasks, bobble heads, cups and mugs, clocks and watches, car decals, helmets and other items will help to round out your collection of discount NFL merchandise.

Of course it's one thing to know that all of this is available, it's another thing to stay ahead of the curve and find great bargains. That turns those overpriced jerseys into cheap NFL jerseys that you can buy for the whole family. There are a variety of blogs and sites out there today that are dedicated to showcasing nothing but the latest bargains, discounts and sales. This will ensure that you never spend more than you have to, and you always find a great deal.

It's also a great way to stay on top of the latest trends for discount NFL merchandise. Cheap NFL jerseys are always a winner, but if need to buy something new or more creative, how will you know what to get? Paying attention to constantly updated product listings and product reviews, many of these blogs and sites will help you track down all of the new trends and big crazes.

Remember, you never need to spend a lot of money just to get some great NFL gear and apparel. There are plenty of places online where you can buy discount NFL merchandise, including cheap NFL jerseys. But don't limit your search there, and be sure to keep an eye out on all of the new products and the ever-growing collection of gifts and memorabilia that is available. When you buy discount NFL merchandise, you're a winner for saving your cash and whoever is the recipient gets to enjoy the new gear, whether you purchased an NFL clock, Fathead, SkinIt or a few cheap NFL jerseys for the whole family.

At Discount Football Merchandise, we'll make sure you find the best prices on all of the great NFL gear that you're looking for, including cheap NFL jerseys. If you're interested in the latest deals, bargains and discounts, you can visit our new blog which showcases fantastic bargains on discount NFL merchandise of all kinds.

Pigskin and Plantations

Hey there, football fans! Looking to get the full "New Orleans experience" while in town for the NFL Playoffs? Along with the beautiful architecture, historic landmarks, and exquisite cuisine you can find in the French Quarter, there are many other must-see destinations in south Louisiana that are worth visiting.

Between New Orleans and Baton Rouge lie several monumental antebellum homes that are open to the public for tours. With lush gardens, Spanish moss-draped oak trees, and white-pillared mansions, these plantations are a direct testament to the wealth and importance of the sugar planters in the South and especially in Louisiana before the Civil War. Several notable plantation homes in the area include Nottoway Plantation, Oak Alley Plantation and Laura Plantation.

Nottoway Plantation, often referred to as "The American Castle," is a 64-room, three-story Greek-Revival mansion that is recognized as the Largest Plantation Home in the South. Nottoway was built in 1859 for John Hampden Randolph, his wife Emily Jane Liddell Randolph, and their 11 children along the Mississippi River. At 53,000 square feet, the plantation contains many extravagances, including ornamental iron railings, brass and crystal chandeliers, intricate plasterwork, a mahogany stairway carpeted in velvet, a bowling alley, and gas lighting and hot and cold running water (both of which were unheard of at that time). Take a tour through the plantation while learning the history of the Randolph family and even how the home was fired upon by Northern gunboats during the Civil War.

Oak Alley Plantation, named for the quarter-mile tunnel of 28 oak trees that connect the entrance of the plantation and the Mississippi River, is on 1,360 acres of land. The plantation was built for Jacques Telesphore Roman and his wife Celina Pilie Roman in the 1830's, and it was designed with a large veranda so as to keep the home in the shade and out of the oppressive summer sun. With its envied opulence, it is believed that Celina Roman proudly christened their plantation "Bon Sejour" (Pleasant Sojourn), but travelers on the Mississippi River were so impressed by the alley of oaks, they called it "Oak Alley." Walk through the famed oak trees and learn the history of the French-Creole Roman family, as well as the story of the four different resident owners after the Roman family sold the home at auction and how the plantation was abandoned and nearly forgotten in the early twentieth century.

Laura, a Creole Plantation, was built in 1805 and consists of a mansion, several outbuildings (including six original slave quarters) and a second house (also known as a "mother-in-law cottage"). Originally known as DuParc, the plantation was later renamed after Laura Locoul Gore, who was the fourth mistress of the plantation. The complex continued functioning as a plantation well into the twentieth century, and workers used the slave quarters up to 1977. Learn about the ancient west-African folktales of Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox, which were recorded at Laura Plantation, and take a tour of the family treasures, apparel and original antiques on display.

So while you're in town for the big game, be sure to include a visit to some of our nation's largest and oldest plantations. Transport yourself to a different time and place, and experience the awe of the Old South. You will surely have a once-in-a-lifetime experience, with memories that will last forever.

Various plantation tour options are available through New Orleans based tour company's like Cajun Encounters. If plantations aren't your thing checkout the New Orleans city tours or even a swamp tour led by local. For more information or to book your authentic plantation tour, visit www.cajunencounters.com.

Top 50 Greatest Moments in Sports History (50 - 26)

I was bored and started thinking of some of the greatest moments in the history of sports in which I could remember. I am only 23 so there are numerous occasions I have surely missed or cannot remember.

Given the content of this post, there is going to be a lot of disagreements as well as a few agreements here and there. Just remember, this is my opinion and I am sticking to it.

I would also like to point out that you may notice quite a few baseball moments on here. I have played baseball all my life so I am a little biased towards the sport.

This is part 1, and I should have part 2 up hopefully within the next day or so. Check out 50 - 26 after the jump:

50.) Julius "Dr. J" Erving and just about every dunk he had.

His dunk from the free throw line in the dunk contest, or his reverse dunk where he basically travels in the air for five seconds are 2 prime examples.

49.) Roger Federer wins his 15th Grand Slam title breaking Pete Sampras's record of 14.

I liked Pete more as a tennis player, and feel he would win if they both played each other in their primes, but Roger is a good guy and you have to give him his due.

48.) New England Patriots lose Super Bowl XLII, ending their perfect season.

Not much else to say about this, other than the fact the Giants basically dominated the entire game.

47.) Michael Vick and the dog fighting scandal.

He had a decent career going, good sponsorships, and plenty of money. Yet he felt it was necessary to have some pitbulls tear each other up. Smart move Mike.

46.) OJ Simpson's life in general.

Getting accused of murdering his wife, running from the cops, robbing a store, and possibly kidnapping someone is just an ordinary day for OJ. I wonder what his weekends are like?

45.) The NBA Dream Team of the 1992 Olympics.

I remember when the NBA was watchable, and the players played for the love of the game rather than the money. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Earvin "Magic" Johnson were just a few of the players that made the game great back then.

44.) Rulon Gardner defeats the Russian, Alexandre Kareline.

Not many people thought this American wrestler could come close to beating this seemingly invincible Russian, but low and behold the underdog strikes again. We struck gold!

43.) Bob Knight and that temper we come to know and love.

Whether it was the hundreds of technical fouls, the chair toss across the floor, or busting up that TV, Bob Knight knew how to coach and entertain the crowd. "Everybody hears, but few listen." - Bob Knight

42.) Eight men out for the 1919 World Series.

Eight men conspiring with gamblers to intentionally throw the 1919 World Series seems beyond belief, and yet (they were found innocent, but facts were lost) it still took place. A championship would be more important than money, but I guess things change once you see that green.

41.) Ohio State defeats Miami (FL) for the 2002 NCAA football National Championship.

I know this is not one of the top 50 moments in sporting history, but I am a Buckeye fan and it was a great double OT victory. In case you did not know, the Buckeyes finished 14-0 that season...BOOM!

40.) Mary Lou Retton's perfect 10 on the vault.

Being 16 and knowing that you need a perfect 10 on you next vault to win the gold medal can take a toll on many of us. Mary, on the other hand, took to the pressure and nailed her vault sending her to gold.

39.) Kordell Stewart's hail mary pass to defeat #4 Michigan.

Not only did he beat the team I despise most, but he threw the ball about 73 yards in the air to score the game winning touchdown. Maybe Kordell can tell this story to his grand-kids one day, because he sure as hell doesn't have many NFL stories to tell.

