NFL Fantasy Start & Sit Week 17: Championship Week

This week’s start/sit column will be a little different than most. With a lot of teams playing “meaningless” games, certain players may be resting that would normally play most if not all of the game.

For each position, I will give you three normal starters you should sit, three guys you should pick up that could score you big points this week, and three normal starters who are high risk/high reward players.

QB Sits: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees

QB Starts: Brian Hoyer, Jay Cutler, Alex Smith

Hoyer could be a treat if Tom Brady sits early, while Cutler and Smith shouldn’t have any issues feasting on the Lions and Rams, respectively.

QB High Risk/Reward: Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner, Eli Manning

WR Sits: Reggie Wayne, Randy Moss, Vincent Jackson

WR Starts: Devin Aromashadu, Sidney Rice, Roddy White

Aromashadu should continue his late-season surge against a pathetic Detroit pass defense, while Sidney Rice and Roddy White should end the regular season on high notes, with elite performances.

WR High Risk/Reward: Greg Jennings, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin

RB Sits: Joseph Addai, Beanie Wells, LaDainian Tomlinson

RB Starts: Jerome Harrison, Knowshon Moreno, Maurice Morris

Harrison is the real deal, and with another solid match-up this week, you have to play him. Moreno should be able to run all day, as well, and with Brandon Marshall expected to miss the final game, he should be more involved than usual.

The Bears defense has looked stronger lately, but still look for Morris to get some nice touches.

RB High Risk/Reward: Ryan Grant, Steven Jackson, Tim Hightower

TE Sits: Antonio Gates, Chris Baker, Jeremy Shockey

TE Starts: Vernon Davis, Jason Witten, Brent Celek

You can’t sit Davis (ever), especially not with a dreamy match-up like the Rams. Witten could look to get a score to end the regular season, while you can’t stop starting Celek after such solid production (like last week).

TE High Risk/Reward: Jermichael Finley, Kellen Winslow, Dustin Keller

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NFL LVP’s: And the Nominations Are…

We’re all used to seeing the most prestigious players compete for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award.  Season in and season out it is always fight to the finish, and in the end the most deserving normally comes out on top.

But who is the NFL’s Least Valuable Player?  Who among all the others has played the worst style of football?  Dropped the most passes?  And above all, not helped their team in the slightest way possible?

Well here are the nominations.

1. JaMarcus Russell, QB Oakland Raiders

Some people may disagree with me on this.  That’s fair enough.  Although when you’ve only completed 111 passes out of your attempted 232 on the season, surely you know something is wrong.  To top that all off, a quarterback rating of 49.6 sums up JaMarcus’ 2009 season, and definitely puts him in the running for this years LVP.

2. Nick Folk, Former Kicker Dallas Cowboys

From a 2007 Pro Bowl selection, to current free agent.  Nick Folk only has himself to blame really.  Like many kickers this year in the NFL, Folk has struggled a lot.  Missing numerous field goals, particularly a crucial one in the Dallas vs New Orleans game that could have sealed the deal for the Cowboys, made it that much easier for the Cowboys to let him go.

Making only 18 after attempting 28 on the season simply isn’t good enough.  That is why he is up here among the other LVP’s on the season.

3. Jim Zorn, Coach Washington Redskins

Normally these awards are only handed out to players, but surely we couldn’t have an award (show?) without featuring the NFL’s brightest star.  That’s right give a round of applause for Jim Zorn.

I used to like this guy, I really did.  At the start of the season the Redskins were much like the Yankees, spending and spending some more.  With highly talented players being brought into this team, most people gave them a shot at winning the NFC East this year.  We know how that story turned out though.

At 4-11 with a game in hand this week at San Diego, the only place the Redskins are going is back to the drawing board.  They must be damn good friends by now.

Zorn was set to change this franchise.  Instead he collapsed and so did the entire team.  At least he did the classy thing and tried to step down from the head coaching job, but for some reason he is still there hanging on by a thread.

4. T.J Houshmandzadeh , WR Seattle Seahawks

A really hard pick for me to select, but it had to be done.  Maybe it’s just the way the Seahawks are playing at the moment that makes T.J seem not his usual self, but there is something notably different about the way he is playing. 

This story is much like the Deion Branch one.  From a top team where he was recognized as one of the NFL’s elite, down to an under performing team where he is merely another player.

