GarageGabs

Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea.  Nothin like hearing the whiney Patriots fan declare that this is an illegal practice.  Of course this won’t limit the sales from ticket brokers and person to person sales, BUT it will reduce the amount of Patriot fans in what will be a sold out game.  Don’t know if you’ve ever been to a big playoff game, but road fans tend to lead to lots of fighting.  Drinking+Tailgating+Road Fans don’t mix.

In a move everyone knew was coming, Bill Cowher called it quits today as the Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  It’s been widely speculated that this move would come ever since Cowher bought a home in Raleigh, NC in May of last year. It is also speculated that Cowher’s retirement isn’t permanent…it may just be a one year hiatus.  We’ll see.  Cowher retires with a 140-90-1 record with the Steelers including a Super Bowl win last year.  The guy is a legend here in NC as he has North Carolina State ties.  Best of luck to Bill and his family.

Art Shell moved on in a different way as he was fired by Al Davis today.  Honestly, I think this has to be a relief for Shell.  The sides were supposed to come to an agreement tomorrow, but I bet Shell sat down and said “don’t worry about hurting my feelings….FIRE ME PLEASE”.  There is no way he could have known what he was getting himself into when he signed up to coach this team.   No clue where the Raiders go from here, anyone that takes that job has to be crazy.  I would expect most of the Raiders offensive staff to be gone with Shell.  I don’t think John Shoop showed enough in 5 games as offensive coordinator to hang around.  Good luck with that #1 pick.

It’s early January, and unlike many people I care about the NBA.  Not in a motherly love type way, I’m just saying I enjoy watching the NBA every chance I get.  I especially like watching some of the younger, run and gun teams get out and play.  I don’t care for this Pat Riley situation and the stir it is causing…..or not causing for that matter.  I can’t believe more people aren’t pointing out the convenience of Pat Riley’s departure….or at least spinning it.
Remember, it was just over a year ago that Riley (who also happens to be Heat president) decided to replace Stan Van Gundy with none other than himself as the Miami Heat head coach.   It’s important to remember that Van Gundy had taken the Heat to the finals the year before, only to lose a game 7 to the Detroit Pistons without Dwayne Wade and Shaquille Oneal.  At the time Gundy left to “spend time with his family” (yeah right) he had the Heat at 11-10, and was just getting Shaq into the lineup.  (Oneal had played just three games)  It was a strange time to have a coach removed.  My friend Mac would later scoff at the move mentioning that Riley wished to hog the Heat championship spotlight for himself….in short, Mac felt Riley hopped aboard the Heat bandwagon at a VERY convenient time.  In fact, many speculated that it wasn’t some passion for coaching that brought Riley back, but a more prominent Miami Heat team.  Riley loves to be in the spotlight was the theory.
The Heat continued to win after Riley took over, rolling all the way to the NBA Finals where Dwayne Wade willed them to a Championship.  Funny, I never heard one thing about Riley’s knee during that time, but then again, I didn’t even know he had knees.  It just wasn’t a story.  Riley stepped in and saved a team that couldn’t find itself, and led them to a Championship.

WHATEVER!

Now, with the Heat stuck at 13-18, and an injured Shaq and Wade, Riley is taking a “leave of absence” to have his knee fixed.  He can’t bear the pain and meds anymore he says.  Give me a break!  Dude can’t stand losing is the problem.  He’s going to step away and you’ll see him back if and when the Heat get good again.  What’s good again?  Shaq and Wade in the lineup is good again.  I give this situation a little over a month.  This is the Eastern Conference…all the Heat have to do is get that combo to the playoffs for a legitimate chance at a Finals run.

I’m sure Riley’s knee really is bothering him.  It’s just a little too convenient for me that he decides to take the time off now.  Not only are the Heat injury riddled, but Nick Saban is stealing all headlines from Riley.  It really doesn’t matter.  It’s not as if anything Riley does will make or break this team.  I’m sure if the Heat were #1 in the East right now Riley could coach through the pain.  Now he has another chance to set himself up as savior.  In a few weeks the Heat will be picking up stride.  Around that same time Pat Riley will return to the bench.  They’ll play good basketball down the stretch and make the playoffs thanks to the old ball coach.  What a gamer!

