Week 1 NFL Preview

Finally the NFL Season is upon us; welcome to the first week of NFL picks!! You ready, Clay?

Thursday

Washington at NYG (-3.5)

Oz: This could be the worst opening game in the history of the Thursday night opening game system the NFL put in. I understand these two teams are good teams. They both carry legions of fans on their backs and they’ve been around since the inception of the league. I understand all these things, but I can’t shake what a boring style of football both of the squads play. Of course, I will watch and I will cringe when they hoist the Super Bowl XLII banner to the rafters. It might even make me start drinking.

The Giants are defending champions, but the NFC East is wide open. Literally any team in the division could make the playoffs. This should be a close game. But the defending champs, despite the injuries to their defense, should be up for the task with the emotions from the Super Bowl win providing the boost.

GIANTS (-3.5) over Washington

Clay: We talked about this last weekend and were on the same page. I feel like the annual Thursday opener was Indy vs New England. What’s wrong with that? Until one of those teams fails to maintain as a top team in the league, keep it coming, it is a classic every year. I guess its all about the Super Bowl champion playing on that first day. Too bad the Super Bowl champ is boring as hell. This division is pretty much on reserve for Dallas, but one of the wild cards will come from here and three teams are competing for that spot. Washington in any other division would be one of my picks for the playoffs, but I am not sure about this one.

NYG should be playing with some emotion at home after raising the banner, but I still don’t buy into Eli Manning, and I am not sure if the defense will be able to pressure the qb without both of the their defensive ends from last year. Then again, that QB is Jason Campbell. I think this offense is better then last year, and the defense will continue to be effective. In a game this close, I have to take the points, at least when its more than 3.

Washington +3.5

Sunday

Tampa Bay at N.O. (-3)

Oz: The 2007 New Orleans Saints were like the girl who was really hot in high school then went away to college. You go back to your hometown and are all, “oh, is so-and-so going to be at the party? She’s hot. I’m gonna get on that train.” Then she walks in after gaining about 35 pounds. Now, a year later you’re thinking, “well, maybe she got her shit together.” Only time will tell. My hopes are that the Saints got their shit together.

I’m a little concerned they’ve been displaced; are they playing in New Orleans or somewhere else? This pick may change, but for now I’m taking the points. Tampa is pretty solid.

Tampa Bay (+3) over NEW ORLEANS

Tampa is solid, and they are playing in New Orleans. This is another tough pick, two solid teams that will compete for the division. This division is pretty wide open too, between these two and the Panthers. I don’t think the defense will be much better, but I think the offense has slimmed down. Deuce’s health is key to this team winning, and I don’t think he is there.

Here is what I am thinking though. 2007 they came back after a hurricane ripped the city apart and they kicked everyone’s ass. Last year, no hurricane issues. Well this year, Gustav came in with just enough fury to give the city and team the boost they needed. The year of the Hurricane!

Really, though, this team is explosive enough to score on TBs defense, and more so then their defense will let up against the conservative offense.

Saints -3

St. Louis at Philly (-7)

Oz: This seems a little high for an opening line game for two teams we’re not entirely sure of. Philly could be a contender for the NFC crown. They might also not even make the playoffs given their division. St. Louis crapped the bed last year, but they also had a string of injuries to guys like Orlando Pace and Steven Jackson, two of their best players.

St. Louis (+7) over PHILADELPHIA

Two teams that had poor years last year that can mostly be blaimed on injuries. Philly plays in the better division too, but that has nothing to do with this game. St Louis should play better on offense, but so should Philly. The Eagles definitely have the better defense, and I would say the offenses are pretty equal in explosiveness. Philly is usually really tough at home, but can they win by more than a TD?

People will argue both sides, but I would say more people argue that favorites are better in the first few weeks. Both sides will agree, however, that they are the best weeks to find uneven lines because the oddsmakers don’t know enough yet, either. This game is tough for me because I like both of these teams to improve this year and be contenders (at least for the playoffs). I am going to have to go with the home team that has the better defense. They have an offense that can score enough to cover a one td line. Lets put it this way, I decided to start Kitna vs Atlanta instead of Bulger vs Philly.

Eagles -7

NYJ at Miami (+3)

Oz: The Dolphins haven’t gotten any better and, I hate to say it, but the Jets are looking pretty strong. Acquiring Brett Favre, despite him being 45 years old, is only going to improve them. What people are forgetting is that the Jets have a young, strong offensive line and a talented running back (Thomas Jones), who underachieved last season. I’m expecting a big enough year out of him that I drafted him in both of my fantasy leagues. Having Favre as a weapon provides him with the opportunity to shine, or never, ever be drafted again.

Jets (-3) over MIAMI

This line is easy for me. Miami will lose to almost everyone this year no matter where the game is. This is a great starting game for Favre and the Jets. They are playing against the QB they tossed in the garbage. The Miami offense won’t do much against anyone, and the Jets do enough to win this game. I wont take a team +3 unless I think they will win, and this team won’t.

Jets -3

K.C. at N.E. (-16)

Oz: I believe Tom Brady will play this weekend, but it’s not enough to sway me on this spread. The Patriots, I guarantee, will try to bring Brady along slowly (he didn’t play one preseason game because of a foot injury) and balance the offense for week one against the Chiefs. If Matt Cassell is the starter, which he may be, the game will be even closer.

I’m slightly concerned about the run defense, but a good showing against Larry Johnson will push me in the right direction. The Patriots win, but not by three scores.

Kansas City (+16) over NEW ENGLAND

I think I agree with you here, except that you shouldn’t be swayed by their job against LJ considering the line is garbage and he averaged like 3 yards per carry in the preseason (I know you can base judgement on preseason) but his ypc has dropped each of the last three years.

