Bored

Definently the potential now for a rare event of a Super Bowl that won't have a clear cut favorite (the favorite not alwyas winning of course).

This would be the first time ever a #6 seed has advanced past the divisional playoffs since they expanded to 12 teams back in 1990. If Carolina wins today they'd be the first Wild Card team to reach the NFC Championship in 16 years ('89 Rams).

I wouldn't exactly put John Starks in the same sentence with Patrick Ewing. To be honest I didn't know there was such a statistic until a couple of weeks ago when looking around basketballreference.com for useless info. I really have no idea how reliable the stat is. And for the hell of it here's the Knicks' Win Shares leaders during the Ewing era. 1986: Trent Tucker 1987: Bill Cartwright 1988: Patrick Ewing/Mark Jackson 1989: Ewing 1990: Ewing 1991: Ewing 1992: Ewing 1993: Ewing 1994: Ewing 1995: Ewing 1996: Anthony Mason 1997: Ewing 1998: Larry Johnson/Charlie Ward 1999: Johnson 2000: Allan Houston

Hey who knew the Patriots losing would cause a site meltdown. I have no hatred for the Patriots but I'm happy the '90 49ers will remain the team closest to winning three straight Super Bowls.* *Yes the '76 Steelers and '94 Cowboys both reached conference title games in a quest for a third straight Super Bowl but the 49ers were the closest to winning their game.

1996 Lists 1996 All-NFL Team QB: Brett Favre, Green Bay RB: Terrell Davis, Denver; Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh WR: Jerry Rice, San Francisco; Herman Moore, Detroit TE: Shannon Sharpe, Denver C: Dermontie Dawson, Pittsburgh G: Randall McDaniel, Minnesota; Larry Allen, Dallas T: Gary Zimmerman, Denver; Erik Williams, Dallas DE: Bruce Smith, Buffalo; Alfred Williams, Cinncinati DT: John Randle, Minnesota; Bryant Young, San Francisco LB: Kevin Greene, Carolina; Chad Brown, Pittsburgh; Sam Mills, Carolina; Junior Seau, San Diego CB: Deion Sanders, Dallas; Ashley Ambrose, Cincinnati S: Darren Woodson, Dallas; LeRoy Butler, Green Bay K: Cary Blanchard, Indianapolis P: Chris Gardocki, Indianapolis KR: Michael Bates, Carolina PR: Desmond Howard, Green Bay ST: Jim Schwantz, Dallas 1996 MLB Win Shares Leaders by Team Cleveland: Albert Belle New York: Bernie Williams Texas: Ivan Rodriguez Baltimore: Roberto Alomar Chicago: Frank Thomas Seattle: Alex Rodriguez Boston: Mo Vaughn Milwaukee: Jeff Cirillo/Jose Valentin Minnesota: Chuck Knoblauch Oakland: Mark McGwire Kansas City: Kevin Appier/Tim Belcher Toronto: Pat Hentgen California: Tim Salmon Detroit: Bobby Higginson Atlanta: John Smoltz San Diego: Ken Caminiti Los Angeles: Mike Piazza St. Louis: Brian Jordan Montreal: Moises Alou Colorado: Ellis Burks Houston: Jeff Bagwell Cincinnati: Barry Larkin Florida: Gary Sheffield Chicago: Brian McRae Pittsburgh: Jeff King New York: Brian Gikey San Francisco: Barry Bonds Philadelphia: Benito Santiago 1996 College Basketball All-Americans First Team Marcus Camby, UMass Ray Allen, UConn Tim Duncan, Wake Forest Allen Iverson, Georgetown Tony Delk, Kentucky Second Team Kerry Kittles, Villanova Danny Fortsen, Cincinnati Keith Van Horn, Utah Jacque Vaughn, Kansas John Wallace, Syracuse Third Team Lorenzen Wright, Memphis Brian Evans, Indiana Jason Sasser, Texas Tech Stephon Marbury, Georgia Tech Shareef Abdur-Rahim, California 1996 College Football All-Americans QB: Danny Wuerffel, Florida RB: Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech; Troy Davis, Iowa State WR: Marcus Harris, Wyoming; Ike Hilliard, Florida TE: Tony Gonzalez, California OL: Orlando Pace, Ohio State; Juan Roque, Arizona State; Chris Naeole, Colorado; Dan Neil, Texas; Aaron Taylor, Nebraska AP: Kevin Faulk, LSU DL: Grant Winstrom, Nebraska; Peter Boulware, Florida State; Reinard Wilson, Florida State; Derrick Rodgers, Arizona State LB: Canute Curtis, West Virginia; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern; Matt Russell, Cloroado; Jarrett Irons, Michigan DB: Chris Canty, Kansas State; Kevin Jackson, Alabama; Dre' Bly, North Carolina; Shawn Springs, Ohio State K: Cory Wedel, Wyoming P: Noel Prefontaine, San Diego State KR: Tim Dwight, Iowa 1996 NBA Win Shares leaders by team Chicago: Michael Jordan Orlando: Anfernee Hardaway Indiana: Reggie Miller New York: Anthony Mason Cleveland: Terrell Brandon Atlanta: Steve Smith Detroit: Grant Hill Miami: Alonzo Mourning Charlotte: Larry Johnson Washington: Brent Price Boston: Dana Barros/David Wesley New Jersey: Armon Gilliam Milwaukee: Vin Baker Toronto: Damon Stoudamire/Tracy Murray Philadelphia: Clarence Weatherspoon Seattle: Gary Payton San Antonio: David Robinson Utah: Karl Malone L.A. Lakers: Cedric Ceballos Houston: Hakeem Olajuwon Portland: Clifford Robinson Phoenix: Charles Barkley Sacramento: Mitch Richmond Golden State: B.J. Armstrong Denver: Dale Ellis L.A. Clippers: Loy Vaught Dallas: Jim Jackson Minnesota: Tom Gugliotta/Sam Mitchell Vancouver: Greg Anthony