T.J’s numbers aren’t neccesarily bad, but they could be better. His 76 receptions for 845 yards and only 3 touchdowns differs from his 2007 season in Cincinnati.  He still has time to turn it around, but the Seahawks really need to help him out.

5. Derek Anderson, QB Cleveland Browns

Let’s put it this way.  When you have more interceptions than you do touchdowns, you really have to question if you’ve chosen the right career path.  Derek Anderson showed promise, he looked good at times. 

Once again though, a quarterback that could have made a name for himself, didn’t.  Nine interceptions and only 3 touchdowns for only 802 yards is about as good as it gets for Browns fans right now. 

Those are the nominations for this years awards.

Out of the five candidates it is arguable as to who is the most deserving.  Out of all the under performing athletes though, the easiest person to give the award to is Nick Folk.  Constantly scrutinized all season long, and not living up to his reputation as a good kicker, Folk has made a meal of his career.  Currently next to his name it says “Free Agent,” don’t be surprised if sooner or later someone edits in “Permanent Free Agent.”

From what once was an established kicker in the NFL, Folk would be lucky to resign with a team.  That’s why is the Least Valuable Player for the 2009/2010 season.

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Jim Caldwell’s Decision to Rest Means Added Pressure for Colts in Postseason

Jim Caldwell made a bold move last Sunday when he decided to sit Peyton and Co. with 5:36 left to play in the third quarter. To Caldwell, the benefits of having healthy, rested players for a Super Bowl run outweighed the worth of a perfect season.

Once Caldwell sat his starters, he knew the only way to make up for losing the game would be to win the Super Bowl.

The Colts had a chance to accomplish something that has only been achieved two times in the history of the game. Caldwell didn’t care, he knew why they were playing, why they worked so hard in the offseason, why he was promoted to head coach at the beginning of the season- to win the Super Bowl.

He let it be known that a Super Bowl outweighs anything else, even a perfect season. Caldwell has given his team added pressure, but with that pressure comes an increased motivation, not that the Colts weren’t motivated in the first place.

When a guy like Peyton Manning is benched on the verge of a perfect season, you know he’s going to be that much hungrier and work that much harder to make sure he lands another ring.

Everyone will be watching the Colts during the postseason, whether they’re a fan or not, to see if they make it all the way. If they do, the perfect season controversy won’t matter anymore and the Colts will prove that Caldwell made the right decision.

However, if they lose, whether it’s their first playoff game or in the Super Bowl, the controversy will rage on and it will be awhile before Caldwell hears the end of it.

Not many rookie coaches have gone through what Jim Caldwell has this season. He has proven to be a very capable head coach and has handled the recent criticism considerably well. Let’s hope his decision does not go to waste.

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Does Resting Players Translate to Alienating Fans?

Resting key players late in the season in games where there are no playoff implications has become a trend of late, with mixed emotions from both the media and the team’s fan base.

From one viewpoint it’s hard to disagree with a coach’s decision to rest his star players when nothing is on the line. It has been said that the football gods favor the bold, but then again you can’t go wrong with playing it safe and preparing for the long run, can you?

This is often times is a lose-lose situation for the head coach. Rest your players, and face the heat from the media and your fanbase, but play the players and risk injury.

Coach Jim Caldwell of the Indianapolis Colts chose the first route, resting quarterback Peyton Manning in the second half of their game against the New York Jets. Manning would watch from the sidelines as the Colts lost their five-point lead and would go on to lose by two touchdowns with backup quarterback Curtis Painter in the game.

The Colts entered the game 14-0, seeking to become the second team in NFL history to go undefeated in a 16-game regular season, and the first team to ever go undefeated throughout the playoffs and Super Bowl and finish the season 19-0.

Caldwell knew he would take the heat, and did so accordingly. It was obvious by the look on Manning’s face, as he watched the Colts quest for perfection from the sidelines come to an end, that he did not want to give up on rewriting the history books.

By resting his key player did Jim Caldwell help prepare his team for a run at arguably the most glorified and respected feat in sports, winning the Super Bowl, or did he just kill the momentum and emotion of not only the Colts organization, but their fan base and supporters as well.

It doesn’t take much to satisfy the average NFL fan. Win, consistently, but more importantly give them a reason to show confidence in the team and organization. Go hard every week and show your fans that you want to not only win, but dominate every week.