Last year the Patriots lines could not be high enough, each of their games was like a college line. Then at the end of the year, the odds makers caught up with them, and the other teams did as well. I think teams will learn a bit from how teams stopped the Patriots offense in the playoffs and they won’t blow teams out like last year. Then again, this is the Chiefs. They also have nothing to prove like the eff you season of last year, and they will go about their business from the start. I think we get the normal Belichick back who does just enough to win each week, and the oddsmakers get all their money back from last year.

Chiefs +16 (thought this was 16.5)

Houston at Pitt (-6)

Oz: You know how sometime you hear how good someone or some team is but you never really see it? That’s how I feel about the Steelers. I understand their success; the numbers don’t lie, but I’ve never seen them beat a quality foe. Sure, the AFC Championship game against Indianapolis a couple years ago was solid, but it was more about the Colts beating themselves. They beat SEATTLE in the SB. I just don’t see it. Fortunately for the Terrible Towel-Heads, they open up against one of the worst teams in the AFC. See what I mean?

PITTSBURGH (-6) over Houston

It’s hard to say Houston is one of the worst teams in the AFC. I think they are a solid .500 club, maybe one game under. Then again, the AFC is very good which puts them in the bottom half. Pitt has always been a good home team, and I disagree with you that they have never beaten anyone good. They have been a top tier team in the AFC for a decade now, and you don’t do that by only beating crappy teams. Chicago was a top tier team in the NFC for two years by beating shitty teams, and that ended abruptly last year. This Steelers team will score, with lots of weapons. They have two solid running backs now with the addition of Mendenhall, and Santonio Holmes could show he is an elite receiver in his second year. The defense is most always an asset, and this year should be no different. The linebackers will blitz a lot and put a lot of pressure in the backfield. Houston is good, but they won’t win this one, and one touchdown should be no problem

Steelers -6

Cincy at Balt (+1)

Oz: The Bengals are capable of scoring 30 points on any given Sunday afternoon, but they are also liable to allow 35 points. Luckily, it may be week 4 before the Ravens score 35 points for the season. How long before the turmoil settles down in Cincinnati? Carson Palmer and his corps of wideouts should be in solid form. If they can get the ground game going, they could be a formidable team to face in the AFC North.

Cincinnati (-1) over BALTIMORE

They could be a tough foe at any point because their offense is so dangerous, but I think too much is going on. Chad Johnson is not healthy, Chris Henry is not eligible, and Carson Palmer isn’t exactly 100% either. Baltimore definitely has something to prove this year, and the defense should be closer to 06 form then 07. This matchup a month from now in Cincy is a different story, but I don’t trust anything going on in Cincy right now, and the Ravens have a lot of pride and a lot to prove. I don’t think they do that well because their offense is subpar, but they should have enough to beat a pretty horrendous looking Bengals team at this point.

So who is the first Bengals player to get arrested or shot, and how long does that take? Week 2?

Ravens +1

Detroit at Atlanta (+3)

Oz: This is another year that I don’t see Atlanta doing very well at all. I think we talked about them being the worst team in football and we’re more than probably right. It’ll be nice to see how Matt Ryan responds to getting the starting nod. I like what Atlanta is doing in that they’re not rushing their team along. They’ve got young blood and it’ll be a few years before they start gelling, but they’re doing the right thing.

I like the Rudi Johnson signing in Detroit. (Apparently Tatum Bell just liked his luggage) He’ll help Kevin Jones become a better back. Johnson has some durability questions, but splitting time will be beneficial to his health. He’ll also benefit from a pass-happy offense. Calvin Johnson should be ready for a big year.

Detroit (-3) over ATLANTA

I agree with everything here, and there isn’t much to add. I am not as sold on Calvin Johnson being a star yet as everyone else seems to be, but I don’t doubt that he improves and has a solid year. There is so much hype around this guy, and I have to see it before I will believe it. Meanwhile, Paul Oliver, who shut CJ down in college is eligible this year for the Chargers, and I think he makes the secondary even stronger this year. I think the Chargers have never had a good secondary in the history of the franchinse, at least not in my lifetime, and that excites me….I’ll hold off till later in this guy for more.

Lions -3 (or -7)

Seattle at Buffalo (-1)

Oz: Buffalo is getting a lot of love from the oddsmakers here, huh? The defending NFC West champs are getting a point against a team that went 7-9 last season? Unless the Bills defense is to improve greatly, the Seahawks shouldn’t have a problem moving the ball at all. Buffalo is one of those “sexy – we might make the playoffs” teams, but I don’t see that happening this season. They’re talented, but they won’t do much as long as their in the AFC.

Seattle (+1) over BUFFALO

The defense was good last year, but not dominant. They won games when the defense could shut down a shitty offense and their O did just enough. Here comes Seattle with a one dimensional offense (sorry, not buying Julius Jones) and an injury depleted WR core. Their defense has always been good, and should continue to be such. I would love the under here, picking a winner is more difficult. The Bills were tough at home, but they still didn’t beat a team with a winning record at home once. In fact, the only team they beat all year with a winning record was Washington, 17-16.

I seem to give Seattle a lot less respect then most people. I like how you throw in “the NFC West Champions” like that is a big accomplishment. Congratulations, when compared to the Cardinals, 49ers and Rams last year, you were the best. I think the Rams give them a run this year, but the division is still terrible. None the less, Buffalo is a bit over rated from last year, and when a home team is a 1 point favorite, that usually means the other team is better.