38.) Don Larson's pitches a perfect game in game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

Not only is a perfect game extremely hard to accomplish, Don is the only player in the history of baseball to throw a perfect game in any World Series game. His career never mounted to much, but at least he has one moment to look back on.

37.) Franco Harris catches the deflected pass from Terry Bradshaw for the Immaculate Reception.

Many recognize this as one of the greatest plays in NFL history. I credit it as on of the luckiest plays in NFL history, but to each his own; it is still a sweet way to win an AFC divisional playoff game.

36.) Super Bowl I - Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs.

Although the game was a little one sided (Green Bay won 35-10), this was still the birth of one of the most watched and celebrated games of the year for us today. I usually just watch for the commercials, and the game is a bonus.

35.) Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson go MMA on the crowd.

This was one of the craziest things I have ever witnessed. Players fighting players makes sense, but fighting people in the crowd (still in the stands mind you) is just ludicrous. I would have gladly paid money to see this, and possibly even be involved. How about you?

34.) San Francisco 49ers' Dwight Clark catches game winning touchdown in back of endzone.

Regarded to as "The Catch," Dwight Clark caught the winning touchdown reception to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1982 NFC Championship Game. He was the San Francisco treat! Get it? Rice-A-Roni. I understand if you didn't laugh, you just don't have a sense of humor.

33.) Rocky Marciano retires from boxing in 1956 with a perfect 49-0 record as a heavyweight.

Out of his 49 wins, 43 were by knockout. I don't know about you, but that is damn impressive in my book. Of course I never got to see him fight, but who cares, 49-0 is 49-0.

32.) Emmitt Smith breaks all-time rushing record.

He may not have always been the tallest, or the fastest, or the strongest (I am paraphrasing Emmitt from the Little Giants moive), but he was smart and ran 100% full go every time. I believe Barry Sanders would hold this record if he would not have went into early retirement, but my hat's off to Emmitt for this feat.

31.) Texas defeats USC in the 2006 NCAA football National Championship game.

The fact that no defense could stop the opposing teams offense, except for Texas on that 4th down stop, this was just an all around great game. Texas was a huge underdog, but Vince Young stepped his game up and came through in the clutch. I am a sucker for those underdog victories.

30.) Mike Tyson bites Evander Holyfield's ear off.

Ok, he doesn't completely bite his ear off, but it was still a pretty gruesome nibble. The fight was looking to be epic, but Tyson just could not resist a tasty treat.

29.) The Miami Dolphin's go undefeated in 1972.

They accomplished what the Patriots could not, perfection. Going undefeated in any professional sport, in any day and age, is near impossible and should be recognized by everyone. You know any players that are still alive from this team were jumping for joy when New England lost. Good stuff!

28.) Larry Bird vs. Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Not only did these two duke it out in the 1979 NCAA basketball championship game, but they also faced each other in three NBA title games (84, 85, and 87). Bird and Magic played the game with integrity and passion, this is what I miss most about the NBA.

27.) Mark McGwire breaks Roger Marris's home run record of 61.

Roger Marris went through a tough time when he broke the Babe's home run record. Mark did not have it very rough, but I was glad to see the record broken because it sparked some more interest in baseball again (steroids aside). It's cliche, but records are meant to be broken.

26.) Terrorists murdering 11 Olympic athletes at the Munich Olympics.

There really aren't words that can describe the feelings and emotions people felt after this tragic occurrence, but I guess it makes us stronger and appreciate what we have.

Check out the rest of my blog http://talknowalk.wordpress.com/ for reviews, random thoughts, news, and anything else I feel like talking about. Don't forget to check out the Poll of the Month and Video(s) of the Month sections of my blog as well.

The History of the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are one of the NFL's 32 football teams. The Miami Dolphins have a very storied past and are one of the NFL's up and coming teams right now. The Miami Dolphins have many great accomplishments as an organization and also look to add to their history in the near future.

The Miami Dolphins are a very proud organization. Just 4 years after they entered the league in 1968, the Dolphins were in their first Superbowl. In the 1971 season, the Miami Dolphins went to the Super Bowl and lost to the Dallas Cowboys. The very next year they would do something no other team in NFL history has ever done, go undefeated. Through a very difficult schedule they made their way to the Super Bowl a second time, with no losses on their resume. Somehow the Dolphins were still not favored. The Dolphin's won and the 1972 season went down in history. The team repeated as Super Bowl champions in the fantastic 1973 season.

The Dolphins would go to the Super Bowl only 1 other time from that time up until the present but they are working hard to go back. Throughout the 1990's, the Dolphins were favorites many seasons in a row to win the Super Bowl. They had a powerful offense led by Dan Marino and a decent defense with John Offedale, Brian Cox and several others. Their efforts fell short year after year and the Dolphins' fans were continually left with nothing but a feeling of disappointment.

In 2004, the proud Miami Dolphins organization known for making the playoffs on a continuous basis faced something quite unusual to them. A losing season. The Dolphins went 4-12 and had their first losing season in a great number of years. It would not be the first, as they would face 3 more losing seasons before they finally came back to prominence and respectability.

Now, in 2010, the Miami Dolphins are back on track. They have found a quarterback, not quite as good as Dan Marino, but he should get the job done. They also have a great running back in Ronnie Brown and a fantastic Left Tackle in Jake Long. The rest of the offensive line is also very good as the Dolphins now boast one of the best Offensive lines in the NFL thanks to former offensive line coach Tony Sparano, who is now the Dolphins current head coach.

Sparano is a member of the Bill Parcells coaching tree. While Parcells coaches have proven to be very powerful throughout the league, Tony has proven no different. This past season, Parcells' disciple Sean Payton won a Super Bowl. Many people expect the same thing from Tony Sparano within the next few season.

This expectation seems quite irrational, but every team should expect to be competing for a Super Bowl just about every year. To expect less would be to be a bad fan. The Miami Dolphins have plenty of fans who believe they can be one of the league's best teams.

Brian Gibson has been writing online content for over 2 years and enjoys writing about sports, health and entertainment. He also maintains a website, Products Review Network, which has product reviews for products such as Calms Forte 4 Kids and Whole House Surge Protector.

The NFL Made a Mistake!

Sure, no one likes a bad case of indigestion because it hurts like hell and can be a little scary if you've never experienced the tightness in the chest and the shooting pain down your left arm, but let's face facts: it's rarely fatal. Unfortunately, that's just what the NFL wants in the playoffs this coming season: an overtime rule that's rarely fatal.

I figure "sudden death" was too violent a concept for a league that seems destined to become a "two hands below the waist" touch football league. Whatever. Let's take a look at the rule change that has a lot of people, yours truly included, scratching their collective heads.

Everyone knows how OT in the NFL works. There's a coin toss, the team that receives the kickoff marches down the field and kicks a field goal, and we all go home 3 minutes later, unless of course the game is on CBS, which goes to commercial break after every play for some reason. Anyway, this scenario, in large part, is what prompted this rule change. Seems that since 1994 34% of the teams that won the coin toss won the game on their first possession, and a full 60% of coin-toss winners were the eventual winner.

28 out of 32 owners thought those statistics reflected something unfair, and decided to take one step closer to becoming a coed soccer league where everyone gets a trophy just for coming out to play. The change: If you win the coin toss and kick a field goal on your first possession, then you have to kick the ball to the other team to see what they can do with it. Lame if you ask me. Anyway, if they tie the score, then another coin toss happens and the old sudden death rules are back in effect. First team to score goes home happy. However, if the second team scores a touchdown, then the opening field goal simply wasn't enough, game over, you lost by three.

There is a caveat to this new rule, however. If the team that wins the OT coin toss marches down the field on their opening drive and scores a touchdown, then it's good night Irene and the team whose kicker was the only person to even touch the ball is quite upset, we'll hear about it later on SportsCenter.