This brings up the question, does resting players translate to alienating fans? After winning the first fourteen games of the season, it will be hard for Colts fans to think of anything else but losing again, with the next loss coming in the playoffs.

Are the Colts instilling confidence in their players and fans heading into the playoffs? I think not.

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Five New Year’s Resolutions for Important Sports Figures

Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa. Happy New Year, and any other Happy-(fill in a made up holiday) that I happened to miss during my month-long hiatus.

There’s no way you can have a well-established blog during the holiday season. I’m convinced.

Between the shopping, school finals, decorations being put up, and having to lie to everyone under the age of 10 about Santa Claus…it takes a toll on one’s ability to successfully give you readers a free blog every week.

But hey, were all about bouncing back in 2010. That’s right, it’s 2010.

Not only am I looking forward to almost finishing college, another first-round exit for the Cowboys, Colts fans calling for Jim Caldwell’s head because after they win the Super Bowl, they’ll have one loss on the season to the (gulp) Jets, and Kevin Durant becoming a bona fide superdee-duper-star right before our eyes, I’m also looking forward to mistakenly writing 09 on every assignment this semester because writing ’10 is just too weird.

Man, do I know how to go off on a tangent. Anyway, like I said, this year is all about bouncing back and what better way to do that with the perfect New Year’s Resolution.

Now, people who make New Year’s Resolutions usually make it to the end of January before they decide that they’ve had enough and New Year’s is overrated. I say, the hell with that.

We real people may not be able to hold a New Year’s Resolution, but our sports stars must try and come up with some New Year’s Resolutions so that they don’t drive their fans through a wall with stress and frustration.

Oh, you’re already through a wall with stress and frustration? Me too.

A New Year’s Resolution should be something that you can actually accomplish. It should be something that you want to do (or stop doing) that will ultimately lead you to a happier/healthier life.

Well, with our coveted sports stars it is a little different. Their resolutions have to be well thought out so that they include the well-being of their fans.

So let’s get into a few people who ABSOLUTELY must make these specific New Year’s Resolutions.

1.) Tiger Woods. Jesus, Tiger. Why don’t you just go to an Island you own for like six months and just stay there. Shoot, you can bring whatever mistress you choose, but just stay out of the limelight for a while.

This country forgives quickly if you just apologize. Look at A-Rod, Andy Pettitte, and Jason Giambi. Coincidentally, they were all Yankees (shaking my head), but they all apologized and no one says a word about any scandal they’ve ever been a part of.

So Tiger, your New Year’s Resolution is to apologize, stop calling your mistresses, and just chill out in 2010.

2.) Peyton Manning. Peyton, you need to just chill out. You are insanely good at football that everyone is at the point where they HAVE to like you, even if they hate you. It’s all because you work so goddamn hard and are so goddamn good that every other goddamn quarterback looks like they have Down Syndrome when they play against you.

So my New Year’s Resolution for you is to chill out in 2010. Let some other player win the MVP award. Let some other team go for the undefeated season. Let some other team win the Super Bowl. You’re mad annoying Peyton. Stop practicing and studying!!

3.) ESPN. Hey ESPN directors, whoever is in charge of bashing the Cowboys on a weekly basis, maybe it’s time to be a little less biased. We get it. You don’t like the Cowboys.

You’d rather have a big-market team like somewhere in New York or Philadelphia or New England win. But I’ve got news for you. This team is different. So maybe it’s time to cut the crap and report news unbiasedly.

Part 2.) Hop off Brett Favre’s you know what. I mean really. Yes the guy is an iron man. He is a warrior with the uncanny ability to make a play when a play needs to be made. But the love that you guys have over him is really sickening.

You’ve turned me into someone who doesn’t even like him anymore because of all of these reports that you guys bring out and how much of an infatuation you have with him.

Just please take it easy. There’s about 1,000 other people in the NFL to report on…in case you were wondering.

4.) Tony Romo. Oh no Tony. Don’t you do it. Don’t you fool us into thinking that you’re going to be different this year. You’re not fooling me. You may have every other Cowboys fan fooled, but not me.

Until you actually win a playoff game and show us that you can lead this team well into January, I’m still having my doubts.

So my New Year’s Resolution for you is to just be a leader. Show us that you can lead this team and put them on your back into January, because the Cowboys only go as far as you go. Plain and Simple.