Seahawks +1

Jacksonville at Tennessee (+3)

Oz: This should be another solid opening week match-up from the AFC South. Jacksonville is the favorite to grab a wild-card spot this season; expectations are high. (Speaking of which, wouldn’t you be pissed if you were on the Jags? It’s assumed the Colts, a team you play pretty well, will be winning the division? That’s crap.) I like David Garrard. He’s efficient, he takes care of the ball, and he wins ballgames. There’s no wonder he took the starting job from Leftowich and Grey last season. Good call, Jack Del Rio.

(Is there another white guy with a blatantly Spanish name in this league?)

I’m interested to see how Vince Young responds with a new tight end in Alge Crumpler. It could be a good fit seeing the Crumpler is used to playing – and being very productive - with a scrambling quarterback (Mike Vick). Tennessee, if they gel, could beat a lot of teams this season.

TENNESSEE (+3) over Jacksonville

Tennessee is one of those teams I don’t know what to expect from. I think last year, they won a lot of close games, and if they won, it was only because their defense made it possible. I don’t see the offense being any better this year, and I don’t have faith in Vince Young as an NFL starting QB. I am not saying it isn’t possible, I just don’t think he is a good enough passer to be a threat to run the ball. I guess him and Vick have that in common too.

Jacksonville is screwed to be in the same division as the Colts, and they are a sexy pick this year. This should be a pretty low scoring affair, but the truth of the matter is that Jacksonville is just too well rounded to get beaten by a team that is one dimensional. The Jags D should be able to keep Tenn from running the ball, and I don’t see them scoring much at all. Meanwhile, Garrad should be able to get them downfield enough to win by a 6-10 points.

I’m buyin’ the hype, and I don’t trust Tenn, I think they squeaked out their playoff spot last year by beating only the teams worse then them, and Jacksonville is not.

Jaguars -3

Dallas at Cleveland (+5.5)

Oz: This could be the best game of the weekend. The Browns are everyone’s sleeper pick, which doesn’t make them a sleeper, it makes them one of the favorites. They’ve got a good quarterback (who needs to prove last year wasn’t a product of “who the fuck is Derek Anderson?), top tier pass-catchers (the addition of Dante Stallworth is huge), and a defense architected by Romeo Crennell. I like what they’re doing in the Dawg Pound.

On the other hand, Dallas is a perennial favorite in not only the conference, but the league. There are many “experts” and fans who believe Tony Romo and Terrell Owens are ready to lead this team to the Vince Lombardi trophy. The Cowboys defense is excellent with two very good cornerbacks in Adam Jones and Terrence Newman. Intriguing game here. But Cleveland was 7-1 at home last season SU.

CLEVELAND (+5.5) over Dallas

Damn, I forgot how many games there are every week. We need to start this earlier next week, this Thur game is killer. This is a fun first week matchup. I am not sure if Cleveland deserves as much love as they are getting, but I do think they are solid. I don’t think either team will have too much trouble scoring in this game.

Here is who the Browns beat last year in their surprise season: Cincy, Balt, Miami, St Louis, Seattle, Hou, NYJ, Buff, and SF. Not a lot of power there. Pitt was the only team to beat them at home, and it was the first week of the season. I don’t know about this one. Fortunately Dallas is just as hyped as the Browns are this year, so the line I probably in a pretty good spot. I am going to have to take the home dog that went 7-1 ATS last year.

Browns +5.5

Carolina at S.D. (-9.5)

Oz: Does anyone really know what to make of Carolina after the last three seasons? Jake Delhomme was playing great until he got hurt, their running game has been solid, and their defense has been inconsistent. I can’t make any guesses as to how their going to be. I want to say they’re a shoe-in for the playoffs, but I want to say they can’t compete with the top teams in their conference either.

San Diego, on the other hand, is one of the best teams in the NFL. In Norv Turner’s second year, I’m expecting the offense to be a little more fluid, which is a scary thought seeing how they have the best running back in the game and played in the AFC Championship. Against the Panthers, the Chargers make a statement. Will Merriman play?

SAN DIEGO (-9.5) over Carolina

I agree, of course, and I think they start much better this year then last seeing as how they have now had a full year with their head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. I think Merriman is an idiot for playing, but I think they defense will still be solid without him. Jamal Williams is the key to this defense, and if he is healthy, I don’t see Carolina doing much. They have solid receivers, but no Steve Smith in this game.

Delhomme is one of those guys that tends the throw the ball up for grabs, and with this defense I don’t think they can do it. Cromartie over under for INTs in this one is 1.5. Bam!

Chargers -9.5 (10 would be a tough decision, 9.5 is not)

Arizona at S.F. (+3)

Oz: Didn’t these two teams play on Monday Night Football to open the season last year? Did anyone care then besides that it was opening night on MNF?

Waiting for the Cardinals to be good is like waiting at the DMV. You sit and wait … and sit and wait … and then say, “Screw this, I’m going home.”

Arizona (-3) over SAN FRANCISCO

And then some foreign guys asks you to fill out his application for an ID because he barely speaks English let alone has the ability to write it. Maybe they doesn’t cross over to the football analogy very well. Either way, I for one don’t give a shit in this game. Martz will not make this offense better, especially not right away. The defense is ok, but with the Arizona offense healthy, they should be able to pull this one out. I like Hightower as a little support for the aging Edgerin James, and I don’t like much of anything in SF. I don’t have a lot of faith they win, but I don’t care enough to look further into this one. I won’t be betting it.

Cardinals -3

Chicago at Indy (-9.5)

Oz: Not a good time to be an Indianapolis fan. Does anyone have any idea how Manning’s knee is? With that said, I do think he is on the field Sunday night against the Bears. What he missed, though, was practice time getting in sync with Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, and Dallas Clark. I don’t think that’ll take too long to happen once he’s back at 100%. It’s just a scary thought that he isn’t STARTING at 100%. That’s never a good sign.