There could be a minor silver lining here as it could spark a change in approach to how teams play overtime. Traditionally, teams cautiously move the ball down the field, getting closer and closer to their kicker's field goal range. Now, however, we could see teams open their playbooks and go for the jugular by scoring a touchdown. That is the one sure way to make certain the game is over and decided in your favor.

On the other side of that coin, if you will, is that this will only happen in the playoffs, and which head coach wants to go home playing the role of Dog with Fleas because he opted for a touchdown and came up short? Believe it or not, there are few brave warriors in the NFL coaching ranks.

So, why only playoff games? Truth be told I think the way the Vikings lost to the Saints in overtime in the NFC Championship game had a lot to do with it. The Vikings never saw the ball in the extra period. As a diehard Vikings fan I'm still feeling the sting of that loss. However, they had ample opportunity to get the job done in regulation, and it seems that Vikings' ownership agrees, as they, the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens, who voted against the change.

Whatever. I figure if you weren't tough enough to win it in regulation, only to turn around and lose it in overtime because you called heads and it landed tails, then boo hoo. Suck it up. When your offense and your defense take care of business, there's no such thing as overtime. You win it in regulation, you go home a winner, and you prepare to ruin next Sunday for some other team who's probably eyeballing OT, where a little luck can still go a long way.

I've done my share of writing, as a sports columnist, a freelancer and blogger. I've tried my hand at everything from writing the great American novel to scribing the minutes of monthly board meetings. Desperate times call for desperate measures, eh?

One day I'll get my big break... Maybe not. But at least, after all is said and done, I'll get to say that I've spent an entire career, an entire lifetime, writing, breathing, and living sports. And isn't that the American dream? Check out my blog, Sports Action Today, and add me on Facebook if you want a friend who won't shut up about sports!

Should the Tennessee Titans Play Vince Young?

Vince Young is one of those quarterbacks who had the storybook college football career. Winning his team a national championship on a heroic play at the end of the 4th quarter, Young was on top of the world when he was selected to lead the Tennessee Titans to glory as their quarterback.

Drafted third overall in the 2006 draft (behind Reggie Bush and Mario Williams), Vince Young has spent three full seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. While he had a chance to act as the team's starting QB in 2007, he fell short of expectations, posting a rather low QB rating during the year.

Young simply wasn't ready to handle the job, they thought. After a shaky start to his 2008 season, Young was booed by fans during a game after throwing an interception. This led to a short-term disappearance and a rumored suicide attempt. Young simply couldn't handle the pressure.

Ironically, this team played even better under the leadership of Collins and finished with one of the best records in the NFL during the 2008 regular season.

At this point, it looked like Young was nowhere near ready to resume his role as a starter. Collins continued to thrive, but going into 2009, the Titans look like anything but their old selves.

Having lost their first 5 games, it seems like the playoff chances of this team are slim to none. Vince Young is 26, so now's as good a time as any to give him a shot. We may just see that in the weeks to come.

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Bengals' Chances of Beating Jets in AFC Wild Card Game

One of the two NFL wild card playoff matchups to be played this weekend will be the New York Jets visiting the Cincinnati Bengals. This will be an interesting game on many levels, and odds makers have a tight spread pegged, as the Bengals are projected to win by a mere 2 1/2 points.

Why is the spread so tight when the Bengals clearly looked like the better team through the course of the season. Are we to believe that the Jets, who many believe shouldn't have even made the playoffs, can cruise through this matchup to beat Cincinnati on their own turf?

Well, one factor that needs to be acknowledged is the health of star wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. The revival of Ochocinco (formerly known as Chad Johnson) is believed by many to be a key factor in the bounce back year that Cincy enjoyed.

After a disappointing 2008, Chad was back in full effect in 2009, posting 1,047 receiving yards and 9 touchdown catches. He was the team's best receiver by far.

Unfortunately, he hurt his knee during last Sunday's matchup at New York against the Jets while the teams were warming up. The injury has been called a bruise, and it clearly affected him on Sunday. In fact, he wasn't even able to play.

The good news is that he practiced fully this week and appears to be ready to play. The chemistry between Ochocinco and quarterback Carson Palmer could very well be a major factor in the team's success against the Jets on Saturday.

With a 6-2 home record, Cincinnati is just about as strong as any football team in the league at home. This bodes well for the franchise. They've also had a rough last few seasons, so you can be sure that the fans will be full of energy and fully behind their team on Saturday.

The key to the team's success will be the ability to penetrate the dangerous Jets defense. If Carson Palmer is on top of his game, anything is possible.

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Keys to the Jets' Success at Cincinnati

An interesting first round Wild Card playoff game will be taking place between the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend as the NFL playoffs kick off.

The Jets finished the season with a 9-7 record, led by rookie QB Mark Sanchez and new head coach Rex Ryan, formerly defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens.

The Bengals bounced back from a 4-11-1 season and ended up finishing the year at 10-6, winning their division to the surprise of many as they beat out both the Steelers and the Ravens in the AFC North.

Thanks to the return of star QB Carson Palmer, who missed most of last season due to injury, the team was revitalized and looked like its former competitive self. Contributions from new starting running back Cedric Benson also helped out greatly.

Can the Jets beat this team, especially when played on their own field? It seems like a tall order for a team that was 6-7 just a few short weeks ago.

While the team has won its last few games, the wins against the Colts in week 16 and the Bengals in week 17 aren't counted by many, as both teams rested most of their starters because of the fact that they were already playoff bound and didn't want to risk injury.

Anyway, here are a few quick keys to the Jets' success on Saturday. If they can come through with these, they can come away with a win.

Chad Johnson must be shut down. He's far and away the team's best receiver, and isolating him could go a really long way. If Darrelle Revis can play as he usually does, this is a definite possibility.

In addition to this, Mark Sanchez needs to limit his mistakes. He doesn't need to be a standout QB in this game. If he can be efficient through the game, throw a couple hundred yards, and a couple of TDs with few or no turnovers, the Jets' defense and run game can carry them the rest of the way.

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A Short History of Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons is an American football team based in Atlanta - Georgia. It is a member of NFC South (National Football Conference). This team joined the NFL (National Football League) in 1965. The Falcons are well-known for its record of 275-400-6 and division championship in the 1980, 1998 and 2004. They have made only one appearance in the Super Bowl in 1999.

After the construction of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the city thought of pursuing a spot on the professional football scene. The NFL was coincidentally looking to expand its fan base activities in the South and to also get a franchise. On 30 June 1965, the Atlanta Falcons were envisioned. Rankin M. Smith Sr. who was an executive vice president of Life Insurance Company of Georgia was granted ownership by NFL Commissioner, Pete Rozelle. The name Falcons was suggested by a high school teacher of Georgia, Julia Elliot in a contest held in 1965. Tommy Nobis from the University of Texas was drafted in the first draft and became the first Falcon.

The first season of the Atlanta falcons was in 1966. They lost nine games and finally won their first game against New York Giants. They won their first home victory against St. Louis Cardinals. They won their first ever Monday Night Football game in Atlanta in 1971 season. In 1978, the Falcons entered their first playoff series and won the Wild Card playoffs against the Eagles. Later they lost to Dallas Cowboys in Divisional Playoffs. They again lost in the Divisional Playoffs to the Cowboys in 1980.

When the Falcons made their way to the playoffs and lost to the Minnesota Vikings, the coach Leeman Bennett was sacked because of the loss. It was later in 1991 when the Atlanta Falcons made it to another playoff game when they lost to the Washington Redskins in the Divisional Playoffs. The team was nicknamed 'Dirty Bird Falcons'

The greatest season till date for the team was in 1998, quarterback Chris Chandler and running back Jamal Anderson led the team to one victory after another. The Falcons won by 40-10 over New England Patriots. They finished with 14-2 regular season. On 18 Jan 1999, they defeated the Vikings with 30-27 at Minnesota in the NFC Championship game. However they lost to Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII.