5.) Brett Favre. It’s very simple, Brett. Retire.

You’ve given everything you can possibly give to this sport. You’ve given us countless highlights, countless hold-your-breath moments, and you’ve even managed to get Brad Childress a contract extension when he may or may not be the top 3 worst coaches in the NFL.

Just go fishing somewhere from September to January. Trust me, the league will be OK without you. So my New Year’s Resolution for you is to enjoy your post-football life. Find another thing to be spectacular at.

Once again, I want to apologize for the hiatus. I promise I will be back in full-swing this year.

That is my New Year’s Resolution, to be a better writer and hopefully grab an editor along the way. You know, cuz a brotha don’t always talk perfect English, ya dig? Have a Happy New Year, all!

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End of Lovie Smith Era for Chicago Bears?

In 95 games as Bears head coach, Lovie Smith is 51-44, and the third winningest coach since the team was founded in 1919. 

However, after three straight seasons without a playoff birth, the fans as well as the press are calling for a change.  If the history of hiring head coaches in Chicago is any indication, nothing will improve.

In 91 years of franchise history, the Chicago Bears have NEVER hired a head coach.  They have merely hired 13 head coach candidates with no head coaching experience in the NFL.

To break it down, unless you count George “Papa Bear” Halas, who was re-appointed on three different occasions following his head coaching debut in 1920, all the Bears have done is given chances to a lot of rookie head coaches, instead of bringing in a proven winner.

If the Chicago Bears fire Lovie Smith, which at this point seems inevitable, he will go elsewhere and lead a different team to success.  If he stays in Chicago, they will falter a while longer, and Bear-Nation will be disgusted.  Fact of the matter is, Lovie Smith led the Chicago Bears to a super bowl, the closest they have come to a championship since Mike Ditka did it in 1985-86.

“I’m evaluating myself too,” Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo said in a recent interview. “But I do know this: We all share into what happened this year. I’m not going to sit here and put blame on any one thing.”

Two reasons the Bears have stumbled the past two seasons are simple; Ron Rivera was fired, and Ron Turner remains.  Yes, both can be blamed on Lovie Smith.  With no good draft picks coming up and some very questionable personnel, the Bears have found themselves once again in a building transition, or to be blunter, screwed.

Defeating a lousy Detroit Lions team Sunday will not in any way ensure a job for Lovie Smith or his staff.  If they do anything but dominate, it will only give fans and ownership more ammunition to rid the inconsistent coaching staff. 

“What’s a vote of confidence at this time? …You don’t talk about things like that during the year,” Lovie Smith said in response to questions about his status next year as coach. “(We’re) disappointed in our play, disappointed in our record. I’m the head football coach, so I’m sure a lot of people aren’t knocking down the door wanting to pat me on the back.”

It has yet to be seen if newspaper ads, billboards, or numerous blogs have swayed the Bears’ administration to vacate the entire coaching staff and management, but if it has, let’s hope for yet not another huge embarrassing failure. 

 

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I Think I Can Fix Them! NFL Teams That Is…

People speculate even where no speculation is even called for. Other times, like most days working for the District of Columbia’s NFL team, rumors and speculation run as rampant as Chris Johnson has this season.

Next season a plethora of great coaches—Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Brian Billick, Jon Gruden, and perhaps even for the right price, Tony Dungy—will be available to teams who are looking to hit the panic button or to throw an old system out with the garbage.

The number of potentially great “young gun” coaches is at an all-time high as well. Clarence Shelmon, the Chargers offensive coordinator, who has some major time in working with running backs; Todd Bowles, Bill Parcells’ man-crush defensive backs coach in Miami; Hue Jackson, the guy responsible for teaching Joe Flacco the ropes as Baltimore’s quarterbacks coach, has also worked in Cincinnati with Carson Palmer and even has a seal of approval from one Chad Ochocinco.

Kyle Shanahan, Mike’s kid and a terrific offensive coordinator—except as it comes to getting Steve Slaton to not fumble and Brian Schottenheimer (long distance high-five to Marty for getting his son involved in football)—who is charged with keeping Braylon Edwards from punching people and Mark Sanchez from fumbling every time a 300 pound lineman rushes him, both could be first time NFL coaches next season.

I’ll break down where I think the coaches end up, why they end up there, and what I think the outcome will be in 2010.