On the Bears side, they’re starting Kyle Orton. Yup, Kyle Orton. And a running back named Matt Forte. Do the Colts win by two scores at home against this team? Absolutely.

INDIANAPOLIS (-9.5) over Chicago

Is this the Sunday night game? What crap!

I am scared if I have Peyton on my fantasy team this year, and I would be nervous as a Colts fan too. His injury seemed a little bit scary, and with the loss of Saturday, things look even worse. Have you ever seen Peyton under pressure? Yeah, he gets happy feet and throws the ball to Antonio Cromartie. Well, he isn’t playing, but the Bears D is pretty formidable. I wish this line was a bit higher because I may think about taking the Bears, but if Peyton is playing in any condition, I don’t see this being close. Colts D will shut down a shitty Bears O, and the Colts will score three or four times, enough for a 10 point cover.

Colts -9.5

Monday

Minnesota at Green Bay (-3)

Oz: Could be a rough outing for Aaron Rogers in his first start at Lambeau Field against the Vikings defense. This will most likely be a low-scoring affair, but in a game with unproven passers, a bettor has to look at the trenches. I’ll take Peterson over Ryan Grant.

The Lambeau fans are not going to be happy.

Minnesota (+3) over GREEN BAY

What a way to start Monday Night Football. I am so looking forward to this game and the division battle between these two teams. I think you have a great point ignoring the QBs and looking at the running backs. Problem here is both team’s defenses specialize in stopping the run. I would take Aaron Rodgers (and his receivers while we are at it) over Tavaris, and at Lambeau Field to boot. I can’t bet against the Pack at home. They need to win this game because winning at Minnesota later in the year will be tough.

I think the key to this game is how Rodgers feels, and I will be able to tell you after the first series what is going to happen. Unfortunately we don’t have that luxury. Will Tavaris be any more comfortable playing at Lambeau then Aaron? Will Jared Allen eat Aaron Rodgers? Minn Scored 16 points total in two games vs GB last year. Both teams will struggle to score, but I have to go with the home squad here with all else equal.

Packers -3

Denver at Oakland (+3)

Oz: We both agree that no one in Denver is excited about this upcoming season, just like we both agree that the Raiders are going to be much better. I drafted Kirk Morrison for my defensive player in my fantasy draft (yes, having a defensive player on a fantasy team is really dumb), and he’s the shit (no, Steve Fischer, I didn’t say “he isn’t worth shit”).

OAKLAND (+3) over Denver

This doesn’t count as Monday Night Football for me, especially after that game, and you better not have said he isn’t worth shit. I hate this game, because Denver is so hard to predict. It is hard to imagine them being bad for very long, but it is also hard to find a reason to expect anything different. Last year, snuck out a win in Buffalo that they had no business winning. Neither QB is good, and the Raiders actually have a very good running game, something the Broncos had a hell of a time stopping last year. I am not sure Oakland has a “good” year, but I am pretty confident the Broncos don’t, and I think this matchup favors the Raiders because they should be able to run the ball, and the defense is good enough to shut down a supbar offense on the other side.

Raiders +3…I like them to win straight up too

Celtics DVD review

Ed's Note: Upset, perhaps, by the fact his two other brothers had written for the website and at the terrible quality of the 2008 NBA Championship DVD featuring the Boston Celtics (or both), my brother Jeff has written a review for the DVD below.

Disappointed

If this were the Yankees, this wouldn’t have happened. If it were the Lakers, it wouldn’t have happened. In fact, it didn’t happen to the New York Giants last year. So what am I talking about that “happened?” I’ll tell you…

The last time the Celtics won the Championship, I was 7 years old, and that year I saw a game at the real Boston Garden with my father and his black friend Clayton. I remember telling him that he looked like one of the guys on the court. He laughed, and my father threw a nervous smile Clayton’s way until he noticed he wasn’t upset. Actually, more interesting than going to a game with a black guy was the mini earthquake that shook the dust off the old rafters at the Garden right before halftime. When I think back now, it must have been the perfect opportunity for the best halftime speech ever.

K.C. Jones: “OK boys, now it’s our time to bring the roof down! Lets get out there after halftime and shake this place!”

McHale: “Yea Parrish, what a great time for a rim shaking tomahawk dunk!” (The whole team laughs, except Larry Bird.)

I was young then, and I know the Celtics went on to beat whoever they were playing, and then everyone else in the league for their 16^th title. Even though they had won the title two years previous in 1984, there were highlight VHS tapes of Larry Birds season, great moments and pictures from the series in books by Time Life, and press coverage for weeks. The Celtics of old eventually got old and went twenty-two long years before the “New Big Three” took Boston and the NBA back by storm. Kevin Garnett brought guts, determination, and defense back to the team. Ray Allen was a trustworthy big game sniper who like the aforementioned Garnett could have made a bid for team MVP with his clutch shooting. Paul Pierce, after nine long years of ups and many downs, (I would call getting stabbed a down…) became the All-Star that the true Boston fans knew he was, and showed that he can play, better yet out play the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on his way to his first NBA Championship. There was a host of special moments throughout the season, including a preseason trip to Rome where the Celtics learned the meaning of the word “Ubuntu,” which is a term describing the task of working together to achieve a higher goal. This term would be the lighthouse of the team, the glow that kept the ship on course throughout the season. There were special bench players that sparked the Celtics team including the defensive stopper James Posey, the icewater-in-his-veins Eddie House, and the semi-retired, but never washed up P.J. Brown. There was the motivational story surrounding Leone Powe, (yea, the Lakers apparently never heard of him either), and the rapid maturation of second year point guard Rajon Rondo. How about the conspiracy that Kevin McHale traded a perennial all-star for peanuts to the team that he had given so much to as a player? Twenty-two years ago, these stories would have become legends, they would have been talked about on talk radio for months. Fathers would have recited these stories over dinner to their sons. Hard cover books would have been written covering all of these stories, and the ones that I missed, not to mention the recaps of all the games throughout the entire season, INCLUDING each round of the playoffs and the finals!