Atlanta Falcons has held the most number of seasons without consecutive wins among all major American football teams. They broke the streak in 2009 season by beating Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the final resulting in the improvement of their record by 9-7.

You might also be interested in learning the detailed history of Serena Williams and also history of Atlanta Falcons.

Who Will Be the Best Teams in the NBA This Season?

When it comes to free agency in the National Basketball Association, no season has been more hyped going in than this upcoming one. The fact that Dirk Nowitzki has the option to become an unrestricted free agent has no one even flinching, due to the fact that there is a bevy of talent that will have to find a new home.

Wherever Lebron ends up will probably be one the top teams, but let's account for every one else that is poised for successful seasons.

When it comes to the Vegas odds, that team from Los Angeles (no, not the Clippers) is the surefire favorite. The Lakers will have everyone returning, including Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. That is good for Laker fans and bad news for everyone else.

Regardless of whom Chicago lands, they are going to be a good team. As it stands, they are probably in a position to nab at least an 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, however you can be sure that they will get at least one superstar. Even if its just Joe Johnson, that immediately makes them a contender.

The Orlando Magic are not going away. Jameer Nelson is back to full health, and Dwight Howard's post game can only get better (it has to eventually, right?). Rashard Lewis was nonexistent in the playoffs, which is a cause for concern, but the Magic's size and perimeter shooting pose problems for everyone else.

Look out for Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder. This team returns with a vengeance and should make serious noise in the Western Conference playoffs. Who knows what Durant will average next season, but I think the Thunder will be in good position to finish top 3 in the West.

The Phoenix Suns had a miracle run this season. Hopefully it was not a miracle, however, and Steve Nash and crew will be able to make another deep run in the Western Conference playoffs. It is doubtful since Amare Stoudemire is most likely finished with Phoenix.

Finally, the New York Knicks finally have a chance to be good next year! The team has been rebuilding for this year for as long as I can remember, and I'm crossing my fingers that Lebron becomes a Knick, but I am sure the Knicks management will find a way to mess this one up.

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AFC & NFC Championship Games Fantasy Football Forecast

The NFC and AFC Championship Games are nearing, and that means more fantasy football to devour at RotoPlay. And to help you assemble the most potent roster possible, here is this week's forecast.

(Note: The scoring for this contest covers just this week, as opposed to the other fantasy football playoff contests on RotoPlay, which run through the Super Bowl)

Player 1
1) Drew Brees: Brees blistered the Cardinals for nearly 250 passing yards and three touchdowns last week as New Orleans took a wrecking ball to Arizona's hopes of getting back to the Super Bowl. And despite how dominant the Vikings seemed last week against Dallas, their pass defense was not intimidating during the regular season. Minnesota was 19th in pass defense for the year, and 23rd in passing scores given up. If the Saints' offensive line can keep Brees upright, he could have a monster day.

2) Peyton Manning: In the regular season, the Jets gave up an average of 30 fewer passing yards per game than any other team in the league, and allowed six fewer touchdown passes than any other team. They've been good this postseason as well, picking off three passes and allowing only two touchdowns, but Manning is arguably the best quarterback ever, and he defies those statistics - well, at least to the point where we'll rank him second in this group.

3) Brett Favre: Favre enjoyed the first postseason four-touchdown game of his storied career last week, as the Vikings hammered the Cowboys in every which way. True, one of those was a semi-controversial toss in garbage time at the end of the fourth quarter, but it really only rankled some members of the Dallas Cowboys, and likely their fans (certainly, Favre's postseason fantasy football owners enjoyed it). Really, the only concern with Favre is that he reverts back to his old ways and starts slinging the ball around, especially because the Saints were third in the NFL in interceptions, and have a knack for creating key turnovers.

4) Mark Sanchez: For obvious reasons, Sanchez really shouldn't be considered as an option among the other stalwarts in this group.

Player 2
1) Adrian Peterson: Peterson ran for only 63 yards in Minnesota's blowout win over Dallas last week, continuing a trend that has seen him run for fewer than 100 yards in nine consecutive games. It should be noted, however, than he ran for at least 80 yards in four of those games, and has become an effective weapon as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, having caught at least three passes for at least 40 yards in four of his last five regular season games. The Saints are not particularly torrid in run defense, ranking 21st in the NFL in that statistic in the regular season, and allowed 6.7 yards per carry against the Cardinals last week. The optimist in you may just say he's due for a big game.

2) Pierre Thomas: Thomas overcame a rib injury and ran the ball 13 times for 52 yards against Arizona last week. He also caught four passes for 18 yards, and that's where his value comes into play, especially in this scoring format and against the formidable run defense of the Vikings, who were second in the NFL against the run this season and tied with the Packers for fewest rushing scores allowed.

3) Joseph Addai: Addai isn't a running back that will pile up huge numbers, but he does a little bit of everything. Unfortunately, he hasn't done enough for his postseason fantasy football owners, such as last week's 11-carry, 23-yard performance. Still, he found the end zone frequently this season (13 touchdowns), and he's also caught at least three passes in each of his last five games.

4) Thomas Jones: Though Jones remains the lead back for the Jets in theory, Shonn Greene has seemingly taken over that role in the postseason. Jones has run for only 75 yards on 29 carries with one score in the Jets' two playoff games, and he hasn't caught a single pass.

Player 3
1) Shonn Greene: As mentioned above, Greene has taken the lead for the Jets in the running game. He's had two fabulous outings, running for 135 yards and one touchdown against the Bengals, and 128 yards and one score against the Chargers. Indianapolis was just 24th in the league against the run during the regular season, and Greene had 95 yards against them in Week 16.

2) Reggie Bush: Bush had his best game of the season in terms of total yards last week against the Cardinals, running for 84 yards and one score on five carries, and catching four passes for 24 yards. Maybe it was because Kim Kardashian was in the building, but last week Bush also showed toughness while running the ball, something he hadn't shown much of previously. One of the things holding him back in this scoring format is that he doesn't get many carries, but he's still as explosive a player as a fantasy football owner could ask for.

3) Chester Taylor: Taylor had 23 yards rushing on four carries last week against the Cowboys, and 16 yards on two receptions. When he gets the opportunity, he can make plays, but he simply doesn't get the amount of overall opportunities that you're likely to see from the above options.

4) Donald Brown: Brown only ran the ball six times for 10 yards against the Ravens, though he did have two receptions for 15 yards. Still, the other options in this group are simply sounder than the rookie from UConn.

Player 4
1) Dallas Clark: Clark caught four passes for 57 yards against the Jets in Week 16 before being yanked from the game. In the Colts' win over the Ravens last week, he had seven receptions for 59 yards, marking the third time in four contests he caught exactly seven balls. With receptions so valuable in this scoring format, he's No. 1 in this group. And as good as the Jets are against the pass, Antonio Gates had eight catches for 93 yards in San Diego's loss to New York last week.

2) Sidney Rice: Rice was a monster in Minnesota's dismantling of the Cowboys, catching six passes, half of which went for touchdowns, and accumulating 142 receiving yards. It was his second straight game with six catches for over 100 yards with multiple touchdowns. He's clearly in sync with Brett Favre, and is an outstanding option for obvious reasons.

3) Marques Colston: Colston led his team with six receptions and 83 receiving yards last week against the Cardinals, and he also found the end zone. It was the third time in his last four games (with Week 17 being the exception) that Colston caught at least five passes for at least 75 yards. He's New Orleans' No. 1 target at wide receiver, and thus, an option worth seriously considering.

4) Reggie Wayne: Yes, Vincent Jackson had over 100 receiving yards last week even though Darrelle Revis was covering him, but in a fantasy football format where you have other very good options, we'd simply stay away from the best cornerback in the land.