ESPN Pat Riley Poll 

The NBA is scattered with players that have huge potential and never fulfill it. Guys with high upsides that are just waiting for the right situation to turn into NBA All Stars. I don’t like calling them sleepers….because you know who they are, they are just high upside guys. I watched Caron Butler in college and said to myself: “this guy is going to be a star in the NBA”. He had the total package; He was already gifted with a mans body at 6′7″, 220+, was silky smooth with the ball, had range on his jumper, could finish, and…the biggest thing….his game had a EDGE to it. Butler played with some sort of emotional edge….like he had something to prove.

Butler was chosen with the 10th overall pick in 2002 by the Miami Heat. He didn’t disappoint as a rookie making the NBA all rookie team, and led all rookies in scoring at 15.4 per game. He dropped off dramatically during his 2nd year with Miami to a career low 9.2 points per game while only shooting 38% from the field. Then came the trade. Butler was traded to Los Angeles, along with Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a 1st round pick for Shaquille Oneal. Just so you know, no one can replace a guy like Shaq…Butler couldn’t either. He spent a year in L.A. watching Kobe Bryant shoot before being moved to Washington for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. He spent most of last season learning to fit in with the Wizards….he still averaged a career high 17.6 points per game, and was a nice compliment to Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison.  With four years of NBA experience under his belt Butler was a good player.  Not a great player…but good.  He was primed for a breakout.
All Butler needed was an opportunity. With the starting SF spot nailed down in Washington and a career high 39 minutes per game, Butler is having a career year. 20 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists and 2 steals per game. Butler is putting up the numbers, and a lot of people probably don’t even realize it. The Wizards are an exciting young team, led by SUPER talented Gilbert Arenas at PG, and Antawn Jamison at PF.  Butler is giving them a potent third option as scorer, leading the team in rebounds, and playing some tough defense.

Want more?  Butler has scored in double figures in every game this season.  He’s had 12 double/doubles.  He played perhaps his best game of the year last week in a 144-139 win over the Phoenix Suns.  Butler hit 12 of 24 field goals, all 9 of his free throws, and picked up 10 rebounds in helping the up and coming Wizards end the Suns 15 game winning streak.  Butler was HUGE down the stretch, scoring 10 of the Suns 17 overtime points…..remember, Gilbert Arenas plays for the Suns…and scored 54 points that evening….but it was Butler taking and making some very big shots in that overtime period.  Butler has become a man.

I believe this is the beginning of a very nice career for Butler.  I call this year a career year, but I believe he’ll get even better.  He reminds me a lot of Scottie Pippen.  Versatile player that can do it all who doesn’t forget the importance of defense……and a scowl.

Philly clinched a playoff berth yesterday, and the Jets might as well have.

Philly dominated the Cowboys, 23-7, at Dallas, to clinch a playoff spot and are a win away from winning the NFC East.  Meanwhile, the Jets traveled to Miami and beat the Dolphins 13-10, and now only have to beat the lowly Raiders next week to make the playoffs.

Gabs Take:  Ok, this will be a first from me.  T.O., can it!  After the loss yesterday Owens said that they didn’t try to get him the ball enough, and when they did it was too late.  Of course, Owens dropped yet another long pass yesterday, he didn’t mention that.  He did mention that Dawkins bumped him just before the ball came in….if that’s so why in the hell didn’t Owens spit on him!!!  Wow, I’m baiting.  I’m a CONSTANT Owens supporter, but his comments yesterday about “getting him the ball” were dead wrong.  I just wish for once he would say something like….”you win as a team and you lose as a team”…It seems I am slowly slipping to the other side…sad, I know.  As for the playoffs, well, my Super Bowl dreams are SHOT.  I’m sorry, this Dallas team doesn’t have what it takes to win a Super Bowl.  I’m not exactly sure what it does take, but they just don’t seem to show up for BIG games…..Yesterday was about as big as it gets.  Dallas still has a decent shot to win the division…They would have to beat Detroit and then the Eagles lose to Atlanta, which is entirely possible, especially given the unpredictable nature of the NFL lately.  Honestly, it doesn’t make a lot of difference to me, the 1st round bye is lost……well, I take that back, home field in the first round would be nice.  What can you say about Philadelphia and Jeff Garcia?  Just an amazing run during which they have proved just about everyone wrong, including me.  I know yesterday had to feel REALLY GOOD.