Those of you who know me know that I am a die hard Celtics fan, and have been through the good times and bad. This Championship year brought almost as much joy to my life and definitely as much stress in my life as my wedding day. For a month and a half, I waited patiently for the inevitable Championship DVD documenting the WHOLE Celtics season to arrive at stores. When it finally did, I couldn’t wait to re-watch history being made. I purchased my copy at the nearest Modells, (“Get it at MO’s” was a common slogan featured during Celtics broadcasts this year, where else would I go?) I sat down while my wife was at work so that I could truly enjoy my new DVD. I planned on watching a little bit of the DVD each night, figuring I couldn’t get through 108 games of highlights AND the bonus features in one night. About an hour into my video I found that I was already into the Finals recaps. Fifteen minutes later I was watching a dumb video of Paul Pierce on a helicopter and Kevin Garnett talking to Bill Russell (which is awesome but not after being duped by the makers of my Celtics DVD.) Simply put, this video was a disgrace to a team that has won more NBA championships than any team in history. It is also a disgrace to any Celtics fan looking to truly relive an unbelievable story book season after 22 long years of hopes, dreams, and heartbreak. Does anyone know that Paul Pierce played against LeBron James in one of the best all-star duels ever in the playoffs? You wouldn’t from the DVD. Does anyone know that Ray Allen came into the Detroit and L.A. series in one of the worst shooting slumps of his career and almost single-handedly beat both teams at least once in the series with his deadly J? You wouldn’t from the DVD. Does anybody know that the Celtics erased a 28 point deficit to steal a crucial game in L.A. that kept them ahead in the series? Once again, you wouldn’t know from the DVD. These are just some of the moments that were briefly mentioned in the DVD that should have had their own chapter. The Giants DVD relived their entire season, including the entire Superbowl game in which they actually showed the Patriots hand the Giants the game all packaged neatly in some gift wrap. (If you don’t believe me you can look up pictures of David Tyree with a ball attached to his head-this is the picture they used on the gift wrap.) If the Yankees win, you get a three hour DVD, including a bonus sex video of Alex Rodriguez and Madonna. The Lakers video would have been the best one because of all the great stories. Kobe cheats on his wife, but is sorry and she gets a kiss during halftime, oh, and the press is there to film it. The Zen Master ties Red Auerbach for most championships. Luis Scola is not only a great shooter, he’s an Argentinean porn star and hair stylist. Luke Walton beats his Dad’s team, but Bill is just happy for his over-achieving son because he’s not nearly as good as he was. The Celtics win and you get a one hour mix tape with uneventful highlights and the longing for a re-run of “Hoosiers” as part of the bonus features to at least make you happy.

I’m disappointed. I wanted something more, and I didn’t get it. Hopefully the Celtics win again this year so that I can tape every game myself and re-watch them when I want to. If we have to wait another twenty-two years, I fear that the laser technology used in 2030 to capture the highlights will malfunction and burn the Boston fans eyes when they jubilantly attempt to “relive” the stories and memories of the season!

2008 Politics

The landscape of American politics began to insert itself into my life in and around the time of the 2004 Presidential campaign that pitted, like a 1940’s boxing match, an evil-doing incumbent and a challenger that seemingly represented all that was good for change in the country we live in. People from all walks of life were opposed to the incumbent, calling him out on his supposed “war-crimes” and “stealing” the election of 2000 through a Supreme Court ruled by his party’s elects and father’s friends. None of this made sense to me as I saw the United States as having justified reason for helping democratize the Middle East, and viewed the people of Florida – or, more justly, the supporters of Al Gore - to stupid to figure out how to punch a hole in a ballot. Their mistake was foolish, and after the recount, I felt that Gore didn’t deserve to win. Or, more appropriately, the Democrats didn’t deserve the nod. Stupidity shouldn’t be given a second chance. After all, without Gore in office, much of the well-needed consciousness of our environmental battle would be silenced. I cannot offer what George W. Bush’s plan would have been if he had been on the opposite end of the verdict.

Politics is a well-mudded hole. Each side has their staunch beliefs, and every decision made by one side affects someone adversely, so there are never any winners, just pointing fingers and blame cast on the public officials by protesters and bloggers and future candidates. Everyone believes someone can do better; The grass is always greener, as they say. We can move forward in this by accepting that one candidate will never speak to the majority. We might as well stop sulking now, or we’ll never be happy.

The problem is the complete and overt absence of plain-speak. One candidate must speak to the audience he or she is intending for which to provide the greatest benefits. No candidate in either party can speak for the majority and that has become a problem in America. We are relying on one party to solve all of our ills when that clearly in an impossible task. One side champions the middle-class, to an extent; the other champions a similar cause with

different results. Which option is better no one really knows.

Right now, we’re on the brink of having a change we haven’t seen since 1952. We are looking to elect someone who isn’t an incumbent or a Vice-President taking the logical step up. One of two senators will lose, and I can imagine the post-election cocktail party in Washington D.C. when one of them returns to their position with their opposition now becoming their boss.