Player 5
1) Percy Harvin: Harvin wasn't involved much in Minnesota's win over the Cowboys last week, catching only one pass for a single yard and running the ball three times for 23 yards, but you have to believe that will change. That outing was the first time Harvin was in single digits in receiving yards all season, and in what promises to be a high-scoring affair this week, you have to believe the rookie from Florida will be in the mix offensively for the Vikings.

2) Robert Meachem: Like Harvin, Meachem did not figure into his team's offense last week, failing to catch even one pass for the first time since Week 7. Yet also like Harvin, expect him to be a bigger part of his team's offense this week, though he ranks behind the rookie because he hasn't been as consistent throughout the course of the season as Harvin has.

3) Pierre Garcon: Garcon, who did not play against the Jets in Week 16 when New York visited Indy, had five receptions for just 34 yards last week against the Ravens. The Jets are No. 1 against the pass, and even with Darrelle Revis likely covering Reggie Wayne most of the day, Garcon will still have his work cut out for him.

4) Braylon Edwards: Sometimes Edwards has it, sometimes he does not, and last week's two-reception, 41-yard effort against the Chargers did little to inspire confidence that he'd show up this week against the Colts' solid pass defense.

Player 6
1) Jerricho Cotchery: Cotchery has put up solid numbers in the playoffs thus far, with nine receptions for 92 yards in two games, and over the course of the season he's shown himself to be the team's top pass-catching threat. And let's face it - the Jets will have to throw the ball at some point, especially if the Colts get out to an early lead, putting Cotchery, who had four catches for 45 yards against Indy in Week 16, in a position to contribute.

2) Austin Collie: Collie had big numbers against the Jets in their Week 16 match-up, with six catches for 94 yards. That comes with a caveat, however, in that the Colts had pulled most of their players, and Collie was left in, making him the No. 1 option. Still, the rookie has played well down the stretch, including last week when he caught four passes, including one for a touchdown, for 52 yards.

3) Devery Henderson: Henderson showed some of that big-play ability last week that was missing from his game so often during the regular season. He caught a 44-yard touchdown pass as part of a four-reception, 80-yard day, and as one of the Saints' top-three wideouts, has a chance to pick up plenty of fantasy points each week. However, he isn't as consistently on the other end of Drew Brees' passes as you might hope, and receptions are too important in this scoring system to ignore.

4) Bernard Berrian: Berrian is on the outside looking in during most of the Vikings' offensive possessions, and as such he caught only three passes for 32 yards last week. He hasn't caught more than three passes in any of his last four games, and hasn't scored in seven contests. Still, he does have a chance to show up if this game turns into a shootout, so don't completely discount him.

Player 7
1) Visanthe Shiancoe: Shiancoe has proven to be a touchdown machine all season, and figured into the scoring again last week, even though it was his only reception of the game and came at the end of the fourth quarter (upsetting the Cowboys, and linebacker Keith Brooking in particular). But the fact is, he's scored in three consecutive games, so even if he doesn't catch a lot of passes, counting on him to find the end zone is something you can do with confidence.

2) Jeremy Shockey: Shockey caught his first touchdown since Week 6 in New Orleans' playoff win over Arizona last week, and for the game hauled in three passes for 36 yards. However, during the game, he seemed to be favoring the toe injury that had sidelined him at the end of the regular season, which may have hampered his production. If you're confident he's healthy, by all means consider using him because he does give you the ability to pick up points with receptions that Shiancoe may not.

3) Dustin Keller: After scoring just twice in the regular season, Keller scored his second touchdown of the postseason last week against the Chargers. Though he picked up just 19 yards in the contest, he did so on three receptions, which is a solid total in this scoring system. But considering his struggles to find the end zone during the regular season, you have to wonder if he has it in him to score for the third straight game.

4) David Thomas: Thomas had a big role in the Saints' offense when the aforementioned Shockey went down, but with Shockey back in the saddle, Thomas' production waned. He didn't have a catch last week, and is probably not someone you want in your fantasy football lineup this week.

Kicker
1) Ryan Longwell: Longwell made both of his field goal tries last week, and in fact missed only two field goal attempts all season. Despite playing on the road, he'll still be inside a dome, which is a welcome location for all kickers.

2) Garrett Hartley: Hartley is one of those players that falls in the high risk/high reward category. He nailed his only field goal try last week and plays for a robust offense, but on the other hand, he missed most of the season with an injury and does not have much postseason experience, so there's no telling how he'll react.

3) Jay Feely: The Colts allowed more field goals from 40-49 yards than any other NFL team, and that means solid points in this scoring system. Also, the Jets do not carry a potent offense with them into this contest, so field goals could be the order of the day.

4) Matt Stover: During the regular season, the Jets allowed the fifth-fewest field goals in the league, and the fewest extra points. Furthermore, kickers have missed all five field goals attempted against them so far this postseason. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but Stover gets the bottom ranking anyway.

Defense

(Note: We won't rank the defenses, because which team you believe will win will have a lot to do with the defense you select).

- Indianapolis Colts: The Colts' defense isn't superb, but they are facing a Jets team that scored the fewest points among winning teams in each of the two playoff rounds, and have a decided advantage in that they play at home.

- New York Jets: The Jets are tempting, but the Colts have an outstanding offense, and will be difficult to beat at home. Still, if you think they'll upset the Colts, they belong in the top spot.

- New Orleans Saints: The Saints allowed just 14 points to the previously potent Arizona offense in New Orleans' 45-14 beat down last weekend. New Orleans wasn't an imposing defense throughout the season, but they got plenty of turnovers, a formula that worked last week and will likely need to take shape again this week.

- Minnesota Vikings: Minnesota devoured the Dallas offense in every way last week en route to destroying the Cowboys 34-3. The Vikings have a better defense than the Saints statistically, especially against the run, but the Saints are a legitimately great offense, and the home crowd will be thunderous, considering this will be the first time in their history that they'll host an NFC Championship game.

The History of Collecting Baseball Trading Pins

The hobby of collecting lapel pins began many years ago. A lot of times during the United States Presidential election of earlier years the lapel pins gave Americans a first look at the candidates. In the sporting world, trading of lapel pins began at the Olympics. Collectors would gather at the Olympics to buy, sell, and/or trade. Once the internet came into existence these social gatherings disappeared.

Trading Pins have long been an integral part of many baseball tournaments and team sports all across the country. At the beginning of baseball pins were made and were called press pins. They were made for the World Series game in 1911. Then about twenty-seven years later press pins were issued for the annual midseason exhibition. This was five years after the first All-Star game. No pins were made for the 1939 and 1940 games. The reason for the name press pins was because the pins were made for the media to be able to enter the press box. They were made lavishly. Once the The Great War, World War I had started and rationing of raw materials began the look of the press pin changed. No longer were the pins so large and lavish. The average size became the size of a nickel and the size still holds the same for today. Since 1964, people have contacted companies to make pins for them to take to regular season games, playoffs, tournaments, and the World Series to trade and sell to other collectors. The larger and heavier the pins are the more expensive the pins are. An interesting fact is that the New York Yankees hold the record for the most sold in the United States among collectors and fans.

Today a collector can have custom pins made from $1.10 to $4.80 depending on the size and amount of pins being purchased. Collectors are also able to purchase pins that the company has made for as little as $0.15. Collectors have pins made to sell or trade at baseball games and events. Collectors normally specialize in one certain team. They do not just purchase random team pins to just have the pins. Collectors have certain teams or themes they collect. The hobby has become a serious yet fun past time.

From little leagues to the big leagues, baseball trading pins have been a fan tradition for many decades. If you are seeking trading pins for your team or if you are simply a fan - visit Trading Pin Zone for examples and designs for your next order.