As for the Jets.  I called the Jets in the playoffs on a gabscast a few weeks ago….I searched for it and can’t find it, but I know I said it….then again, I said the Vikings would make the playoffs also.  Anyway, Chad Pennington led the Jets to a late FG and the 13-10 win at Miami.  Needless to say, I gotta figure they will beat Oakland next week and advance to the playoffs so they can lose in the Wildcard round.  They Jets really need to get the ball to the little Washington guy more often..in space, utilize him like the Saints do Reggie Bush, the kid has great speed and quickness.  Chad Pennington is a pretty good NFL QB, even with a robo shoulder.  Eric Mangina should be your coach of the year if he gets this talenenless, faceless, runningbackless, team the playoffs.

Updated Playoff Scenarios 

Deion Sanders talked DeAneglo Hall into joining a 3-way phone conversation with Terrell Owens during which Owens and Hall put the whole spitting incident behind them.  That’s great that the two finally spoke, but there are a couple inconsistencies:  Hall was quick to mention earlier in the week that Owens had yet to apologize to him.  However, now he says Owens had been trying to call him for the past couple of days.  If Hall were so upset about the lack of an apology….why not take the call?  Also, Hall ends things by saying that “For me to be able to keep my cool for the sake of my team and my teammates speaks volumes”-  Ok, this is true, it does speak volumes that he was able to control himself….but message to Mr. Hall, the term “speaks volumes” isn’t often used to describe yourself.  Allow other people to speak positive of you rather than doing it for them.  Of course, many athletes do this (including Owens) but most of them don’t go around whining for 2 days because someone spit on him…..Hall LOVES to toot his own horn but wants to act like an innocent choir boy.  I’ve heard Hall say too many times how Champ Bailey anointed him the best corner in football.  Also, it would have spoke more volumes if Hall could have covered T.O. for the sake of his teammates, huh?  Anyway, it appears this story is finally behind us….Hall hopes to meet Owens again in the playoffs.

By the way, how about Deion Sanders acting as the moderator in all this??  Makes you wonder if Deion is trying to become the Jesse Jackson of sports??

     =         ??

I spent all day Friday afternoon at the dentist office. I wasn’t having any work done myself, it was my father who was having MAJOR oral surgery. The plan was, to have my dad home by 5 pm, and then ride out to Garner, with my friend Ajit, and get some footage from the NC 4-AA High School Semi-Finals game between Garner and Durham Riverside. Didn’t turn out that way, my dad was in surgery an extra 2 hours, and I ended up getting home around 9 pm. Lucky for me they had to re-schedule the game due to rain huh? Not really, Ajit was out of town last night, and I am a season ticket holder with the Hurricanes….so I went to the Canes game.

I missed a great High School football game. Garner fell to Riverside 15-13, missing a chance at the 4-AA finals. Garner could never stop Weslye Saunders who scored both Riverside TD’s, one rushing, one receiving, and ran in a 2 point conversion. Saunders, a 6-5, 270 pound beast, is a guy the Trojans knew they had to stop.

Saunders caught a 13 yard TD pass with 1:32 left in the 4th quarter, giving Riverside a 15-6 lead. Garner quickly responded, with a 55 yard catch by Josh Oglesby to the Riverside 10, and a Darrice Payton 1 yard TD run with 43 seconds to play.

Garner attempted an onside kick that went directly to Saunders, who fell on the ball to end the game. “It didn’t matter where that kick went, I was going to get on it,” said Saunders. “But then he kicked it right to me.” Yeah right buddy.

Anyway, congrats goes out to Riverside, they advance to the finals to face arguably the best team in the State in Charlotte Independence. The game will be played in Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium, next Saturday. I will be pulling for Riverside.

Recap

Video

Pre-Game Story on Saunders

Looks like French En Fuego Tony Parker and Desperate Housewives hotty Eva Longoria are ready to tie the knot.  I couldn’t have told you who this woman was 3 months ago, but my girlfriend has gotten me to watch Desperate Housewives this season.  All I know to say about this situation is that they both seem to be about the same size which usually works well.

“The proposal was romantic and perfect” 

This is a huge weekend coming up in college football. Here are my picks in all games involving Top 25 teams.

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Well, this was my first week publicly sharing what I thought was my “knowledge”.  Somehow, my fantasy team does well, even though I obviously don’t have a crystal ball.

 

Here are 5 players I got right……and 5 I got wrong

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