What are we changing? There are many unanswered questions in this election. What’s the definition of change (there are 38 different definitions of the word)? For those who are suffering some mental, psychological, or physical challenge with our current administration, change sounds like a great idea. For those unaffected and content within their station in life, what does change mean? Do they lose it all?

Frankly, I don’t like either candidate (I believe the two best candidates – one from each side – were passed over). Neither one of them speaks for my ideals as an American nor do I think either will have any effect on how I go about my daily life. I pray both of them have the sense to improve our nation in terms of our economy and to keep us safe from the people willing to harm our country. Our foreign policy is headed on an optimistic course after initial steps (or should I say sprints) in the wrong direction, and we should continue to find ways to properly fund education in America. Of course, there are many areas to improve. However, much of the things promised to “change” are inconsequential in my life.

The country is bitterly divided and both sides are questioning the other’s intelligence. There’s no middle ground that unites people into working together. You’re either with us, or against us, seems to be the rallying cry of both sides. Like a 7^th grade popularity contest – or as some call it, a student council election – defamation is the key component to any campaign. Does this person pick their nose? Do they post provocative pictures of themselves on their MySpace page? Do they talk behind their friends’ backs? “Stupid,” “old,” and “inexperienced” seem to be this year’s buzzwords. These accusations – or accusations akin to these - can be seen nightly during the Presidential elections of the first part of the 21^st century in forms of debates and ads that are “approved” by the candidate. It’s all very childish and pedantic.

Our current President has had his missteps, as anyone including the staunchest of supporters can attest, but he’s been held to a remarkably high double-standard. When he misspeaks, he’s a moron; when he’s articulate, it’s his speech writers. When the war was being managed poorly, he’s a war criminal; when the surge proved to be the right move, it was a great decision by General Patreas. These double-standards are not going to be changed when someone new steps into office. If the new president doesn’t quote poetry aloud in speeches, he’ll be averted to the arts; if he attends a baseball game, he’ll be criticized his first pitch wasn’t a strike.

Here’s my point: The moment the new president is elected, the other side will be angry for another four years. It’s a cycle that will never end unless a real change is to happen. It makes me wonder why I even started to care in the first place.

Summer of Silent Longing

The following appeared in the June 29th issue of the Eagle-Tribune in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Alongside the limitless blue skies, the afternoon dips in the pool, and the savory smell of grilled food of summertime comes – dreadfully for this writer – the peak of the baseball season, or, as our national pastimes aficionados of this area might call it, “Red Sox Season.”

Where’s Tom Sawyer? I’ll help him paint his fence if it’ll get me out of watching a dreadfully droll Red Sox game every time I step into a bar for a drink.

I’ve been told over and over by some of my best friends and at least one of my favorite writers that baseball is an “intelligent man’s game,” akin to a competitive game of chess, and that, according to one brainiac on Yahoo! Answers, baseball fans are intelligent and “don’t need cheerleaders.” Maybe I’m in the minority, or maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t recall ever sitting next to someone screaming “Yankess Suck!” (regardless of whom the Red Sox are playing) at a television screen, then having them turn back to me and asking, “what was that you were saying about the G8 Summit?” Number crushing like so and so has a .658 BPS on Tuesday nights against the Yankees in June is not a sign of supreme intellect, but a sign of too much time on your hands. Like most things in life, baseball is a product of too much over-thinking for a game that, when we played as kids, we would designate two titles: the kids picked first and the kids picked last. Those two answers never required much thought.

Baseball games are boring, the perfect companion via radio for a fishing trip, or by the window with a book. With both, at the sound of Don Orsillo or Joe Castiglioni’s voice inflexion at “it’s a deep drive…” we can look up at not miss anything of what is happening within a game. Turning on SportsCenter in the summer, or dreadfully, Baseball Tonight late at night is the perfect sleeping aid. Even the Top Plays won’t arouse me from a slumber because there is nothing impressive about a game-winning home run, nothing spectacular about a diving catch.

Don’t get me wrong, I care if the Red Sox win. I was born and raised in this area and allegiance to my local sports teams is something I take tremendous pride in. My major issue is that there are too many fans in this area who have watched every game since Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS and none before that; too many “Pink Hats” that mourn one loss in mid-April as if the Sox had just been eliminated from playoff contention by the Kansas City Royals. Just like no one watched the Boston Celtics when Sebastian Telfair was their starting point guard, no one watched the Red Sox when the Yankees continually crushed them 19 times a year. I’m guessing the true Celtics fans will be welcoming the “Yankees Suck” crowd into their fandom as the “L.A. Sucks” crowd. How long before Celtics fans are as hated nationally as Red Sox fans? It’s a shame.

I used to like going to Fenway Park on an idle Monday night about ten years ago when tickets in the bleachers were available for $20 from a scalper on Yawkey Way. The anxious buzz of the crowd, the smell of Fenway Franks and Italian sausages lingering through a calm midsummer’s night, the color and size of the outfield grass exaggerated against the lights towering overhead are all something uniquely American. Going to the ballpark whisks any fan or non-fan to the days where school was out for summer and games of catch lasted until the ball became something your glove guessed for under the glow of a streetlight.

Now it’s a 162-game tailgate party, every game like it’s the most important one; we can count on droves of intoxicated Red Sox fans cheering loudly at every Josh Beckett strikeout or booing and slurring at the hopeless J.D. Drew. Fenway is overcrowded and outdated at such outrageous ticket prices. The ownership needs to take a cue from the Yankees and destroy and rebuild. So forgive me if I’m not enthusiastic about a Red Sox only summer.

The good news is that it’s just one month long. The Patriots report at the end of July and the Olympics (a very good excuse to be incredibly patriotic for two straight weeks) begins the second week of August. For now, I’ll just enjoy a good book and two weeks of Wimbledon tennis.