2009 Road to the Super Bowl

After nine weeks the NFL is shaping up with some very interesting matchings coming up. At this point there appears to be about ten teams with a decent shot at making it to the Big Game. Over the next four weeks figure in tough schedules, key injuries, and a little luck, and the field should narrow to the top four candidates. At this point The New York Giants and the Tennessee Titans look awfully GOOD. That being said the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins figure to contest the issue strongly.

The schedule factor gives a favorable edge to The Washington Redskins, however, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Green Bay also have scheduling that could be in their favor. The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles have a little tougher road to hoe.

Also, keeping it interesting over the next four weeks is the emergence of three or four improving teams, i.e. watch Baltimore, New York, and Arizona.

Next, the injury bug and Lady Luck will play their part too. Keep tuned for updates on Big Ben.

As of this early date, Tennessee is 8-0, N Y giants 7-1, Carolina 6-2, Washington 6-2, Pittsburgh 5-2, NY Jets 5-3, New England 5-3, Chicago 5-3, Philadelphia 5-3, Green bay 4-4 and also, still hanging in there Tampa Bay 6-3, Chicago 5-3 , Baltimore 5-3 and Arizona 5-3. Give it three or four weeks and it will look a little clearer.

How do the current win streaks look? Tennessee 8, NY giants 3, Philadelphia 3, Baltimore 3, Washington 2, Chicago 2, NY Jets 2. Just keep in mind some teams have had easier schedules so far but in the end it will even out a little more.

Keep a watch on key matchups. Week 10 Tennessee @ Chicago and N Y Jets @ Philadelphia. Week 11 NY Giants @ New England, Chicago @ Green Bay, Baltimore @ NY Giants Week 12 NY Jets @ Tennessee, Philadelphia @ Baltimore, NY Gs @ Arizona, Week 13 Arizona @ Philadelphia, Carolina @ GB, NY Giants @ Washington, Pittsburg @ New England, Week 14 Philadelphia @ NY Giants, Washington @ Baltimore., Tampa Bay@ Carolina Week 15 Pittsburg @ Baltimore, Week 16 Pittsburg @ Tennessee, Philadelphia @ Washington, Arizona @ New England, Carolina 2 NY Giants, Green Bay @ Chicago, and Week 17 Tennessee @ Indianapolis, and Chicago @ Pittsburg. There you have it, Please keep in mind once the playoffs star it's a whole new ballgame.

May all your sports dreams come true.

Ashi, is a big fan and self proclaimed expert of NFL football. He can be reached on his new website on Sports Dream of business people at http://www.xispl.com

NFL Week 1 Games

The NFL season is almost here. The last week of preseason is being played and teams are getting ready to trim down their rosters. What great games will we have in week one? This is usually the week when novice football fans realize that preseason doesn't matter. All the good teams return to form and the bad teams, which were dominating in preseason, begin their horrific trip through the regular season. Here's a listing of games going down in week one in the NFL.

Thursday September 7

1. Miami Dolphins at the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Dolphins have been over hyped this off-season. Here's a great test for this Miami club right out of the gate.

Sunday September 10

2. Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

The battle for division supremacy begins right here.

3. New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns

4. Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions

The Seattle Seahawks get a fairly easy game to open the season. The Lions have a new offensive coordinator.

5. Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Texans

6. Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs

Will Carson Palmer be ready for action? This will be a hard fought game.

7. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

The rivalry gets going in week one. The Patriots have lost a great deal this off-season. Are the Bills ready to step it up this year?

8. Denver Broncos at St. Louis Rams

9. Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

10. New York Jets at Tennessee Titans

How long before we hear chants calling for Vince Young?

11. San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

One of the worst games this week. The only reason to watch is to see the Cardinals news stadium and to see how Edgerrin James runs for Arizona.

12. Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Is this it for Brett Favre? Will the Bears find an offense?

13. Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars

Great opening game for two clubs looking to step it up this season. Will Owens actually play in this one?

14. Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants

Sunday night football starts out with a monstrous game. How will P. Manning do without James? Can either of the Manning brothers win a playoff game?

15. Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins

The Redskins are proving that offense is not their thing. The Vikings believe they have a shot at their division this season. This should be a good Monday night game.

16. San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

You are now up to date on week one in the NFL. It's going to be a great week.

The author is a Senior Editor at SportsGamblingReview.com, an online sportsbook directory site including over 1,000 sportsbook reviews.

The Rich Professional Sports Past and Present of a Well Known Southeast City of Ohio

Cincinnati is undoubtedly a city with a rich and interesting history. Many people know that the city was once known as Porkopolis due to the large amount of pork produced in the downtown area. However, what some people fail to realize is that there are many other great things about the city in the past and present as well. For example, orthodontics and braces are also known for their quality and excellence.

In addition to excellence in the field of dentistry, Cincinnati also has a rich tradition in professional sports. Currently there are two major pro sports teams in the city, the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Also, in the now fairly distant past, the Queen City had a basketball team called the Cincinnati Royals, for which NBA hall of famer and University of Cincinnati graduate Oscar Robertson played. In the upcoming paragraphs all three of these interesting professional sports teams will be discussed along with a review of how the two currently existing teams have done in their recent seasons.

The Cincinnati Reds are one of the older teams in professional baseball and in fact used to be known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Currently the team plays in the Central division of the National League. In their past the team has had both some excellent success and some truly miserable failures. In fact, from the year 1970 to 1976 the team was given the nickname of "The Big Red Machine", which was a time of unprecedented success for the team that brought two World Series Championships. The most infamous player of all time was Pete Rose, who on talent and achievements alone deserves to be in the hall of fame. However, his partaking in and admitting to gambling on baseball games while playing has barred him from receiving that magnanimous honor.

The other major professional sports team in Cincinnati is the Cincinnati Bengals of professional football. The team has in fact never won a Super Bowl and was closest when Boomer Esiason played at Quarterback, losing in the Super Bowl to San Francisco. Recently the team has found some success under Coach Marvin Lewis, and they in fact have made the playoffs two times in the past five seasons.

Lastly, the Cincinnati Royals used to be a professional basketball team in the city. A local star from the University of Cincinnati named Oscar Robertson, who is now an NBA hall of famer, was the star of the team and they met with a reasonable amount of success. The team in fact had been moved around all over the nation, originating in Rochester then stopping in Cincinnati and Kansas City before making their final stop in Sacramento where they are now known as the Kings.

Despite the fact that most of them are not horribly successful these days, as anyone can tell from the preceding paragraphs, Cincinnati has a very diverse and rich history in professional sports.

Connor Sullivan visited several Cincinnati orthodontics practices for quotes on pricing braces for his children. He visited a Cincinnati braces provider for help straightening his adult teeth.

NFL Playoff Action Good for Vegas Books

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Pittsburgh's upset of Indianapolis coupled with Denver's disposal of two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England proved to be a knockout blow to the public over the weekend, sending many parlays and teasers tumbling along with futures tickets.

Last week, Stardust Race and Sports Director Bob Scucci forecast a New England-Carolina Super Bowl to the Professional Handicappers League, believing heavy favorite Indianapolis would stumble on the road to Motown, site of the NFL's 2006 showcase.

Monday, Scucci crowed to the Las Vegas Review-Jounal, "If I felt there was a time for the Colts to be ripe for the picking, it was this game, and I said it before the game."

Patrick Daugherty, a Stardust night shift supervisor, and Robert Jaynes, the Stratosphere Tower's race and sports director, agreed bet shops enjoyed a better Saturday than Sunday, which wasn't chopped liver either.

"A lot of teasers were blown with Indy," Daugherty declared, referring to Pittsburgh's stunning 21-18 victory over the Colts that eliminated them from Super Bowl XL contention.

"We had some run over, but it knocked out others," Jaynes said.

Jaynes added that the number was so elevated "educated players" considered it "way too much."

"Some places had it as high as Indy minus 10," he declared. "We opened at 9 1/2 and went down to 8 1/2."