 

Chicago Bears 2009 coach-Lovie Smith 2010 coach-Bill Cowher

 

Dear Chicago Bears management, my friend Andre thinks you’ll be the laughing stock of the league if you don’t bring Cowher to the Windy City, and I tend to agree with him.

Cowher has the gusto to go in and tell Jay Cutler how it is. The way it is is he should still be in Denver and Mike Vick should be the quarterback in Chicago.

Cowher will make play to Chicago’s strong points. Its killer defense, the speed of the wide-outs, and the strength of the O-Line with Roberto Garza and Olin Kreutz.

I think he brings in Hue Jackson from Baltimore to coach Jay Cutler and get his “Madonna” complex solved. Note to Jay Cutler: You aren’t, and never will be, the savior of Chicago football.

Jackson would become the head coach in waiting in Chicago and would expand the offense while Cowher runs his brick tough defense.

Bears 2010 record, assuming Brett Favre hangs around in Minnesota next season:11-5 and a wildcard birth.

 

Washington Redskins 2009 coach-Jim Zorn 2010 coach-Brian Billick

 

The Redskins need someone who can get the job done right and who will demand full control of personnel and won’t drop the ball like Clinton Portis tends to do so well.

Billick will use the draft pick to grab Dez Bryant if he’s available and turn to getting Chris Cooley more catches and try to get him into a vanilla version of Antonio Gates in San Diego.

Billick will also turn to the Wildcat and sign Michael Vick. If Billick does join Washington, expect the days of Clinton Portis to end and the Sundays of Quinton Ganther to suddenly more busy.

If Sam Bradford is available, they may try to ship Jason Campbell for draft picks and still sign Vick. If Bradford is gone, I more than expect Dez Bryant to be the answer.

Remember when Terrell Owens rejected a trade to a team that ended up winning the Super Bowl? Yeah, Billick does too. Remember, he coached that team. Owens might relish a chance to get back at the Cowboys and finally join coach Billick.

Moss and Bryant with Owens playing the slot and Cooley catching passes with Campbell and Vick playing Wildcat and Ganther hitting 1,200 yards might be the recipe for success in D.C., outside of Daniel Snyder having a heart attack.

Redskins 2010 record: 9-7, or 10-6, no wildcard birth, but it might be good enough to steal the NFC East

 

Buffalo Bills 2009 coach-Dick Jauron/Perry Fewell 2010 coach-Mike Shanahan

 

One of the worst kept secrets in the NFL. Shanahan is gonna make Fred Jackson great, but remember, he almost made Tatum Bell great.

I think 2010 is a year of rebuilding for Buffalo. Rebuilding and getting beaten twice by all three teams in their division.

Mike might go with his son as the offensive coordinator, let’s hope he lets his son kind his own gig. Buffalo might kill Kyle’s chances of being a head coach.

Bills 2010 record: 3-13, but hey, you get to draft Jake Locker in 2011. Buffalo Bills, you are on the clock for 2011.

 

Cleveland Browns 2009 coach-Eric Mangini 2010 coach-Mike Holmgren

 

Please, Mike, hit the red button that drops Mangini into Randy Lerner’s shark tank. Quit trading with the Jets and start building the kind of program that would be worthy of being called a Mike Holmgren team.

If not for the fans of Cleveland, do it for Sam Bradford, so he doesn’t end up like Brady Quinn.

Mike, please.

Browns record in 2010 -(W/Holmgren) 6-10 or 7-9, maybe even 8-8, (W/Mangini) 3-13

Carolina Panthers 2009 coach John Fox 2010 coach-John Fox

 

I don’t believe they give up on Fox yet. not this season at least. I say wait this season, and if he does horrible, then go after Tony Dungy.

I don’t think they do horrible, but I don’t think fox survives next season, not with Julius Peppers leaving.

Panthers record in 2010-9-7

 

Oakland Raiders 2009 coach-Tom Cable 2010 coach-Kyle Shanahan

 

I think Al Davis starts on the right track to recovery in Oakland by bringing in Shanahan.

Rolando McClain is looking tempting even now, and Shanahan is someone who would be willing to coach in Oakland and get them to some sort of glory. It won’t be easy, but he does have a semi-talented core and will add to that in the draft.

Raiders record in 2010:8-8

 

So that concludes my list of coaching changes in 2010. I think that Jon Gruden, Brian Schottenheimer, and Todd Bowles deserve jobs in 2010, but with the exception of Gruden, they already do and they look to improve their current teams.