Now there is an intelligent sport.

Thought in society

French philosopher Rene Descartes famously wrote, “I think, therefore I am.” In today’s culture, this philosophy’s importance and meaning has changed drastically, as thought in modern society is lacking tremendously. If something requires critical thought, it is often deemed too hard and ignored. We see this in the decreasing aptitude for mathematical word problems. Regardless of the questions degree of difficulty, more than three sentences constitutes something that may require more than ten seconds of thought, thus, it’s easier to just wait for the teacher to provide the answer.

We see the lack of thought process in all other areas of education, but particularly in English class. Students are unable to make connections between the texts and their lives, never mind comparing two different works of literature. If an answer does not strike immediately, we give up. In the age of Google and don’t-fail-your-students-or-something-is-wrong-with-the-educator teaching culture, answers are provided, not deciphered. Why would someone want to discover the thematic elements of a classic novel like The Great Gatsby, which may take an hour and a few chapters worth of reading, when the answers could be determined and committed to memory within a minute and a half with the aid of a computer and a fast enough connection to the Internet? Life has become much simpler, but so have our minds. It’s absurdly easy to find erudite synonyms in order to appear scholarly, but there is a difference between sounding smart and being educated.

Part of the reason thought is lacking in our society lies on the fact we’ve “dumbed-down” America. Newspapers and the television news use eighth grade vocabulary in fear of alienating viewers (needless to say, no one in that study took into account there are people who understand the use of three syllable words), lyrics in music lack depth, and modern technology requires little or no use of a library card. In schools, we promote the idea of college-going societies, when in reality, college is not for all students. Some people are destined to become mechanics or chefs or day-care providers. In public schools, we continue to create this illusion by doing the equivalent of a baseball coach setting the ball on a tee and expecting the gaudy numbers of his players to propel them to Major League Baseball. Real life is hard, real life demands intelligence and the ability to think critically. Sadly, this, despite the well-intentioned advocacy of higher education, is not what gets accomplished.

Even in every day speech, in conversation, the lack of thought is evident. We rarely use the appropriate words, in fear they may be too intellectual for the other person, and in fear of sounding pretentious or linguistically ostentatious. Haste is also an issue. In conversation, we expect answers immediately and view any delay, even in search for some enlightened thought or apt proclamation, as a sign of indecisiveness or feeblemindedness. We don’t speak of the arts – movies, books, plays – either out of apathy or because we keep those interests and thoughts (if we have them) to ourselves. Instead, we trouble ourselves with other people’s issues. In regards to the concerns of others, surely, we always will have an opinion.

Another aspect of the lack of thought is that thought requires a certain amount of isolation and solitude. In an increasingly dependent society, solitude is primarily viewed as a punishment. In prisons, misbehaving inmates are subject to “solitary confinement.” When we are children and we do something wrong, we are sent to our rooms to “think about it.” That was a terrible punishment. So the term “solitary” is usually associated with reprimand and deprivation.

Even noted psychologists condemn solitude.

Sigmund Freud suggested – or rather theorized – that human happiness stems strictly from intimate human relationships. Intimacy is the key to happiness within all people; we all instinctually search for it, we all need it. It can be concluded, then, that Freud’s analysis implies that, without a partner, man is lost, crazy, or peculiar.

What lacks in this theory is that, given amply time in isolation for thinking, a person can discover new insights, find solutions to their problems, and realize, more than when in crowds of people, the individuality of their own self, their own minds. Our culture doesn’t understand or look favorably on people who prefer time alone, and time spent in isolation is commonly misconstrued as a time for self-pity and unhappiness.

I recently heard a student comment on another students’ incredibly well-done project, “wow, she must have a lot of time on her hands.” While there was no doubt an incredible amount of time and effort put into the project, it was definitely the best thought-out design and most insightful project of the bunch. This student’s success on her project was not based on boredom, but on her desire to succeed, which, much to the chagrin of the rest of the students, took a tremendous amount of thought to go with her desire for a high mark.

Additionally, we’ve let our teachers, our peers, and the media dictate what our feelings should be. Original thought is atypical because of the fear it may be against the norm, so why risk being at odds with everyone else? The beauty of the human mind lies in its uniqueness. Our experiences and values lead us to opinions and insights that are uniquely our own. Unfortunately, this takes effort and time, neither of which, as some see it, is at a premium. There is always somewhere to go or something to do, always a different channel to watch at commercials, always e-mail to check. Even in the solitude of a commute home from work, in the comfort of our cars, the car radio provides companionship in lieu of having to assess the day ahead or just past.

If we took time to think about our lives and the world around us, we wouldn’t be as ridiculed a generation. It is proven that the Asian countries are ahead of the United States academically, but some would contend that what we trail in academics we make up for in personality and social poise. What is holding us back from reaching a happy medium between the two extremes?

Let us think on it.

"What a long, strange trip it's been..."

April 30th, 2004: My final column for The Student, which I found in a moment of serendipity. Please note the prediction at the bottom.

In honor of Shazz Wilson, page two's most decorated columnist, I offer these words to sum up my collegiate career. While Jerry Garcia isn't my idea of a life philosopher, the words are fairly fitting. Who knew college would come to an end so soon?

People tell us all the time, "Time flies when you're having fun." These words cannot be truer. I had some fun, wrote some stories along the way, and made some spectacular friends. But it's hard to sum up with just a few hundred words my feelings on leaving Alden Street behind.

It hit me when I was driving back from Easter break: This is the last time will travel from my home in Methuen, Mass., to Springfield College as a student. The next time I make the trip will be the awkward first alumni weekend. Even the words "College Graduate" sound peculiar, as if I always associated the words with someone much older than I am.