This is a year with no locks. Starting to feel old as several first timers I saw their entire career. Holdovers Bert Blyleven Dave Concepcion Andre Dawson Steve Garvey Goose Gossage Tommy John Dave Mattingly Willie McGee Jack Morris Dale Murphy Dave Parker Jim Rice Lee Smith Bruce Sutter Alan Trammell First Timers Rick Aguilera Albert Belle Will Clark Gary DiSarcina Alex Fernandez Gary Gaetti Dwight Gooden Ozzie Guillen Orel Hershiser Gregg Jefferies Doug Jones Hal Morris Walt Weiss John Wetteland

Peaked my interest enough to find the 1996 Kentucky roster. Tony Delk Anotine Walker Walter McCarty Derek Anderson Ron Mercer Mark Pope Anthony Epps Jeff Sheppard Wayne Turner Jared Prickett Allen Edwards Nazr Mohammed Oliver Simmons Cameron Mills Jason Lathrem

Here let me steal a Stephen Colbert quote and change it up a little to make it sound like a baseball writer. "The fact that they looked it up in a book just shows they don't get the idea of what a Hall of Famer really is. You don't look for a Hall of Famer in a book, you look for him in your gut."

Okay kids here you go. Get your posts in before it gets closed until January 4th. At least there won't be any agrument over either team deserving to be here this year.

Writers always give more credit to players on winning teams so the Expos being mediocre hurt him and nevermind playing in Montreal would get you overlooked. Looking at who finished ahead of him, Mike Schmidt wasn't a bad choice at all for winning the award. Then you have Glenn Davis, Gary Carter, and Keith Hernandez. The Mets and Astros blew away the rest of the N.L. that year so them having players receiving good support for the MVP wouldn't be surprising. Problem is that Davis didn't even have the best year on his team, Kevin Bass did, and Carter finishing 3rd that year is laughable especially with his teammate Hernandez being a legit MVP candidate. Dave Parker finished 5th and really there is no logical explanation for him finishing that high. Another guy who had a great year but finished low was Steve Sax who didn't even crack the top 10 as mainly because the Dodgers were lousy that year. Of course then next year Dawson wins on a last place team despite not even being close to being the best player in the N.L. that year but that was one of the most bizarre votes ever. Raines actually was better in '87 than '86 and he was of probably one of at least ten guys who would have been better choices for MVP that season.

Lee Roy Selmon was also drafted #1 out of Oklahoma with the Bucs first pick ever in 1976.