It’s only speculation, and I hope a few turn out to be correst, but that’s the fun of speculation.

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Oakland Raiders’ Strength Made Strong in Weakness

How can anyone anticipate a strong finish in the performance of the Oakland Raiders in 2009? I can, and I have data on which to base my anticipated outcome between the Oakland Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens.

Why wouldn’t a team that is 36 years older than its opponent, have a strong finish. The data shows that there is a possibility. Take a look:

The top curve represents the performance of the Ravens during the last six games in 2009. The bottom curve represents the Oakland Raiders.

Notice that there are more peaks in the curve for the Raiders, indicating to me that the Raiders are performing better than the Ravens during the last six games in 2009.

The overall average in the category of win-loss ratio is .518 for the Ravens, and the Raiders have .551.

Both teams lost the Dec. 27 game. However, if the extrapolation is done for the historical data over the last six games, the Raiders will come out on top.

 

Yes, the Oakland Raiders started out a bit weak during the earlier portion of the 2009 season, but the graph below shows that the Ravens have experienced a decline for one reason or another.

During the first five weeks of the 2009 season, the Ravens were stronger, but as we look at the last five weeks (before Dec. 27) for the Ravens we have L-L-L-W-L compared to a pattern of W-L-W-L-W. Note that both teams loss on Dec. 27. 

‘

If the numbers tell the story, then the Raiders have a very good chance of showing that “when most folks think they are weak, they are in fact, strong.”

What’s the moral of the story: It seems the Oakland Raiders play better when they are perceived to be the underdog, and they, somehow and someway, lose to opponent teams that are perceived to be the underdog.

What could be a piece for advice for the Oakland Raiders? Here we go again: Perceive yourself weaker (so you play harder and smarter) in each game and then because you depend on intangibles like pride, faith, transcendence, beat the opponent and send him home in a state of shock.

We did it to the Steelers, Bengals, and Broncos. We can do it to the Ravens and anyone else we play in 2010.

Article complete 3:33 pm, 1.2.2010

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The 10 Greatest Sports Moments of the Past 10 Years

The past 10 years have been filled with some great sports moments. While it was hard to narrow it down, here are 10 that stand out from the rest, in my opinion. Please feel free to dispute or add any of your favourite moments in the comments. Now, without further ado, the top 10:

10. World Cup Finals, 2006: One of the most controversial and close finishes to a World Cup tournament ever. A game that started seemingly normal, until French icon lost his temper and head-butted Italian defender Marco Materazzi, causing the French captain to be ejected and his retirement to be one of regret and disappointment. It also went all the way to penalties, with Italy winnig it and giving them the title.

9. U.S. Open, 2008: Ahh, the good ol’ days of Tiger. Woods came into the tournament without playing a full round in over two months, due to an ailing knee injury, but managed to hobble around the course and beat Rocco Mediate in a playoff. Woods would announce that he would miss the rest of the season due to a knee surgery just two days after the win, and would call it “the greatest tournament I’ve ever had.”

8. Michael Phelps, 2008 Olympics: Phelps’ record is still astonishing. He picked up eight golds in Beijing for his swimming dominance, and was really only challenged in one race. In all honesty, this should probably be ranked higher, but Canada’s general dislike for the smug bastard lands him here.

7. Malice At The Palace, 2004: It was arguably the greatest disaster in the NBA’s history. With about 45 seconds left in a game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, a shoving match began between the Pistons’ Ben Wallace and Pacers’ Ron Artest. It would eventually lead to a huge confrontation on the court, until fans started littering the court. One fan hit Artest in the face with a Diet Coke, causing Artest and many of the other Pacers to charge into the stands and brawl with spectators. Two spectators were taken to the hospital, and the game was declared over, even with time on the clock. Wallace and Artest’s rivalry lives on to this day. Players lost a total of over $10 million from salaries as a result of league fines.

6. BCS National Championship, 2006: It was a story of two of the greatest sports teams meeting in the final—the way sports should be. Three Heisman candidates played, all of whom went on to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. Celebrities and politicians alike made their voices heard, supporting their respective alma maters. It was Texas and USC, in one of the greatest finishes a football game has ever seen. It’s hard to forget Vince Young’s sprint into the end zone with 19 seconds left, leading Texas to the National Championship, 41-38, and snapping USC’s 34-game winning streak.