All throughout my life, I couldn't wait to be done school. The weekends, the summer vacations, and, ultimately, the date approaching in May were all things I looked forward to. And it wasn't so much school that I hated, it was being in class (although, being in class grows on you. There was a point where I realized there are reasons we pick our own classes. I started to like what I was learning. Take that advice). I was the king of being tardy due to conversing in the hallways, or out in the schoolyard. Ironically enough, that sounds like my time spent here.

College is the best years of your life, a gathering a friends from the schoolyard never going home and continuing recess for four years. It is organized chaos. Every year you'll keep some friends, lose a few, and maybe gain a couple more. Sometimes you'll end up with a completely different crowd you did just the year before.

Isn't it crazy to think that these same friends are the same people we absolutely feared to be stuck in the same tiny dorm room with? Now, as the seniors head out into the "Real World" (wherever that is) we can't imagine having so much space to ourselves. Some people may fall out of touch, some people may stay close, but the most important thing is that we did this thing together, and nothing can ever change that.

The biggest change will be the adjustment of living at home again. This, of course, is for those of us that don't have jobs. And it might not hit us until the Fall. At college, there is a certain amount of of freedom allowed. Parents don't know, and trust our judgment, about what time we stumble home (and, boy, did we stumble sometimes). No longer are the days when we can come home at the we hours of the morning, turn on the radio, and stay up a four hours longer just because "we could."

Throughout these four years, I've attempted to enhance my skills as a newspaper writing by submitting works to this publication. Sometimes I hit; sometimes I missed. I want to take this opportunity, in this my last piece I submit, to thank all who have consistently read my work. You've read my stuff whether it was treacherously written (which some of them were), or whether it had any semblance of a fine journalist; you read even when you agreed or disagreed, or were entirely enraged. For all this, I thank you.

Since my time writing for this paper has been mainly sports influenced, I promise I will remain loyal to my Boston teams wherever I end up in this profession. So I end my sports commentary for the Springfield Student with this: the Celtics and the Bruins have two of their sports top players for the future; the Patriots don't show any signs of slowing down; and, of course, this year is the year, I just know it, for the Sox.

I hope that someday each and every one of you will open a newspaper and see "Matt Osgood" in the byline. I will be honored to have you, once again, as as reader. But this I promise, you'll never have to look at this ridiculous headshot ever again.

In retrospect, I could have ended my collegiate writing with a poetic quote to sum up four years, I also underestimated the Bruins front office in keeping Joe Thornton around in black and gold. I also wish I had a picture of my headshot for my columns. It was me, my weight influenced by numerous weekends of beer drinking, with a shit eating grin on my face. I think I should try to find a copy.

Top 10

Chuck Klosterman recommends the writing of Matthew Osgood!

For a number of years now, I’ve been the one of my friends who will recommend books, articles, poems, or short stories to others. I base this on subjective interest levels, frequency of how much said person reads, and intelligence (that sounds awful, but a strictly academic book, Shakespeare the Thinker, for instance, wouldn’t be recommended to my 17-year old cousin, and so on). I’ve decided to make a list of books, in my opinion, that are essential reads. Of course, there needs to be some universal appeal, alas there won’t be any appearances by good old Billy Shakespeare, but I hope I’ve served you correctly.

The goal here is to go beyond the “classics” and delve deeper into some great, but less critically acclaimed novels. These are in no particular order:

1. Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer. The tragic story of 22-year old Chris McCandless, a young man from an affluent family who, after graduating college, abandoned his car, gave his life savings to charity, and ventured off into a soul-seeking journey that ultimately led to his death. Krakauer does a remarkable job reporting, but remains remarkably objective – despite obvious feelings – in helping the reader form an opinion on whether McCandless was a Thoreau-ian idealist or a narcissistic fool.
2. Into Thin Air – Jon Krakauer. The second appearance by Krakauer on this list. This is the tale of the cursed Mt. Everest attempt in 1996, the deadliest season in the history of summit attempts. Again, remarkable reporting and storytelling of a heartbreaking tale. This is an intense read.
3. The Selected Poem of – James Wright. A new favorite for me. I've fallen in love with his descriptions of nature and how simple beauty can be the most important thing we fail to realize is there.
4. Delights and Shadows – Ted Kooser. Another book of poetry. Kooser, a Midwest poet, meditates on the simplicity and beauty of the life around him. A Happy Birthday, Sure Signs.
5. The Last Shot – Darcy Frey. I read this one in college. Definitely the best basketball book I’ve ever read. Frey chronicles the lives of Lincoln High School basketball players, including current NBA superstar Stephon Marbury, who was a 9^th grader at the time.
6. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Hunter S. Thompson. If you think the movie is funny, read the book. This was the first book I’ve ever read that made me laugh on every page. There’s not a dull line written in the book.
7. Slouching Towards Nirvana – Joan Didion. This is a collection of non-fiction essays. Didion is one of the generations greatest writers. Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream is the standout piece here.
8. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs – Chuck Klosterman. A must-read for pop culture fans. He writes on numerous topics with both humor and insight, including Saved by the Bell, the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, and how much he hates the band Coldplay.
9. The Trouble With Poetry – Billy Collins. Made me a lifelong fan with the poem "Monday"
   
10. I am Charlotte Simmons – Tom Wolfe. I debated putting this on here, but I just enjoyed this book so much. This is the story of a brilliant, virginal young woman who embarks into a world of sex, drugs, and deception: college. Wolfe is another great writer in our time. I guess the $6 million advance on his next book should tell us as much.