Bruce Sutter played on the 1982 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals so here's the top players from 1982 in both leagues by position using Win Shares. National League C: Gary Carter, Expos 1B: Jason Thompson, Pirates 2B: Joe Morgan, Giants 3B: Mike Schmidt, Phillies SS: Dickie Thon, Astros OF: Dale Murphy, Braves SP: Steve Carlton, Phillies/Joe Niekro, Astros RP: Greg Minton, Giants American League C: Lance Parrish, Tigers 1B: Eddie Murray, Orioles/Cecil Cooper, Brewers 2B: Lou Whitaker, Tigers 3B: Paul Molitor, Brewers SS: Robin Yount, Brewers OF: Dwight Evans, Red Sox DH: Hal McRae, Royals SP: Dave Stieb, Blue Jays RP: Dan Quisenberry, Royals

Just for the hell of it here's the Win Shares for those who are eligible for next year. 1. Cal Ripken 427 2. Tony Gwynn 398 3. Mark McGwire 342 4. Harold Baines 307 5. Tony Fernandez 280 6. Jose Canseco 272 7. Bobby Bonilla 267 8. Paul O'Neill 259 9. Wally Joyner 253 10. Ken Caminiti 242 11. Eric Davis 224 12. Devon White 207 13. Bret Saberhagen 193 14. Jay Buhner 174 15. Dante Bichette 168 16. Stan Javier 137 17. Daryl Hamilton 130 18. Kevin Tapani 124 19. Charlie Hayes 116 20. Ken Hill 112 21. Derek Bell 111 22. Ramon Martinez 110 23. Bobby Witt 102 24. Pete Harnisch 100 25t. Glenallen Hill 99 25t. Gregg Olson 99 27. Jeff Shaw 97 28. Jeff Brantley 88

Gossage would have gotten in over Sutter if he had THE SPLITFINGER FASTBALL!!!! God I hate baseball writers. Oh and they decided he'll go in with the Cardinals cap over the Cubs. I'm assuming the logic was soley because he won a World Series with them.

Batista won't be visting Dr. James Andrews as he had a heart attack (from mlb.com): http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...e2005&fext=.jsp

This contest is seperate from normal pick 'em contest. It's the same contest I ran on the board two years ago (won by razazteca) and it is open to everyone. It doesn't matter if you were in my contest all year or if you never watch college football, you can participate. If you are in a bowl game in my current contest DO NOT submit picks to this one, you are automatically entered. The way this one works is that I assign each bowl game a point value from 1 to 28. You pick a winner for each game and if you pick a game right you earn the points for that game. The winner of the contest is the one with most points at the end. Those familiar with my other contest know the winner of that win gets $50. In this one there is no money but you do win this... Your choice of your own USC Song Girl that will show up right at your front door!* *Please allow six weeks to 178 years for delivery of USC Song Girl. Poster will not be held responsible if Song Girl is lost or damaged during shipping. Deadline is Tuesday, December 20th at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST. When you submit your picks, pick a winner for every game and don't edit your picks later. Here are the games, please leave this thread for picks only and not discussion the actual games. Tuesday, December 20 New Orleans: Arkansas State vs. Southern Miss 1 point Wednesday, December 21 GMAC: Toledo vs. UTEP 11 points Thursday, December 22 Las Vegas: BYU vs. California 6 points Poinsettia: Navy vs. Colorado State 4 points Friday, December 23 Fort Worth: Kansas vs. Houston 3 points Saturday, December 24 Hawaii: Nevada vs. Central Florida 7 points Monday, December 26 Motor City: Akron vs. Memphis 2 points Tuesday, December 27 Champ Sports: Colorado vs. Clemson 13 points Insight: Arizona State vs. Rutgers 9 points Wednesday, December 28 MPC Computers: Boise State vs. Boston College 17 points Alamo: Michigan vs. Nebraska 15 points Thursday, December 29 Emerald: Utah vs. Georgia Tech 8 points Holiday: Oregon vs. Oklahoma 21 points Friday, December 30 Music City: Minnesota vs. Virginia 12 points Sun: UCLA vs. Northwestern 19 points Independence: South Carolina vs. Missouri 10 points Peach: Miami vs. LSU 25 points Saturday, December 31 Car Care: South Florida vs. N.C. State 5 points Liberty: Tulsa vs. Fresno State 14 points Houston: TCU vs. Iowa State 16 points Monday, January 2 Outback: Florida vs. Iowa 18 points Cotton: Alabama vs. Texas Tech 22 points Gator: Virginia Tech vs. Louisville 20 points Capital One: Auburn vs. Wisconsin 23 points Fiesta: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State 27 points Sugar: Georgia vs. West Virginia 26 points Tuesday, January 3 Orange: Penn State vs. Florida State 24 points Wednesday, January 4 Rose: USC vs. Texas 28 points

Turns out it just happened last night. http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-vickchar...=dp-widget-news .