5. Heritage Classic, 2003: The experiment that would later lead to the NHL’s annual Winter Classic. More than 57,000 packed Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton to watch the Oilers take on the Habs. The event started with an alumni game featuring the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Guy Lafleur. The temperature reached -30 with the windchill, and saw Jose Theodore wear a toque over his helmet. Montreal would go on to win a close game, 4-3, proving to the NHL the brilliance of an outdoor game.

4. Super Bowl, 2008 : The New England Patriots came in with an undefeated season, that saw them 18-0 entering the championship game. The Patriots were by far the stronger team, but the New York Giants battled with them the whole way, before an unbelievable catch by David Tyree kept his team in it, and led to a touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone to win the Giants the game, and spoil New England’s perfect season.

3. BALCO Scandal, 2003: One of the worst moments in American sports history. An anonymous call to the California District Attorney’s office led to the investigation of BALCO, a scientific laboratory. They were found to be making performance-enhancing drugs and human growth hormones. It led to players from many major leagues being revealed as using steroids, most notably Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Bill Romanowski. It was the cause of tougher steroid testing in sports, as well as leading to the Anabolic Steroid Act signed by President George W. Bush.

2. Usain Bolt, 2009 : Now, Bolt garnered international attention and celebrity status following his amazing performance at the 2008 Olympics. He upped that in ’09. At the World Championships in Berlin, he smashed both of his world records, setting a new one in the 100m (9.58) and the 200m (19.19).

1. American League Championship, 2004: One of the greatest rivalries in all of sports—the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Things looked pretty bad for Sox fans, as they fell in the first three games, the last one being a 19-8 blowout. The Red Sox then did the unthinkable, however, battling back and becoming the first team in MLB history to win a series after losing the first three games. Tim Kurkjlan, an analyst for ESPN called it “the greatest baseball story ever told.” It was intensified by the Sox moving on to face an outmatched St. Louis team who they swept to win their first World Series in 86 years.

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Last Call: Titans-Seahawks Battle Could Be Swan Song For Key Veterans

As far as unofficial records go, tomorrow’s matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks will probably go down as the most important “meaningless” game in the history of the NFL.

And the reason is obvious: Titans running back Chris Johnson’s pursuit of multiple yardage records has trumped the fact that both teams have virtually nothing to play for. 

Today, both teams will conduct their respective walkthroughs as they prepare for their season finale.  

By this time tomorrow, however, both teams could be experiencing the end of an era. 

For Tennessee, the potential damage is comparatively light when compared to the Seahawks’ looming sea change.  

For starters, linebacker and defensive leader Keith Bulluck is done for the year with a torn ACL. Throw in the fact that he’s 33 and in the final year of his contract, and, well, the Titans could very well have a new identity on defense next year.  

In addition, veterans Nick Harper (also on injured reserve) and Jevon Kearse aren’t exactly on solid footing either, given their ages and pedestrian performances this season.  

One question mark from earlier this year that seems to be resolved, however, is Vince Young. His career resurgence couldn’t have been timed better: it’s good for both him and the franchise.

On the other side of the field, however, things are looking to be a bit more ominous. The Seahawks recently forced out their general manager, Tim Ruskell, after years of ill-advised trades and draft picks.  

Most folks in Seattle are welcoming the front office change, given that Ruskell stubbornly kept trying to reload the burnt out, past-its-prime 2005 Super Bowl nucleus. Given the rash of losing seasons, conventional wisdom said that he should have been  rebuilding instead.  

With a new sheriff coming to town, and a rash of expensive, aging, injury-prone, and under-performing players littering the roster…well, suffice it to say that the ho-hum status quo will be overhauled in the Emerald City.

Deon Branch, Walter Jones, and yes, even Matt Hasselbeck are some of the more prominent question marks as Seattle finishes up yet another disappointing season.

So, Seahawks and Titans fans alike should savor this game.  

Yes, there is a chance that Chris Johnson will make history. 

Yes, there is a chance that Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, the longest tenured coach in the NFL, will get his first win against Seattle. But, keep in mind, there will be a nostalgic pall over the game as well.

In spite of both teams’ recent losing ways, they have had banner, record-setting decades with great players; players who you might not see again in your favorite uniform.  

 

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