Jaynes revealed the Stratosphere took a "giant" wager -- mingled with many smaller ones --on Indy earlier in the season, when the Colts were 3 1/2 to 1 to win the Super Bowl.

Carolina's 29-21 downing of Chicago was bad news for folks holding Bears futures, as well as bookmakers, who saw early bucks on the Bears but more late ones on the Panthers.

"The public and wise guys both liked Carolina," Daugherty noted. "We went from 3 to 2 1/2.

"Where we did well was with the total."

The 'Dust opened the over/under at 31 1/2, the number dropped to 30 1/2 and went off at 31.

"People were betting the under," Daugherty noted.

The Stratosphere total bounced between 30 and 32, going off at 31.

"The over/under wasn't what did it to us," Jaynes said. "It was the money line and points."

The Seattle-Washington NFC matchup was either a barnburner or sister-kisser, depending on what number you bought -- again highlighting the importance of shopping around for that extra half-point.

The NFC champion Seahawks won 20-10.

"Seattle was bad," Daugherty said succinctly.

"Either you got a small win or a push," Jaynes observed from behind the counter.

Saturday's blockbuster was the Broncos.

"Early money was on the Pats, but we started to see more and more parlay money on Denver as the day went on," Jaynes said.

Stratosphere players were all over the Panthers, so much so that the number slid all the way to Bears minus 2.

"People were saying they thought we had the wrong favorite listed," Jaynes continued. "We went all the way to 2, though some places had it at 3 and even 3 1/2."

Daugherty acknowledged futures liability pretty much dissipated over the weekend.

Some stores had jeopardy on the Bears, others on the Redskins. Chicago opened as high as 100/1 in some futures books.

A number of stores still are out on a limb with the Panthers.

"We'll be rooting against Carolina," Daugherty said, presumably because the Stardust would clear less on the Panthers than with the other three survivors.

The Stratosphere opened Seattle at minus 4 1/2 and the number quickly fell to 4. Denver was posted as a flat 3-point favorite and by Monday afternoon the Broncos were minus 3, minus $1.30.

"Why move the number when you can just raise the price?" Jaynes asked.

Lynda Collins is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of her articles at [http://www.procappers.com/Lynda_Collins.htm]

NFL Week 2 Power Rankings + Free NFL Pick

My Power Rankings are based somewhat on performance thus far, but still factors in overall potential and how I think they'll do this season. I want to avoid wild swings in where I have teams ranked, but it may be inevitable. Here is one man's view of Week 2:

New England (-3) at Carolina, 1 p.m. on Sunday

This will be a tight fight - and is the marquee game of the weekend. I wonder how Sports Illustrated feels about its Super Bowl pick starting 0-2? But after last season's 1-7 start by the Panthers I don't think they'll be too worried about an 0-fer in their first two contests.

This is a rematch of Super Bowl 38 (the Roman numerals are just too cumbersome) and many of the principles are still in place for both organizations. You have to love the home dogs in the NFL, and I do think that the odds of a team with as much promise as the Panthers dropping two straight in front of their own fans, but the Pats are really tough to go against. I would feel a lot better about this game if I were a Carolina fan if A) Kris Jenkins had waited until next week to have a season-ending injury, B) Bill Belichick didn't have those three extra days to game plan, C) Corey Dillon was still on the Bengals, and D) Hurricane Ophelia hit at about 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Buffalo at Tampa Bay (-3), 1 p.m. on Sunday

If this game were in Buffalo in December, everyone would be talking about warm weather teams traveling to cold climates. Why doesn't anyone make a similar distinction between cold weather teams traveling down to muggy, sweltering Florida in September (see: Denver vs. Miami last weekend)? I want to see the stat on Green Bay or Buffalo's record when the temperature at the opening kickoff is above 85 degrees. Quick, somebody get on that. And for the record, it's supposed to be 94 on Sunday with isolated thunderstorms.

Hey, I'll admit that I was really shocked by the Bucs win over Minnesota last Sunday. I'm not ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet, but no one ever said that there wasn't talent on that club. Also, this is J.P. Losman's first road test. He looked great against Houston at home, but if Buffalo is down 4 with five minutes to play this weekend we'll see what the kid is made of.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis (-9.5), 1 p.m. on Sunday

This is definitely the "Wow" line of the week. Yeah, I know that it will be Indy's home opener, that on any given Sunday they can put up 70, and that they handled a very talented Baltimore squad in Week 1. But I still wasn't expecting nearly a double-digit line. In their two games against the Colts last season, the Jags lost 24-17 in Week 3 but then rolled into the RCA Dome and beat Indy 27-24 in Week 6.

Manning and Co. had little trouble with the Ravens defense last week, but I think Jacksonville will be able to generate more pressure with its front four. The trade-off is that the Jags secondary isn't nearly as talented as the Ravens, which Manning will most likely exploit. It's almost a shame that a game this big for these teams is happening this early when neither club is at its best.

Kansas City at Oakland (-1), 8 p.m. on Sunday

The Chiefs just absolutely dominated the Jets last weekend. But it was a win at a price. Willie Roaf (hamstring), Ryan Sims (foot), Tony Richardson (knee/ankle), and Patrick Surtain (mild concussion) are each questionable this weekend for the Chiefs, who have beaten the Raiders four consecutive times.

The Raiders offense is so hit-or-miss (could be three-and-out, could be a touchdown in 80 seconds) that the defense won't have much time to rest this season. Just about the time that Warren Sapp and Ed Jasper have let their weight settle on the bench, Kerry Collins has fumbled again and it's back out on the field. Oakland wore down in the fourth quarter against New England. If the same thing happens against KC, the Raiders are in trouble.

FREE PICK: I like Baltimore (-3.5) on the road against Tennessee. This line is low because of the Kyle Boller injury, but it doesn't accurately reflect the talent deficit here. People are assuming Boller actually meant something to the team. The Titans aren't a terrible team, but they did get manhandled by Pittsburgh (161 rushing yards) last weekend. Baltimore is nearly as physical as the Steelers and should be able to pound the Titans on the ground with Jamal Lewis and Chester Taylor. I'm going to ignore the fact that the Ravens are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games, or that Anthony Wright is just 6-7 as a starter (with his last loss coming against Tennessee in the 2003 playoffs), or that there's a possibility of a Kordell Stewart sighting. The numbers may be hazy on this pick, but just ask yourself one simple question - which one of these teams is more likely to start off 0-2?

NFL Week 2 Power Rankings

1) New England Patriots (1-0) - The Patriots are quickly becoming the Duke Blue Devils of the NFL. They're constantly praised for their selflessness and always described as underrated. Yet, I can't think of any other team whose slot receiver and right guard I've seen in commercials in the last 12 months.

2) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) - They remain ahead of the Colts because they are more physical. They don't miss Plexico on offense. Yet.

3) Indianapolis Colts (1-0) - If the usually reliable Matt Stover hadn't shanked three field goals, and the final score was 24-16, would everyone still be enamored with Indy's defense?

4) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) - It will be tough to go into the RCA Dome and keep up with the Colts. However, that's exactly what they did last year when they beat them 27-24.

5) Atlanta Falcons (1-0) - They need to be careful of a letdown against Seattle this week. Also, Jim Mora Jr. is one hell of a coach and will be around a long, long time.

6) Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) - Don't think for a second that playing without Trotter didn't make a difference on Monday. Regardless, I've said it before and I'll say it again, this team is wobbling.

7) Dallas Cowboys (1-0) - Let's not get too excited about Drew Bledsoe just yet. He's still got plenty of turnovers left in that arm.

8) Buffalo Bills (1-0) - Buffalo is now 10-3 in it's last 13 games.

9) Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) - Just when you think that Larry Johnson has turned the corner in his career, he gets arrested for beating up his ex-girlfriend. Scumbag.

10) New Orleans Saints (1-0) - It's tragic that it may have taken something like a natural disaster to get this collection of talent to play focused, purposeful football. But so be it.