Since the Wild Card round was added no NFC Wild Card team has gone to the Super Bowl. The '75 Cowboys went to Super Bowl X as a Wild Card but only had to win two games to do so. Edit: Further looking into it, there hasn't been a Wild Card team to reach the NFC title game since the '89 Rams. So history is definently against the Redskins and Panthers this week. So the Patriots will give the Redskins smallpox infected blankets?

No so bold prediction: Bruce Sutter will receive the most votes but will not get the required 75% to get enshrined which will be the first time since 1996 that the writers didn't elect anyone. Then everyone on the list can forget about next year with Gwynn and Ripken going in (McGwire probably won't get in on the first ballot because of the steroid controversy).

"You ever watch golf? It's like watching flies fuck."

Bengals fans throwing things on the field in a playoff game. Where's Sam Wyche when you need him? "You don't live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"

Six Wild Card teams have made it to the Super Bowl since the Wild Card round was added back in 1978. Here's a quick look back at the results of their Wild Card games. Oakland Raiders - December 28th, 1980 - def. Houston Oilers 27-7 Raiders blew open a 10-7 game in the 4th quarter behind a 44 yard touchdown pass from Jim Plunkett to Art Whittington and a 20 yard interception return for a touchdown by Lester Hayes. It would be another 20 years until a playoff game was played in Oakland. New England Patriots - December 28th, 1985 - def. New York Jets 26-14 Patriots would get their first playoff win ever on their way to becoming the only team to ever win three road playoff games on the way to the Super Bowl. Fell behind 7-3 in the 2nd quarter but would score 20 unanswered points capped by a fumble return for a touchdown by Johnny Rembert. Buffalo Bills - January 3rd, 1993 - def. Houston Oilers 41-38 OT The most famous Wild Card game ever as the Bills made the greatest comeback in NFL history after trailing 35-3 early in the 3rd quarter. Back up quarterback Frank Reich threw four touchdowns in the second half to lead the comeback. Steve Christie's 32 yard field goal won it in overtime. Denver Broncos - December 27th, 1997 - def. Jacksonville Jaguars 42-17 Broncos got revenge on the Jaguars for an upset in Denver the previous year. They led only 21-17 after three but back up running backs Derrek Loville and Vaughn Hebron combined for three fourth quarter scores to turn the game into a blowout. Terrell Davis had 184 yards rushing. Tennessee Titans - January 8th, 2000 - def. Buffalo Bills 22-16 Maybe the second most famous Wild Card game as the franchise formely known as the Oilers got revenge of sorts for the comeback from seven years earlier. After the Bills took a 16-15 lead on a Steve Christie field goal with 16 seconds left the Titans would score on the ensuing kick off with the "Music City Miracle" where Frank Wycheck threw a lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson who ran 75 yards for the winning score. Baltimore Ravens - December 31, 2000 - def. Denver Broncos 21-3 Ravens crushed the Broncos holding them to 177 yards in total offense. The big play of the game was a 58 yard touchdown pass from Trent Dilfer to Shannon Sharpe in the 2nd quarter.

Juniors who have declared for the NFL Draft: Stanley McClover, DE, Auburn Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowling Green Chad Jackson, WR, Florida Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno State Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon Greg Lee, WR, Pittsburgh Maurice Drew, RB, UCLA

Wait, wait, wait, wait...Delino DeShields JUNIOR!? Honestly how does one determine who's the best 12-year old?

Stanford, although I guess I have to go with "other" as technically I grew up closer to Berkeley than Palo Alto but rooting for them definently had to do with geographic reasons. Not sure why I ended up rooting for them as a kid instead of Cal but just worked out that way and I've been a fan ever since. I am definently now a USC football fan as well, not just because of their success but because my step grandfather went to USC and played one year on the football team.