11) Carolina Panthers (0-1) - Loss of Kris Jenkins will hurt. Hopefully it won't be a harbinger of things to come. Stephen Davis' line last Sunday (13 carries, 81 yards, TD) was very promising.

12) Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) - Took care of business against weak Browns team in Cleveland. If they're going to make the playoffs they need to win games like this week's against Minnesota. They are also 5-2 ATS in their last seven games.

13) Baltimore Ravens (0-1) - What ever happened to Brian Billick, offensive genius?

14) San Diego Chargers (0-1) - The Million Dollar Question: do you trade Philip Rivers before the trading deadline, or do you wait until next April?

15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) - How would you feel about Cadillac Williams if he had only run for 77 yards on 26 carries (3.0 avg.)? Because those were his numbers before his game-clinching 71-yard run.

16) Detroit Lions (1-0) - Not too early in the year to have a big game. If they can beat the Bears, and if the Vikings lose at Cincinnati, the Lions will have built an early two-game cushion over their only real competition. Kicker Jason Hanson's leg injury has him questionable for this weekend, and could play a huge factor.

17) Oakland Raiders (0-1) - Love this home dog this weekend against banged-up Kansas City. However, I will stick by my declaration that this team is untrustworthy when it comes to me laying money on them.

18) Minnesota Vikings (0-1) - Minnesota is now 2-4 without Randy Moss over the last 12 months. Dante Culpepper is averaging 232 yards passing in those games with 9 TD's to 7 INT's (and that includes a 340-yard, 4 TD game vs. Green Bay).

19) Washington Redskins (1-0) - Skins have lost 12 in a row to the Cowboys. Jon Jansen will play this week with two broken thumbs. Insert "Meet the Parents" joke here.

20) Seattle Seahawks (0-1) - I think it's fair to speculate that Matt Hasselbeck's 2003 season may have just been a fluke.

21) New York Giants (1-0) - Eli Manning's numbers last week (62.2 QB rating) are still unimpressive, and his presence is uninspiring. Shockey's ankle is fine.

22) St. Louis Rams (0-1) - They controlled the ball for 40 minutes, and put up over 400 yards of offense last week. And still lost to the friggin' 49ers. Unbelievable.

23) New York Jets (0-1) - Lots of pressure this weekend against the Fins. In that division, and in that conference, if they lose this game they're in trouble.

24) Miami Dolphins (1-0) - Defended the home turf with a win over Denver. Now they have a shot against a limping Jets team. Interesting.

25) Denver Broncos (0-1) - Jake Plummer has thrown 133 touchdowns in his career. He has also thrown 143 interceptions. Oh, and don't think someone in the front office doesn't have Maurice Clarett's cell phone number.

26) Chicago Bears (0-1) - Except for those two pesky second-half turnovers (not like those matter in a two-point game or anything) Kyle Orton looked good. It was the rest of the offense that sucked.

27) Houston Texans (0-1) - "I'm embarrassed," Andre Johnson said after their 22-7 beating in Buffalo. "I don't know what to say. We didn't do anything. We got our butts kicked."

28) Green Bay Packers (0-1) - Javon Walker blew out his knee and is done for the year. I wonder what Brett Favre has to say about Walker's contract situation now? This team is a wreck.

29) San Francisco 49ers (1-0) - Moron of the Week: Derek Smith. Linebacker is feeling so superior after their "big win" over the Rams, that he decides to start talking smack about Terrell Owens before they role into Philly. Yeah, smart. Poke the wounded animal with a stick.

30) Tennessee Titans (0-1) - Might not be a bad idea to pick up Billy Volek on your fantasy team.

31) Arizona Cardinals (0-1) - I understand that people are entitled to their opinions, but anyone who actually picked Arizona to win the NFC West is an idiot.

32) Cleveland Browns (0-1) - "Matt Leinhart, this is Big Dawg, ruler of the Dawg Pound. Big Dawg, this is Matt Leinhart, former Heisman winner and our future."

Questions or comments for Robert? Email him at robert@docsports.com.

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NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend - Cowboys Vs Eagles - Trends You Should Know

Well it's that time of year again where the NFL regular season has come to a close and the playoffs are about to begin. What's great about NFL football is that the end of it all we have a true winner unlike with NCAA college football where there is always controversy on who the real number one team is. One of the match ups for this upcoming weekend is the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. If you are a sports bettor then here are some trends you may want to consider before making your wagers this weekend.

Top Game Trends:

Since 1992 the Dallas Cowboys have a record of 69-46 versus the spread against conference opponents

During the past 2 seasons the Philadelphia Eagles are 18-9 ATS against conference opponents

The Eagles are 14-4 Against the Spread coming off a divisional game over the past three seasons of play

When coming off of a loss, Philadelphia has a record of 51-27 against their opponent since 1992

Head to Head Series Trends:

The Dallas Cowboys are 3-3 versus the spread against the Eagles over the past 3 seasons

Over the past 3 season the Cowboys have a straight up record of 4-2 against Philadelphia

During the past 3 seasons, 50% or 3 out of 6 games have gone over the total

History has a way of repeating itself when it comes to picking games for NFL football. Although there are no guarantees, taking some of these trends into consideration may just be the help you need to be profitable this playoff season. Good Luck!

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Pedro, Beltran, And The Mets As Seen By One True Yankee Fan

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This article was written in 2004 .
It's the middle of the NFL playoffs, and what has grabbed the interest of many sports fans has been the off-season maneuvering and acquisitions of the Mets and Yankees. In the past, the sports media has hyped baseball trades, the big money contracts, and the long time rivalries which make the off-season so interesting, but never as intensely as this year in NY. First, Pedro Martinez, then, Carlos Beltran going to the Mets has splashed the team front and center in our sports world consciousness. For the first time, in a long time, the Mets have captured the imagination of their fans with the possibilities of a dynamic exciting season.

Anyone who knows me knows I love the Yankees. And yes, I admit scoffing at the Mets in recent seasons. Some may wonder how a Yankee fan feels about the increasing powerful competition across town.

Like many true Yankees fans, I NEVER wanted to see Pedro Martinez in pinstripes.

(Hey, I also was never a Roger Clemmens aficionado).

I have witnessed many sworn enemies extend the olive branch during my lifetime. I've seen Berlin Wall come down, Communism fail, and normal trade with China. I've accepted that Darth Vader was once a good guy, and Tom Cruise can play a bad guy,

But all that doesn't mean I could want Pedro Martinez playing for my team. So thanks Mr. Steinbrenner, for not making that deal. However, I do know Pedro is a terrific pitcher, so why not have him winning for a NY team, in another league....that's perfect!

Carlos Beltran is another matter. Yeah, it would be great to see him in a Yankee line-up.

I could see him patrolling the Stadium outfield. Like a spoiled child who has been given exorbitant gifts throughout her lifetime, I expected George to make a last minute move and deliver yet another treasure. Instead, he offered up a different prize: Randy Johnson. I admit that I secretly hoped for both players and was slightly disappointed. In spite of this, I'm very happy he went to the Mets.

Why? Because the ultimate thrill for a NY sports fan (no matter if you love baseball or not) is to have another Subway Series. It's our Mecca, our Earthly Paradise, and Nirvana all rolled into one. It eclipses The Superbowl, has us more excited than the NBA playoffs, US Open and Master combined. NASCAR is nothing when we're talking Subway Series.

So if getting Beltran, pitching Pedro, and grabbing some headlines in the process are the beginnings of making that dream come true, then bring it on. Yankee fans are ready.

by Cheryl Wallad

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 40 years. Writing about his favorite subject, baseball, has been a blessing. You will enjoy the heartwarming stories, the unusual statistics and inspiring quotes. But mostly you will love the heartwarming stories that hit a home run to your heart.

Join his ezine: http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com/index.php?tag=ezartpedro.